Corrugated Carton versus Cardboard for Shipping

For the layman, it can be difficult to know if there is any difference between corrugated carton versus cardboard. Whenever we receive a shipment in a box, we do not often pay attention to the design features, rather we focus on the contents within. However, there are some differences that make one option preferable to the other.

What Is a Corrugated Box?

Corrugated boxes are made up of paperboard with three layers. There is an inside liner, some fluted corrugated sheet, and then an outside liner. This design helps make the box capable of supporting heavy weights. Despite its relatively lightweight nature, the thickness and sizes of a corrugated fibreboard box can vary greatly to accommodate products of various sizes and weights. This includes the number of flutes and their profiles.

What Is a Cardboard Box?

Cardboard box construction usually features just a single sheet of heavy-duty paper or paperboard. Cardboard boxes are much lighter and have thinner walls than corrugated boxes. They are typically used to carry lightweight products like cereals and small plastic toys. Though they also come in varied strengths, the walls are weaker than what you get with corrugated boxes.

Why Corrugated Is Better Than Cardboard for Shipping

Corrugated boxes have thicker walls that offer better protection and shock absorption. This makes them more suitable for transport and handling over long distances than ordinary cardboard boxes.

Even with lightweight products that can just as easily be housed in cardboard, corrugated boxes are preferable because of the risk of mishandling and damage during transit. If the product is damaged because it was not suitably protected by the packaging, it will cost the business more to have to compensate the customer or send a replacement product.

Furthermore, often when goods are in transit, they will be stacked. Corrugated carton boxes have better tensile strength to support such pressure without causing damage to the contents within. They are the preference when arranging boxes on a pallet.

The air pockets created within the corrugated boxes walls by fluting and layering also create extra padding. This extra padding acts as a buffer, protecting the contents within. This increases the chances of the item arriving at its destination intact.

When it comes to water damage, corrugated boxes are typically given a wax or laminate treatment that makes them resistant to water and more likely to remain stable even when exposed to moisture.

A corrugated carton is a wiser choice for shipping.  While a cardboard is much thinner and perfect for other products, a corrugated carton is the best choice for shipping.