Large shipping boxes
A large box has a hard life. Its panels are wide, so they bow; its contents are often bulky and sometimes heavy; and it is usually handled by one person who cannot see where it is going. We quote new large boxes to size, from big single wall cartons to double wall and telescope boxes.
| Bulky and light | Single wall RSC, 32 ECT or 200#, up to 65 lb |
|---|---|
| Bulky and heavier | Double wall, 48 ECT or 275#, up to 100 lb |
| Very large | Two-piece telescope, often double wall |
| Pallet-size | Bulk box on a 48 x 40 footprint |
| Range | Major catalogues list sizes from 3 in to 48 in and more |
Size changes the board
A 24 in cube of pillows and a 24 in cube of books are the same box on paper and different boxes in practice. Large panels flex more, so a big box needs more board stiffness than a small one at the same weight. As a rule of thumb, the larger the box, the more it is worth looking at double wall even under 65 lb.
Uline, the largest catalogue supplier, states it carries over 1,700 box sizes, grouped up to 48 in and beyond. Large stock sizes exist, but they rarely fit a particular product closely. A custom inside size cuts void fill, which matters most on a large box.
Handling and freight
Large boxes ship flat, which keeps freight down until they are set up. Parcel carriers charge for size as well as weight, so a big box that is a little oversized costs more on every shipment. Measure inside, and quote the smallest box that holds the product with its protection.
Protecting what is inside
Large items often need edge protectors, corrugated pads, foam corners or a die-cut cradle inside the box, because the product, not the carton, takes the first impact. A box that fits snugly with internal bracing outperforms a bigger box filled loosely with packing peanuts. Describe the product and we will suggest an inner pack.
Large boxes we are asked for
Furniture parts and flat-pack furniture, mattresses and bedding, lamps, sports equipment such as bicycles and golf bags, mirrors and framed art, exercise equipment, large electronics and appliances, rugs, and trade-show displays. Some are long and flat, some tall and narrow, a few nearly cubic. The longest dimension decides whether an RSC, a telescope or a folder style suits best.
Getting large sizes made
Very large boxes can exceed the width of a corrugator or the bed of a die, and are then made from two pieces joined, or as a telescope. That is routine but worth knowing, because it affects the price and sometimes the strength. Send the size and we will tell you how it would be made.
When to choose it
- Bulky goods up to 65 lb: large single wall RSC.
- Heavier, or panels that will be stacked on: double wall.
- Loaded from above or very tall: telescope box.
Request large boxes to your size
Give the inside size, the board if you know it, the count and your ZIP. Say it is for large shipping boxes in the notes, and we quote it delivered.
- Inside size
- length x width x depth, in inches
- Style
- RSC, full overlap, telescope, die-cut or bulk
- Wall and grade
- read it off the stamp on your current box
- Count
- boxes per order, and how often you reorder
- Packed weight
- box plus contents
- ZIP
- where the boxes are delivered
After you send it
- We reply by email, usually with questions first if anything is unclear
- You confirm the specification, and a sample or drawing if it is a new design
- We send the price, the delivery window and the count tolerance
- On approval the order is scheduled and shipped to your dock