Cardboard Boxes

Types of Cardboard Boxes We Stock 

Box type	Construction	Best for	Typical uses
Single wall cardboard boxes	One layer of corrugated fluting	Lighter, general-purpose items	Everyday shipping, ecommerce, storage
Double wall cardboard boxes	Two layers of corrugated fluting	Heavy, bulky or fragile items	Heavy duty packing, stacking, warehouse storage, longer journeys
Moving boxes	Large boxes, supplied flat-packed	Household contents	House removals and long-term storage
Postal boxes	Fold-up boxes, including self seal styles	Small and medium products	Ecommerce orders, Royal Mail and courier parcels
Envelope boxes	Slim boxes sized for letterbox delivery	Thin items	Large Letter postage
Book wraps	Wrap-around board	Books, catalogues, games, DVDs	Mail order and online retail
Archive boxes	Corrugated file boxes with handles	Paperwork and files	Document storage at home or in the office
BDCM boxes	Single wall with printed panel for product details	Catalogue and mail order stock	Retail, warehouse and stock control
Cardboard trays	Open trays, flat-packed	Loose items	Storage, picking and moving goods

 What Are Corrugated Cardboard Boxes?

Corrugated cardboard boxes are made from a wavy layer of paper board, called fluting, glued between flat outer liners. The fluting acts like a series of small arches. That gives the board its strength and some cushioning, while keeping it light. The more layers of fluting a box has, the more rigid it is and the better it resists crushing.

Single Wall vs Double Wall Boxes: What’s the Difference?

Single wall boxes have one layer of fluting between two liners. They’re lighter and cost less per box, and they suit most everyday packing: clothing, homewares, books in small quantities, and general storage. Double wall boxes have two layers of fluting. They’re thicker and more rigid, hold their shape better under weight, and stand up to stacking far better than single wall. Choose them when:

• the contents are heavy or dense
• boxes will be stacked on a pallet or in a warehouse
• the item is fragile and needs more protection
• the parcel faces a long or rough journey

If you’re unsure, think about what happens when the box is at the bottom of a stack. If a single wall box would start to bow, go double wall.

Which Are the Strongest Cardboard Boxes?

Double wall cardboard boxes are the strongest boxes in our range and our main heavy duty packing boxes. For heavy loads, a strong box is only part of it. Seal every seam with a high-tack tape, keep the weight spread evenly, and add strapping if the box could split or shift in transit.

Cardboard Box Sizes in the UK

Cardboard box sizes are usually given as length × width × height. All the dimensions listed on our boxes are internal, so you can compare them directly with your product and its packaging. As a rough guide to how sizes compare across our range:

• Small cardboard boxes: around 229 × 152 × 152mm (9 × 6 × 6″). Good for accessories, cosmetics and small parcels.
• Medium cardboard boxes: around 305 × 229 × 229mm (12 × 9 × 9″) to 381 × 254 × 127mm (15 × 10 × 5″). Suit shoes, kitchenware and multi-item orders.
• Large cardboard boxes: around 406 × 356 × 203mm (16 × 14 × 8″) to 406 × 406 × 406mm (16 × 16 × 16″). Suit bulkier products and household items.
• Extra large cardboard boxes: around 610 × 457 × 457mm (24 × 18 × 18″). Suit bedding, cushions and light, bulky goods.

What Size Box Do I Need to Post an Item?

Measure your product at its longest, widest and tallest points. Then add room for protective packaging such as bubble wrap or void fill. Choose the smallest box whose internal dimensions fit that total. A box that’s too big lets the item move and usually costs more to post. A box that’s too tight leaves no room for cushioning. For thin items, envelope boxes are sized to fit Royal Mail’s Large Letter guidelines, which can keep postage costs down.

Cardboard Boxes for Fragile Items

Fragile items travel best in a box that leaves enough room for cushioning without letting the product move freely. To pack them:

1. Wrap the item in bubble wrap or corrugated roll.
2. Add a layer of void fill to the bottom of the box.
3. Place the item in the centre and fill the gaps around and above it.
4. Seal both the top and bottom seams with tape.

Use a double wall box for anything heavy and fragile, such as glassware sets, ceramics or electrical goods.

