Shipping Supplies
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Overview
Shipping Supplies in Bulk for Business
This is Packrift's one-stop hub for wholesale shipping supplies: corrugated boxes, mailers, tape, void fill, labels, and protective materials sourced through BOX Partners and shipped from five US warehouses. Buy by the case pack or by the pallet, with no account and no minimum order. Everything a shipping desk needs to close out a box lives in the category tiles below, and the copy underneath explains how to match materials to what you actually ship so you stop over-buying and under-protecting.
If you are outfitting a fulfillment operation or a growing small business, start with the box or mailer that fits your product, add carton-sealing tape and void fill sized to that container, and layer in stretch film and labels for outbound pallets and parcels. The sections that follow cover the material-science basics — flute grades, edge crush, dimensional weight, and mailer-versus-box decisions — in plain terms.
Shop shipping supplies by category
- Corrugated Boxes — single- and double-wall shipping boxes in standard sizes and case packs for parcels, kits, and freight.
- Mailer Boxes — self-locking folding cartons for subscription, apparel, and ecommerce shipments that need a clean unboxing.
- Bubble Mailers — padded envelopes for small, semi-fragile items that ship at envelope rates.
- Poly Mailers — lightweight, tear-resistant plastic mailers for soft goods and non-fragile items.
- Poly Bags — flat and gusseted bags for bundling, dust protection, and inner packing.
- Carton Sealing Tape — acrylic, hot-melt, and reinforced tapes for closing corrugated boxes.
- Stretch Film — hand and machine stretch wrap for unitizing and securing pallet loads.
- Kraft Paper — void-fill and wrapping paper by the roll for cushioning and interleaving.
- Shipping Labels — thermal and laser labels for carrier and barcode printing.
- Void Fill — loose fill, paper, and air-based fill to immobilize contents inside the box.
- VCI Packaging — corrosion-inhibiting films and papers for metal parts and industrial shipments.
Ordering in volume across several of these categories? Use the bulk quote request to price a mixed pallet or a recurring case-pack order.
Corrugated basics: flute, wall, and edge crush
Corrugated board is rated two ways that matter when you ship: the flute profile and the strength rating. Flute is the wavy inner layer that gives board its rigidity. Common profiles run from coarse to fine — C-flute is the general-purpose shipping standard, B-flute is thinner and better for retail-ready or die-cut cartons, and E- and F-flutes are fine profiles used for small mailer boxes and product packaging. Coarser flutes cushion better and stack taller; finer flutes print cleaner and fold tighter.
Strength is stated as Edge Crush Test (ECT) or the older Burst (Mullen) rating. ECT measures how much stacking force the board's edge can take and is the better predictor for palletized, stacked freight. A single-wall 32 ECT box handles most parcel shipments; step up to 44 ECT single-wall or double-wall board for heavier contents, taller stacks, and long-haul freight. Match the box to the weight and stacking of the load, not just its dimensions — an under-rated box that fits fine will still crush under a pallet.
Single-wall board covers the majority of ecommerce and general shipping. Double-wall — two fluted layers — is for heavy, dense, or high-stack shipments and for reusable or export cartons. When in doubt on a heavy SKU, size up the wall before you size up the box.
Dimensional weight: why box size is a cost
Carriers bill parcels on the greater of actual weight or dimensional (DIM) weight, which is calculated from the box's cubic size. An oversized box full of void fill can cost more to ship than a right-sized box that weighs the same, because the carrier prices the air. Measure your product, pick the smallest box that leaves room for adequate cushioning, and standardize on a small set of box sizes so your pack station moves fast and your DIM cost stays predictable. Buying boxes in bulk across a tight size range is usually cheaper per unit and cheaper to ship than a wide, ad-hoc size mix.
Void fill and cushioning: immobilize, don't just fill
The job of void fill is to stop the product from moving inside the box and to absorb shock, not simply to occupy empty space. Match the fill to the product: paper and kraft for general goods and interleaving, air pillows for lightweight void volume, foam and bubble for fragile or edge-sensitive items, and loose fill for irregular shapes. Fragile and heavy items need cushioning that holds them off all six walls; light, durable items often need only enough fill to keep them from shifting. Under-filling causes damage; over-filling wastes material and inflates DIM weight.
