Calculating the Capability of a Corrugated Box to Hold the Weight

The ability of a box to carry certain amount of weight is not something which is usually on the top of the mind of the manufacturers and customers. But the matter of fact is that it is really important to know how much weight a corrugated box can hold. This simple calculation doesn’t only help a business in using right box for the products but it can also assist well in reducing the packaging and shipping costs.

A typical corrugated box is made of three layers; i.e. the inner liner, the outer liner, and a fluted layer between these two liners. The flute gives the corrugated box its strength while liners keep the sheet together. The box made of corrugated sheets is strong enough to hold bigger and massive items.

When we talk about the strength of the box, the first thing to be taken into consideration is the material from which the box is made. In this scenario, density plays a huge role. If there are more walls of a corrugated box, the box is going to be stronger.

It is worth mentioning that all boxes are not created equal. It is true from the perspective of inner and outer dimensions of the boxes. Similarly, the ability of a box to carry weight also varies. In this scenario, the first thing to mention is the length of the box. Then the width and depth are measured.

The box generally maintain a proportion of 2:1:2 (L:W:D). However, the boxes with other dimensions are also available. Such boxes are ideal for the products which are not of standard sizes.

No matter what the size of the box is, its ability to carry weight is measured through a special test which is called edge-crush-test (ECT). “ECT is a measure of the compressive strength of corrugated board. It is measured by compressing a small segment of board on edge between two rigid plates perpendicular to the direction of the flutes until a peak load is established.”

Using the ECT-rated boxes is quite beneficial for your business in general. You will be able to reduce the amount of packing materials to secure the products because the quality of the box will ensure maximum protection. It also means that there are going to be less energy requirements and reduced pollution.

While buying boxes for the packaging of your products, make sure that there is the manufacturer’s certificate printed on the bottom of the box. There will also be a number corresponding to the “Edge Crush Test”.