Shipping with Corrugated Cardboard Boxes

When packing for your move, it is important to choose the correct corrugated cardboard boxes. Whether shipping your goods or storing them (or both), the size and strength of the boxes you use determines how well your belongings will be protected from damage.

Box ratings

Cardboard boxes that are used for shipping are tested and rated using two standardized measures. One is the Edge Crush Test (ECT), and the other is the Burst Strength Test.

Edge Crush Test (ECT) – This measure determines how well a box will hold up during stacking. Measured in pounds per square inch (psi), a higher rating indicates a sturdier the box.

Burst Strength Test (BST) – Also known as the Mullen Test, this measure indicates how much weight a box can hold without failing.

These ratings can be found stamped on one of the bottom flaps of corrugated cardboard boxes in the Box Manufacturer’s Certificate. Higher numbers indicate sturdier boxes.

Don’t get boxed in

Choosing the right packing box depends on:

• What’s being packed
• The weight the box can hold and its size
• The dimensional ratios – height to length to depth
• How the boxes will be stacked, shipped, and stored

An important factor to bear in mind is that the more weight a box can hold, the heavier it will be to move and to stack. This is an especially important consideration if you will be doing most of the moving and handling of the boxes yourself.

For most moving and shipping purposes, boxes are sized small through extra large and have ECT ratings of at least 32.

Size and function

Medium boxes will have at least a 32 ECT and 200 BST. Medium boxes are best suited for books, glasses, dishes, kitchenware, etc.

Large moving boxes will have at least the same ratings as medium boxes and are good for packing larger, bulkier items, such as clothes, lamps, stereo and computer equipment.

Extra Large boxes are excellent for packing duvets, bedspreads, pillows, lamps, etc. Again, these are good for large but not necessarily heavy items.

Specialty boxes

Kitchen Boxes carry ECT ratings of 44 or higher and are designed to hold items found in a typical kitchen, including dishes, china, glasses, and cooking utensils and pots and pans.

Wardrobe boxes are designed to carry clothing that are on hangars. They are taller, have an ECT of 44 or greater, and have a hanging rod so clothes can be moved directly from the closet to the box without taking them off their hangars.

Other specialized corrugated cardboard boxes are available to meet any shipping and storage needs you may have. Choose the right box for the right job and so things will move smoothly.