Packaging prices in South Africa move with board and resin costs, the exchange rate, freight and how much you buy. Searches such as bubble wrap price and cardboard boxes price rarely show the real range, because a single box can cost R6 or R40 depending on size, board and quantity. This guide gives rough 2026 rand ranges for the everyday items, then three worked monthly budgets. Treat every figure as a guide: send a request and suppliers quote exact prices for your sizes, free and with no obligation.
Rough 2026 prices by item
Typical ranges for stock items, excluding VAT, bought in small to medium quantities:
- Cardboard boxes: R6 to R25 each for single wall, R20 to R60 for double wall (cardboard boxes).
- Bubble wrap: R180 to R420 per 750 mm x 100 m roll (bubble wrap).
- Pallet wrap: R90 to R220 per hand roll.
- Packaging tape: R12 to R35 per 48 mm x 100 m roll.
- Courier bags: R1.20 to R6 each.
- Food containers: R0.80 to R4.50 each for takeaway boxes and tubs.
- Bottles and jars: R2.50 to R7 for a 500 ml PET bottle, R4 to R18 for a glass jar with lid.
What moves the price
Quantity is the biggest lever: a carton bought by the pallet can cost a third less than one bought by the bundle. Next come size and grade, since a heavier board or a larger roll uses more material. Printing adds plate or setup costs, and delivery to a small town can add as much as the goods. Prices of plastic items follow resin, and board items follow paper mill prices. Always check whether a quote includes VAT and delivery, and whether the price is per unit, bundle or roll.
Worked budgets
Small online shop, 300 parcels a month: 300 single wall cartons at R10 (R3,000), 300 courier bags at R3 (R900), 10 tape rolls at R20 (R200) and 2 bubble wrap rolls at R250 (R500). Roughly R4,600, or about R15 a parcel.
Bakery, 800 items a week: 3,200 cake and pastry boxes at R4 (R12,800), 3,200 paper bags at R1.50 (R4,800) and 6 tape rolls at R20 (R120). Around R17,700 a month.
Warehouse, 40 pallets a week: 160 pallet wrap rolls at R150 (R24,000), 40 corner board sets at R25 (R1,000) and 60 tape rolls at R20 (R1,200). Near R26,200 a month, falling with bulk pricing.
How to bring the cost down
Order a size that fits the product, because courier fees depend on volume. Combine items with one supplier for free delivery thresholds, agree a monthly call-off on a larger quantity, and ask for sample runs before big orders. Machines can also lower film and labour costs over time, see packaging machines. Remember that packaging EPR fees may be added by some suppliers.
What to include in your request
- Each item, with size and grade
- Quantity per order and per month
- Plain or printed packaging
- Delivery address and VAT requirements
- Once-off order or a standing monthly order
Packaging Prices for different businesses
- Online shops and ecommerce: cartons, courier bags, tape and bubble wrap budgeted at R10 to R30 a parcel
- Restaurants, takeaways and food producers: containers, boxes and bags budgeted per meal, cake or loaf sold
- Shops and retail stores: carrier bags, gift boxes and display cartons priced per sale
- Factories and manufacturers: cartons, film and pallet wrap priced per finished unit and per pallet
- Warehouses, distributors and exporters: pallet wrap, corner boards, tape and strapping priced per load shipped
- Households and offices moving: cartons, tape and wrap priced per room, or per household moved
- Farms, packhouses and nurseries: fruit cartons, punnets, crates and pallet wrap priced per tonne packed
- Cosmetics, candles and health products: bottles, jars and boxes priced per unit and per batch
Frequently asked questions
Why do two suppliers quote different prices for the same box?
Are these prices per unit, including VAT?
How much should I budget for packaging per order?
Will packaging prices go up in 2026?
Packaging Prices 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