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We serve businesses of various sizes, allowing you to find the ideal packaging solutions for your requirements with ease.
Cardboard Boxes
Cardboard boxes are a packaging essential due to their durability, versatility and eco-friendly credentials. At Macfarlane Packaging, we can supply a comprehensive of cardboard boxes in various sizes and styles to suit you.
Categories
Single Wall Cardboard Boxes
Single wall corrugated sheets & layer pads that provide a durable product protection
Double Wall Cardboard Boxes
Robust, strong & durable boxes for transporting heavier items
Bottle Packaging
Designed for easy shipping, choose from a range of bottle boxes
Postal Boxes
Case Erectors & Box Automation
Not sure what cardboard boxes you need?
We’re here to help you find the perfect box for your products. Check out our free cardboard boxes guide, discover custom boxes and more!
How to choose the right box
Customised boxes just for you
Design your own packing tape
A packaging review could help your business thrive
90% of your packaging costs can be hidden in the unit price you pay. A packaging review can help you significantly lower costs and lower your impact on the environment, helping you thrive.
We’re here to help you get the packaging you need
As the UK’s largest distributor of protective packaging materials, we can help you with cardboard boxes to suit any business.
You can buy cardboard boxes online from Macfarlane Packaging. Shop an extensive range of corrugated boxes. Hundreds of options, including:
Wanted your boxes printed? You can also buy custom cardboard boxes from Macfarlane. Get in touch with your requirements including size, style and printing and our experts will send you a free of charge quote for custom boxes.
- Single wall cardboard boxes
- Double wall cardboard boxes
- Ecommerce boxes
- Pallet boxes and export boxes
- Postal boxes
- Bottle boxes
- Archive boxes
- BDCM boxes
- Gift Boxes
- Removal boxes
- Large cardboard boxes
- Small cardboard boxes
- Packing boxes
Wanted your boxes printed? You can also buy custom cardboard boxes from Macfarlane. Get in touch with your requirements including size, style and printing and our experts will send you a free of charge quote for custom boxes.
Cardboard boxes come in all shapes and sizes. The size of a cardboard box is usually expressed in Length (L) x Width (W) x Height (H) dimensions and in millimetres.
Small boxes can be less than 100mm wide, like 76 x 76 x 127mm. Large cardboard boxes can be much bigger. For example, our palletised containers.
Small boxes can be less than 100mm wide, like 76 x 76 x 127mm. Large cardboard boxes can be much bigger. For example, our palletised containers.
The dimensions of a cardboard box always refer to the internal measurements (the usable space that your products will go in), not external. This is because different grading and fluting, it can alter the thickness of the cardboard itself.
Cardboard box dimensions are usually expressed as: Length (L) x Width (W) x Height (H).
We recommend measuring cardboard boxes in millimetres.
For example: 600mm x 300mm x 250mm.
Cardboard box dimensions are usually expressed as: Length (L) x Width (W) x Height (H).
- Length = the longest opening dimension
- Width = the shorted opening dimension
- Height = the dimension from the top of the opening to the base of the box (sometimes referred to as depth).
We recommend measuring cardboard boxes in millimetres.
For example: 600mm x 300mm x 250mm.
Yes, boxes are recyclable. Since they are easy to recycle, cardboard boxes are a great eco-friendly packaging option.
How and where you can recycle boxes will depend on your local authority. Most UK local authorities will collect boxes at kerbside.
You can click here to read our recycling guide for more information OR visit RecycleNow for more information about how to recycle in the UK.
How and where you can recycle boxes will depend on your local authority. Most UK local authorities will collect boxes at kerbside.
You can click here to read our recycling guide for more information OR visit RecycleNow for more information about how to recycle in the UK.
The weight limit for cardboard boxes will depend on the size, style, and board grade of the box you choose.
Smaller single wall boxes may only hold up to 15kg, but stronger double wall boxes can hold up to 30kg. For the heaviest loads or export, you might need a palletised container, which can hold up to 200kg.
Smaller single wall boxes may only hold up to 15kg, but stronger double wall boxes can hold up to 30kg. For the heaviest loads or export, you might need a palletised container, which can hold up to 200kg.
The size of the box (or boxes) you need will depend on the product(s) you’re shipping. You need to consider the size, shape, weight, and fragility of your product(s), as these will all influence what size and kind of box you need.
