The Types of Shipping Boxes

When you need to deliver a certain item through a shipping service, there are a number of factors to consider. Of course, you need to choose a shipping service (a decision that may depend on how fast you need the item delivered). But many people often disregard one important choice: the shipping boxes.

Needless to say, your choice from the numerous shipping boxes will depend on many aspects as well. For one, there’s the type of service you’ll get (air freight or maritime?). Also, some shipping services provide the packaging for you, although not all do. This means you need to know what your choices.

The most common among the shipping boxes are the single-wall box and the double-wall box. The single-wall is basically a box made from strong, sturdy cardboard. It has durable outer liners to added protection. This type, among many other choices, is the basic choice for shipping due to its practical durability. The double-wall, obviously, is similar to the single-wall box—except for the fact that this box has two layers of cardboard. This makes the double-wall box more ideal for heavier items. Items sealed in both single- and double-wall boxes are usually supported with bubble wrap and other protective layering.

For fragile goods and heavier items, wooden shipping boxes are suggested. This kind of box offers optimum support, something corrugated cardboard cannot provide. Most wooden boxes often have dividers when they contain more than one item. Meanwhile, large prefabricated boxes are usually used for extremely large items. It doesn’t necessary offer more protection than wooden boxes. However, this particular box does allow for easier movement (it’s easier to knock down, as supposed to the studier and heavier wooden box).

Special shipping boxes are required for special items. Hermetically-sealed and Styrofoam boxes are usually used when shipping liquid for additional protection. Fiberboard boxes, meanwhile, are used for shipping powders and grains. Anti-static boxes are used for electrical items.

Is it your responsibility as the customer to provide these shipping boxes when you have an item shipped? This will depend on the shipping service you contact, so you should take note of this when choosing a shipping company. Some customers usually do their own packaging for small items to ensure ample protection. For bigger items, however, the shipping company may offer packaging services. Special items—such as liquids, powders, and grains—can be tricky, so you may want to handle the packaging for these items yourself.