Buying in bulk lowers the cost per box, but it also raises the stakes if the specification is wrong. Ordering wholesale kraft boxes works best when you know your product weight, size and shipping route first. This guide covers the main styles, board grades and cost factors so you can brief a supplier clearly.

What Makes Kraft Board a Bulk Favorite

Kraft board is made from wood pulp processed to keep long, strong fibres, which gives it good tear resistance. It comes in natural brown or bleached white, and the brown type is what most buyers mean.

Brown kraft often contains recycled content, though the amount varies by mill. Ask your supplier for details rather than assuming.

Styles Buyers Order Most

The right style depends on your product and how it ships. Four options cover most bulk requests:

• Mailer boxes: self locking corrugated boxes that suit ecommerce orders.
• Tuck end cartons: lightweight boxes for soaps, cosmetics and small accessories.
• Gable boxes: a carry handle design for bakery items and party gifts.
• Shipping cartons: plain corrugated boxes for heavier parcels.

Pick the style that matches your most common order, then adapt it for the rest of your range.

Board Weights and Strength

Lightweight cartons typically use paperboard of 250 to 350 GSM. Mailers and shipping boxes use corrugated kraft, where E flute adds rigidity, B flute adds cushioning and double wall board handles heavy loads.

For anything touching food, ask your supplier for board suitable for direct contact and confirm it meets UK food contact rules. A greaseproof liner is often safer than printing on the inner surface.

At Boxo Packaging, we usually ask for product weight, dimensions and shipping route before suggesting a board grade, because these details decide strength far more than appearance does.

Printing on Brown Stock

Brown board absorbs ink differently from white board, so colours look darker and more muted. Dark inks, white ink and simple one colour logos work best.

Flexographic printing is common on corrugated kraft and suits large runs. Digital printing suits shorter runs and frequent design changes.

Pricing and Storage

Order quantity has the biggest effect on price, since setup and tooling are spread across more units. Board grade, size and print colours add to the total, and a new cutting die is a one off charge. Ask for quotes at two or three quantities, because prices often drop at clear volume steps.

Bulk orders also need warehouse space. Flat packed cartons save room, while pre assembled boxes take far more.

Sustainability Choices

Kraft is often recyclable, but coatings, plastic windows and heavy lamination can complicate this. Look for FSC certified board and water based inks. Avoid claiming a box is “fully green”, as every material has some footprint.

Ordering Tips Before You Commit

Request a physical sample and pack it with your real product. Test the closure, check the printed proof on actual kraft stock and drop a packed box from a realistic height.

Allow extra lead time, since production and freight can take several weeks. A reliable supplier will question your specification rather than simply accept it. That is how we work at Boxo Packaging, because fixing a problem early costs far less than a reprint, especially with wholesale kraft boxes.

Custom Display Packaging: A Practical Guide for Shops and Brands

Shoppers often give a product only a second or two before moving on. Well planned custom display packaging helps your item win that moment while protecting stock on the journey from factory to shelf. This guide covers the main formats, materials and cost factors so you can brief a supplier clearly.

How a Display Unit Works

A display unit is a carton built to hold several products and show them without unpacking each one. It usually opens with a tear strip, a hinged lid or a cut away front panel, so staff can place it straight onto a counter or shelf.

The aim is to save time and keep stock tidy. A good unit also leaves space for a logo, price panel or promotional message at eye level.

Formats and Where They Fit

The best format depends on where the product will sit and how quickly it sells. Four options cover most requests:

• Counter boxes: small units for impulse items such as sweets, cosmetics and accessories.
• Shelf ready trays: corrugated trays with a perforated lid that tears away for fast restocking.
• Floor standing displays: tiered units for seasonal promotions and new launches.
• Pallet displays: large corrugated shells that hold a full pallet of stock for supermarkets.

Smaller retailers often start with counter units, as they cost less and need no floor space.

Materials and Board Strength

Corrugated board is the usual choice for anything that must stand upright and carry weight. Single wall E or B flute suits lighter counter units, while double wall board is better for floor displays holding heavier goods.

Folding carton board of around 300 to 400 GSM works well for small, light units with sharp printing. For anything touching food, ask your supplier for board suitable for direct contact and confirm it meets UK food contact rules.

At Boxo Packaging, we usually ask for product weight, shelf height and the number of units per display before suggesting a board grade. These details decide wall thickness far more than appearance does.

Printing and Finishing Choices

Digital printing suits short runs and frequent design changes. Offset printing gives richer colour and a lower unit price on larger orders, while flexographic printing is common directly on corrugated board.

Matt lamination, spot UV and foil add a premium look, though each raises the cost. A bold one or two colour design on kraft board can still stand out and stay affordable.

Cost Factors and Sustainability

Order quantity has the biggest effect on price, since setup and tooling are spread across more units. Board grade, size, print colours and finishing then add to the total, and a new cutting die is a one off charge.

Look for FSC certified board, water based inks and single material designs that recycle more easily. Avoid claiming a box is “fully green”, as every material has some footprint. Plastic windows and heavy lamination can complicate recycling.

Ordering Tips Before You Commit

Request a physical sample and fill it with real stock. Check that it stays upright when loaded, that the front panel does not sag and that staff can assemble it quickly.

Allow extra lead time, since production and freight can take several weeks. A reliable supplier will question your specification rather than simply accept it. That is how we work at Boxo Packaging, because fixing a problem early costs far less than a reprint, especially with custom display packaging.