Packaging materials, compared.
Pick the board by where the box goes: a shelf, a delivery truck, or a drawer at home. Paperboard for the shelf, corrugated for the truck, rigid for keeping. Kraft changes how the print looks, not how recyclable the box is.
At a glance
Four boards, one table.
| Board | Looks like | Best for | Watch out for | Boxes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Paperboard (SBS) | Bright white, smooth | Retail cartons with full-color print | Too thin to mail on its own | Folding cartons |
| Kraft | Brown and fibrous | One or two strong ink colors, natural brands | Pale colors print as beige | Kraft boxes |
| Corrugated | Fluted middle layer | Boxes that ship on their own | Fine print looks sharper on paperboard | Cardboard boxes |
| Rigid board | Thick greyboard wrapped in paper | Gift sets and boxes people keep | Heavy, and bulky to ship bare | Rigid boxes |
Board
Paperboard
Solid bleached sulfate board. It is bright white and takes full-color print cleanly, which is why most retail cartons use it.
It is thin. Put a paperboard carton in the mail on its own and it arrives crushed. Use a mailer or a shipping box around it.
Board
Kraft
Unbleached brown board. It prints best with one or two strong ink colors, and it reads as natural without saying so.
A pale pink logo prints as beige on kraft, and a white logo needs white ink. Read custom kraft boxes before you order, or see the kraft box page.
Board
Corrugated
Board with a fluted middle layer. E-flute and B-flute are the common choices, and the right one depends on how heavy the contents are.
Use it when the box ships on its own. See flute types explained and custom cardboard boxes.
Board
Rigid board
Thick greyboard wrapped in printed paper. It is heavy, stiff and meant to be kept.
It does not ship well bare, so plan on a plain mailer around it. See rigid boxes.
When not to use any of these.
If the product needs a barrier we don't make (liquids, sealed wet food, static-sensitive parts), a paper box is the wrong answer. For only a few boxes, stock may cost less, though we can consider small orders. Sources: EPA paper and paperboard data and FSC.
FAQ
Material questions.
Which board is the most recyclable?
They are all paper-first and 100% recyclable. Paper and paperboard already had a 68.2% recycling rate in the US in 2018, white or brown. Lamination and window film add plastic, so skip them if recyclability matters.
Is kraft better for the environment than white board?
Not by itself. Brown does not mean recycled. If certified wood matters, look for the FSC label rather than the color.
Which board for a box that ships in the mail?
Corrugated. A folding carton is too thin to mail on its own, and a rigid box needs a mailer around it.
Can I mix boards in one order?
Yes, each design is its own order, and best value starts at 50 units. A rigid welcome box with a corrugated monthly box is common for subscription brands.
Ready to pick? Browse all boxes or compare box styles.
Pricing a box?
Tell us what goes inside and how it ships. We'll name the board and draw the structure.
Start a project