Most cardboard boxes sold in South Africa are made from corrugated board: two flat sheets of paper with a fluted layer between them that gives strength without much weight. The same box size can be priced very differently depending on the board grade, the quantity and how far it travels, which is why a quote from several box makers and wholesalers is worth the few minutes. Tell us what you pack and the sizes, and suppliers near you quote directly. It is free and there is no obligation to buy.
Single, double and triple wall board
Single wall board has one fluted layer and suits most parcels up to about 15 kg: clothing, books, shoes, small appliances. Double wall has two fluted layers and a middle liner, and handles heavier or stacked loads, such as bottled goods, tools and export cartons. Triple wall is used for machinery parts and bulk bins that sit on a pallet.
The flute is the wave in the middle. B flute is thin and gives a smooth surface for printing, C flute is thicker and stacks better, and a combined BC double wall is the common choice for heavy cartons. Ask the supplier for the board grade, not just "strong".
Box styles and how to measure
The regular slotted carton (RSC) is the everyday box: four flaps that fold in and meet in the middle, supplied flat and taped on your bench. A die-cut box, such as a mailer or tray, is cut and creased on a tool, folds up without tape and costs more to set up but looks better on a doorstep.
Measure the inside length, width and height in millimetres, always in that order, and measure the product with any wrapping on it. Add 10 to 20 mm for cushioning. Two boxes can have the same outside dimensions and a different inside, because the board is thicker on double wall.
Strength, stacking and moisture
Boxes get crushed in a warehouse long before they get dropped. Ask for the edge crush test (ECT) or the bursting strength of the board, which tells you how much weight a stack can carry. A carton on the bottom of a pallet of five layers carries the load above it for weeks, and humidity in Durban or Cape Town can weaken board by a third.
If cartons spend time in a cold room, travel by sea or stand on a damp floor, ask about moisture resistant liners. For fragile goods, pair the box with protective packaging and bubble wrap rather than moving to a heavier board.
Buying stock or cut to size
Stock sizes are sold in bundles of 10 to 25 and are usually available the same week from a packaging shop or wholesaler. For a repeat product, a made to size carton from a box maker saves on void fill and courier fees, and starts at about 250 to 500 boxes. If you need your logo on the board, see custom printed boxes. Moving house instead? Our guide to moving boxes covers the usual room sizes.
What to include in your request
- Inside size in mm (L x W x H)
- Packed weight and how high they stack
- Single, double or triple wall
- Quantity now and monthly usage
- Delivery address and date needed
Cardboard Boxes for different businesses
- Online shops and ecommerce: single wall shipping cartons in a few sizes for courier parcels
- Restaurants, takeaways and food producers: double wall cartons for dry goods, bottles and bakery trays to wholesale clients
- Shops and retail stores: plain cartons for stock deliveries, returns and shop storage
- Factories and manufacturers: made to size cartons and dividers to protect finished goods
- Warehouses, distributors and exporters: strong double wall export cartons that stack on pallets without crushing
- Households and offices moving: stock cartons for household goods, kitchens and files
- Farms, packhouses and nurseries: ventilated, wax-free fruit and vegetable cartons for packhouses and markets
- Cosmetics, candles and health products: small cartons for bottles, candles and skincare orders
Frequently asked questions
How do I know which board grade I need?
What is a good price for a cardboard box?
Can I buy only a few boxes?
Are cardboard boxes recyclable?
Cardboard Boxes by province and city
- Johannesburg
- Pretoria
- Centurion
- Midrand
- Sandton
- Randburg
- Roodepoort
- Krugersdorp
- Randfontein
- Germiston
- Boksburg
- Benoni
- Kempton Park
- Alberton
- Vanderbijlpark
- Vereeniging
- Durban
- Pinetown
- Pietermaritzburg
- Richards Bay
- Newcastle
- Ladysmith
- Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth)
- East London
- Kariega (Uitenhage)
- Mthatha
- Cape Town
- Bellville
- Paarl
- Stellenbosch
- George
- Worcester
- eMalahleni (Witbank)
- Middelburg
- Secunda
- Mbombela (Nelspruit)
- Rustenburg
- Brits
- Klerksdorp
- Potchefstroom
- Mahikeng
- Polokwane
- Tzaneen
- Kimberley
- Upington
- Bloemfontein
- Welkom
- Sasolburg