How to Choose the Right Shipping Boxes!

Right shipping boxes

Choosing the right shipping boxes may be more complicated than you think. Aside from the right size, there are other things to consider. These boxes should be able to withhold the external factors during shipping. Boxes are essential in ensuring that your items arrive safely at someone’s doorstep or parcel boxes. 

Durable boxes maintain the quality and integrity of the shipped items. It also helps in improving customer satisfaction. Aside from having a parcel delivery box for safety, the right kind of box is essential.

Usually, homeowners install a parcel delivery box for increased safety. It keeps items safe whenever owners are not physically present to receive them. But, not all households have a parcel delivery box. So, making sure that the box can keep the items safe is important. 

As mentioned above, there are things that you have to consider when choosing one. Aside from the size, other factors will help you choose the right shipping box for your items. 

Let us talk about the things that you have to consider when choosing a shipping box. This way, you would never have to deal with damaged items in the future. 

Factors to Consider

1. Size of the Product and Box

First things first: you are shipping a product or an item in various shapes and sizes. So, it is only right that you consider their sizes first before the other factors. There are size variations available. You can ship items as small as a computer chip or beer and as big as household appliances. 

There are two types of sizes that you have to consider. The first one is the internal dimensions and the other is the external dimensions. The internal dimension refers to the space inside the box. In comparison, the external dimension refers to the outside size. The difference between these sizes depends on the material.

For example, if the shipping box is made out of wood, there would be a significant difference between the two. The external dimension would be a lot bigger than the internal. 

When choosing the box dimensions that would fit your product, the internal dimensions should be considered. That is because that refers to the space inside where your product would be put into.  For example, if the internal dimension is 12x12x3″, it can fit items of the same size or smaller. 

The outside dimensions are usually checked for shipping purposes. The fees will be calculated depending on the outer side of the shipping box. So, it is strongly advised to get a box that is the right fit for your item.

This way, you wouldn’t be spending an unnecessary extra fee for shipping. Aside from this, you have to consider the parcel delivery box of the client. Making sure that it fits their post box for their homes can help improve service satisfaction. 

2. Breakability of the Product

The inside dimensions of the box are also dependent on the item’s breakability. This refers to the quality of a product to easily be broken or damaged.

When you are dealing with items that do not easily break, you can use boxes with no extra space. This means that you can choose one that has the exact same size as your product. This leaves you with void space as you won’t be needing it.

But, for items as breakable as mugs or others with fragile materials, it is strongly advised to choose a box with extra space. This extra space will be used for the extra packing material to avoid damages.

For example, if you are shipping dinner plates that are 7″ round, then it is better to choose an 8″ to 9″ box. This would give you space for filler materials such as bubble wraps, crinkle papers,  or even tissue papers. 

These materials are used to fill the void fill or the extra space in your boxes. You might be wondering about how small or big the extra space should be. The answer is it depends on how breakable your items are and the number of extra materials or fillers you would need to keep them safe.

Breakability is also one of the reasons why most clients opt for a parcel box. These boxes are good for households that usually spend most of their time outside. A parcel dropbox will assure them that the items delivered to them are safe. 

3. Strength of the Box

No matter how big or small your item is, it is important to consider the strength of the box. This is usually measured using two methods — the Mullen Test and Edge Crush Test. These tests measure different properties of the boxes.

The Mullen Test covers the bursting strength. The Edge Crush test is concerned with stacking strength. 

The Mullen test measures the amount of pressure it would take for the wall of a box to rupture. The standard rate is usually labeled with # or lb.

While the Edge Crush test measures how strong the boxes are when it comes to stacking. In other words, it is concerned with the amount of pressure a box can hold before being crushed. This is usually represented as ECT such as ECT. 

The results of these tests are usually printed and posted on manufactured boxes. This serves as a certificate or proof of the boxes’ strength or durability. This is important because it determines how protected your items will be.

In shipping, your items will be amongst other parcels. Different courier companies handle items differently as well. There would be no guarantee that it will be handled with care at all ties. So, making sure that your boxes can handle getting crushed or damaged is important.

4. Shipping Mode and Costs

It was discussed above how the size of the box affects the costs. You should always remember that not all products require a bigger box. Some items can be packed in a well-fit box to help you cut down on the shipping costs.

The type of shipping also affects the right kind of box choice. There are different types of shipping methods depending on the location of the shipper and the client. 

If the sender and receiver live relatively close to each other, it would usually only require land transportation. This means that the number of times these items will be transferred is lesser. This mode would require you relatively less sturdy boxes than long-distance shipping. 

But, if your items would be shipped overseas or miles away, then stronger boxes should be your choice. It should be able to withstand the number of times it would be transferred. This also helps withstand the other factors throughout the process.

Main Takeaways

When choosing shipping boxes, it is always best to remember that someone on the other end is waiting for the items. So, keeping them safe and damage-free should be your priority. One way to keep them whole is to ship them in secure boxes.

Whether a person or a parcel delivery box will receive it, the assurance of having a scratch-free item should be the priority. There are different types of boxes that meet every shipping need. Check them out today before sending another parcel and choose the right shipping boxes. 

Right shipping boxes article and permission to publish here provided by Dan Martin. Originally written for Supply Chain Game Changer and published on August 13, 2021.