Selecting Shipping Boxes on Amazon.com

Shipping boxes, also called corrugated boxes or moving boxes, are containers made from cardboard, polypropylene, or a similar material that have pre-formed ridges and flaps so they can be shipped flat to the packager and assembled when ready for use. They can hold a variety of items, and those with closing tops and bottoms are often used for packing, shipping, and storing in distribution and moving industries. The box material is often made from recycled content.

A shipping box, or packing box, is typically reusable and is available in many different styles. A rectangular slotted container (RSC) box, also known as a standard shipping box, is the most common type. It has major flaps that meet in the middle to close both the top and bottom. A full overlap (FOL) box has similar features of an RSC box but has major flaps that overlap at the top and bottom to provide additional strength. Some boxes, also known as bin boxes, may have an open top for storage or display. For shipping boxes that can close, the method for sealing depends on the box type and application. Typically, it can be sealed with tape, staples, or straps.

Crush resistance is a common measurement for corrugated shipping box stacking strength. Depending on the manufacturer, a shipping box may be tested to Edge Crush Test (ECT) standards, which measures the force required for the box's edges to collapse. Double wall boxes provide extra protection for box contents compared to single wall boxes. Corrugated boxes are often measured by inside dimensions of height, width, and depth; however, external dimensions may also be given.