How to choose: box or mailer, and what to add
Box vs. mailer. Use a corrugated box when the item is rigid, fragile, heavy, or needs internal cushioning and a flat stacking surface. Use a mailer box when you want a structured, branded, self-locking carton for a clean unboxing without tape. Use a poly mailer for soft, non-fragile goods that ship at the lowest weight, or a bubble mailer when a small item needs light padding at envelope rates. As a rule: rigid or fragile goes in a box; soft and durable goes in a mailer.
What tape to add. Match tape to box weight and closure method. Acrylic carton-sealing tape is the general-purpose choice for light-to-medium boxes and holds up across a wide temperature range. Hot-melt tape gives a stronger initial grab for higher-throughput and heavier boxes. For heavy or overstuffed cartons, step up to reinforced or a wider tape and use an H-taped closure. Standardize on one or two carton-sealing tapes so your dispensers and process stay consistent.
What void fill to add. Start from the product's fragility. Non-fragile items in a right-sized box often need only kraft paper or a modest amount of void fill to stop movement. Fragile, angular, or heavy items need cushioning that suspends them off the walls. For metal parts and corrosion-prone goods, add VCI packaging inside the box. For outbound pallets, unitize with stretch film and label parcels and cartons with thermal shipping labels.
Shipping supplies FAQ
What shipping supplies does a small business need to start?
A functional pack station needs three things at minimum: the right container (a small range of corrugated boxes plus a mailer for soft goods), carton-sealing tape, and void fill sized to your products. Add shipping labels for carrier printing and stretch film once you ship pallets. Buying each of these in bulk keeps the per-unit cost down.
What is ECT and which rating do I need?
ECT (Edge Crush Test) measures how much stacking force a corrugated box's edge can withstand. A 32 ECT single-wall box suits most parcel shipments; move to 44 ECT or double-wall for heavy contents, tall stacks, or freight. Rate the box to the weight and stacking of the load.
What is dimensional weight and how do I reduce it?
Dimensional weight is a carrier's cubic-size-based billing weight; you are charged on the greater of actual or DIM weight. Reduce it by right-sizing boxes, standardizing on a tight range of sizes, and using void fill only where cushioning is needed rather than filling oversized boxes.
When should I use a mailer instead of a box?
Use a mailer for soft, durable, non-fragile items — apparel, textiles, and similar soft goods — where a box would add weight and DIM cost. Use a box for rigid, fragile, or heavy items that need cushioning and a flat stacking surface.
What tape holds up best on heavy boxes?
For heavy or overstuffed cartons, use hot-melt or reinforced carton-sealing tape and an H-taped closure across the center seam and both edge seams. Acrylic tape is fine for light-to-medium boxes and general use.
How much void fill should I use?
Enough to immobilize the product and, for fragile items, to suspend it off all six walls of the box. Non-fragile items in a right-sized box need only enough fill to stop shifting. Over-filling wastes material and raises DIM weight.
Can I order shipping supplies in bulk or by the case pack?
Yes. Products are offered by the case pack and in wholesale volumes, and you can request a mixed-pallet or recurring order through the bulk quote page. There is no account requirement and no order minimum.
What do you ship metal or corrosion-prone parts in?
Use VCI (vapor corrosion inhibitor) films, bags, or papers inside the shipping box. VCI packaging releases a protective vapor that guards bare metal against rust and oxidation during transit and storage. See the VCI packaging collection.
Buying path
Buy Shipping Supplies by the specs that change the order
Use filters, product titles, and product pages to compare size, material, pack count, case quantity, and fit before ordering.
Use filters and product titles to narrow by the specs that affect fit.
Open the product page before ordering a case so you can check quantity, unit, and limits.
Save the SKU or product link for repeat purchasing and support questions.
For pallet, recurring, or mixed-SKU needs, send support the details before placing a large order.
What to check first
- Size or dimensions
- Material or construction
- Case quantity or pack count
- Shipping unit and reorder need