Packaging Materials Explained: Board, Paper & Flute
Walk into any packaging factory and you will hear words like greyboard, E-flute, CCNB and kraft. These materials decide your box's stiffness, feel, cost and recyclability. Here is how to choose.
The two families: paperboard and corrugated
Paperboard (also called carton board or card stock) is a single thick sheet - think cereal boxes and rigid box wrapping. It is smooth, prints beautifully, and folds cleanly.
Corrugated is a fluted layer sandwiched between two liners - think shipping boxes. It is dramatically stronger for its weight and is the default for mailers and shipping cartons.
Inside a rigid box: greyboard
Magnetic, drawer and lid-base boxes are built from greyboard - a dense recycled board, usually 1.0-3.0 mm thick, cut and wrapped in decorative paper. The board provides the rigid structure; the paper provides the beauty. Thicker board means a heavier, more expensive feel.
Choosing your wrapping paper
- Coated art paper (CCNB/C2S): smooth and glossy, best color reproduction, standard choice.
- Uncoated paper: matte, soft, elegant - pairs well with embossing and letterpress.
- Kraft: natural brown or white-brown, eco look, tears less easily; great for food and retail.
- Textured: linen, leatherette, velvet, silk - luxury surface with a premium price.
Corrugated flute sizes
| Flute | Thickness | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| E-flute | 1.5 mm | Folding mailers, retail boxes, minimal bulk |
| B-flute | 3 mm | Mid-weight protection, e-commerce |
| C-flute | 4 mm | Heavier items, shipping cartons |
| BC (double wall) | 7 mm | Heavy or fragile shipments |
Quick comparison
| Material | Stiffness | Print quality | Relative cost | Eco | Best use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Greyboard rigid box | High | Excellent | $$$ | Recyclable core | Luxury, jewelry, phones |
| Corrugated mailer | High | Good | $ | Recyclable | E-commerce, shipping |
| Folding carton (paperboard) | Medium | Excellent | $$ | Recyclable | Cosmetics, food, retail |
| Kraft bag | Low | Good | $ | Compostable | Retail, takeaway |
We send a material sample kit with every quote - touch the papers, bend the boards, crush the flutes. Choose with your hands, not just a datasheet.
Lamination and coatings
Paper surfaces are usually laminated or coated for durability and feel: matte lamination kills glare, gloss adds pop, soft-touch adds a velvet grip, and aqueous coating is the budget option. Your choice of laminate affects the final color - always approve a physical sample before mass production.
Structural designers & print specialists, Shenzhen