House Removal Boxes

Our moving boxes are sized for household contents. They arrive flat-packed, so they’re easy to store until moving day and quick to build. When packing for a move, put heavy items like books and tins in smaller boxes. Save the larger boxes for light, bulky things like bedding and clothes. This keeps every box a manageable weight to lift. Use double wall boxes for kitchenware, tools and anything you’d be upset to see crushed at the bottom of a van.

How Many Cardboard Boxes Do I Need for a House Move?

It depends on how much you own, but as a rough starting point:

• One-bedroom flat: 20 to 30 boxes
• Two-bedroom home: 30 to 50 boxes
• Three-bedroom home: 50 to 70 boxes
• Four bedrooms or more: 70+ boxes

Mix your sizes, with mostly medium and large boxes, a smaller number of small boxes for heavy items, and a few extra large boxes for bedding. It’s worth ordering a few more than you think you’ll need. Running short on the last day of packing is far more stressful than having spare.

Document Storage Boxes

Archive boxes are corrugated file boxes for storing paperwork, records and files at home or in the office. Built-in handles make them easy to carry and move. They’re a tidier, stronger option than reusing old delivery boxes, and they stack neatly on shelving.

Cardboard Boxes for Warehouse Storage

For warehouse storage, choose boxes that stack well and are easy to identify:

• Double wall boxes hold their shape under weight.
• BDCM boxes have a printed panel for the supplier, catalogue number, size, colour and quantity, which makes stock easier to find and count.
• Cardboard trays are useful for picking, sorting and holding loose items on racking.

Cardboard Boxes for Businesses and Ecommerce

Online sellers usually want boxes that are quick to pack, presentable on arrival and cheap to post. Postal boxes and self seal postal boxes cut packing time. Book wraps protect books and media at the corners. White postal boxes give a cleaner look if presentation matters to your brand. For general shipping, plain brown single wall boxes remain the most cost-effective choice for most products.

Are Cardboard Boxes Recyclable?

Yes. Corrugated cardboard is widely accepted through UK household and commercial recycling schemes, although collection rules vary by local authority. Flatten boxes before recycling, and remove heavy plastic packaging from inside.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between single wall and double wall boxes?

Single wall boxes have one layer of corrugated fluting and suit lighter, everyday items. Double wall boxes have two layers, making them more rigid and better for heavy goods, stacking and longer journeys.

Are the box dimensions internal or external?

All dimensions listed on our cardboard boxes are internal, so they show the usable space inside the box.

Do your cardboard boxes come flat packed?

Yes. Boxes are supplied flat to save space in storage and delivery, and fold up quickly when you need them.

What are the best boxes for moving house?

Moving boxes for general household contents, smaller single wall boxes for heavy items like books, and double wall boxes for kitchenware and fragile items.

Which boxes are best for fragile items?

A double wall box for heavier or high-value fragile items, or a single wall box for lighter ones. Either way, use cushioning and void fill inside.

What cardboard box sizes are available?

Our range runs from small boxes around 229 × 152 × 152mm up to extra large moving boxes around 610 × 457 × 457mm, plus slim envelope boxes for letterbox delivery.

Can I get cardboard boxes delivered next day?

Yes. Next working day delivery is available at checkout for UK mainland addresses. Orders placed before 2:30pm, Monday to Friday, are dispatched the same day.

Can I buy cardboard boxes in bulk at trade prices?

Yes. Our boxes are sold in trade packs, such as 15 double wall boxes, 25 single wall boxes or 10 moving boxes, and larger orders qualify for bulk discounts.

Buy Cardboard Boxes Online in Bulk

You can buy cardboard boxes online from Packaging Now in trade packs, at prices that suit both businesses and one-off users. Whether you need wholesale cardboard boxes for a warehouse, postal boxes for an online shop or house removal boxes for a move, you’ll find single wall, double wall, postal, moving and archive boxes in one place. Larger orders qualify for bulk discounts. When you order online:

• Same-day dispatch on orders placed before 2:30pm, Monday to Friday
• Next day delivery on cardboard boxes, available at checkout
• Free standard delivery on orders over £200 to UK mainland addresses

If you can’t find the box size or quantity you need, call 0800 160 1404 and we’ll help you find the right box or source it for you.