To find out what size boxes you need, you should start by measuring the length, width, and depth (or height) of your product(s). At Macfarlane Packaging, we recommend that you measure in millimetres (mm). This measurement should represent the internal dimensions you need for your box or boxes.
To find out what size boxes you need, you should start by measuring the length, width, and depth (or height) of your product(s). At Macfarlane Packaging, we recommend that you measure in millimetres (mm). This measurement should represent the internal dimensions you need for your box or boxes.
The style of box you need will depend on the product you’re shipping and how you’re shipping it. Our experts can provide advice to help you choose the right.
There are lots of different styles of cardboard box. They are often referred to by a FEFCO style number, dictated by the European Federation of Corrugated Board Manufacturers. Our free, downloadable cardboard boxes guide explains them in more detail.
There are lots of different styles of cardboard box. They are often referred to by a FEFCO style number, dictated by the European Federation of Corrugated Board Manufacturers. Our free, downloadable cardboard boxes guide explains them in more detail.
The most popular style of cardboard box is either an 0201 corrugated carton or an 0427 pizza style box.
An 0201 box has top and bottom flaps that need to be sealed with packing tape. An 0427 box is a folder type box or pizza style box, that can be closed with tabs that fit into folded sides. The one opening can then be sealed with packing tape.
An 0201 box has top and bottom flaps that need to be sealed with packing tape. An 0427 box is a folder type box or pizza style box, that can be closed with tabs that fit into folded sides. The one opening can then be sealed with packing tape.
Cardboard boxes are made from corrugated cardboard. Corrugated board is made up of wavy or fluted paper, sandwiched between flat layers of paper.
Sheets or rolls of corrugated cardboard are fed into cutting machines to produce blank FEFCO box sizes. These blanks are then fed into trimmers, which cut out or score the more intricate parts of a cardboard box. Bending machines then fold boxes as needed, and glue, stitching, staples and other finishes are applied to complete a box.
Sheets or rolls of corrugated cardboard are fed into cutting machines to produce blank FEFCO box sizes. These blanks are then fed into trimmers, which cut out or score the more intricate parts of a cardboard box. Bending machines then fold boxes as needed, and glue, stitching, staples and other finishes are applied to complete a box.
Yes, cardboard boxes can be printed with your branding or messaging. You can learn more about custom boxes here.
Discover our video guides
Our Double Wall Boxes – Quick Facts
Our Single Wall Boxes – Quick Facts
Our Pallet Boxes – Quick Facts
Our Postal Boxes – Quick Facts
Our eCommerce Boxes – Quick Facts
6 Benefits of a Case Erector
Endoline 251 Fully Automated Case Erector
Lantech C-300 Case Erector
Bestselling boxes
Looking for detailed packing advice?
Speak to one of our packaging specialist online, by email or by phone.
Call 0800 2 88 88 22 in the UK or
+353 (404) 37370 from Ireland during business hours.
Unrivalled choice of cardboard boxes
With hundreds of boxes on hand, you can be confident that whatever you need, Macfarlane Packaging has the solution.
Cardboard boxes are a packaging essential. Whether you’re shipping product from your online shop, moving home, organising an office, exporting or putting goods in storage, Macfarlane Packaging has you covered. Our extensive selection, available to buy online, includes single and double wall boxes, postal boxes, ecommerce boxes, pallet boxes, removal boxes, bottle boxes, gift boxes, archive boxes, ensuring you find the right solution for every requirement. Macfarlane also offers both large cardboard boxes and small cardboard boxes, catering to any size of shipment.
At Macfarlane, we’re committed to offering eco-friendly boxes. Cardboard boxes are recyclable and biodegradable, making them an excellent choice for environmentally responsible businesses. Many of our corrugated boxes contain high levels of recycled content too, including our 100% recycled content double wall boxes.
With thousands of strong and durable boxes available, Macfarlane Packaging’s cardboard box range can effectively protect your products. Our vast selection ensures that you can find the perfect box for any application, whether it's for shipping, storage, or gifting. Plus, if you need a solution tailored to you, we offer custom and bespoke boxes. From printed boxes through to unique specifications and sizes, Macfarlane’s experts can help.
Packaging advice, news and opinion
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