How to Calculate How Much Weight a Corrugated Cardboard Box Can Hold

While the weight that a box may contain may not be the most important thing for anyone making a single purchase, the weight and strength of a corrugated box can strongly affect the end result. Finding the right weight and strength for a corrugated cardboard box can mean lower costs in the supply chain and more profits for a business.

Corrugated boxes are made of three different layers of paper: an inner lining, an outer lining and stretch marks that are in the middle. The flutes between the coating layers give strength and structure to the corrugated boxes and provide an additional layer of protection. This corrugated method, also known as cardboard for containers, ultimately helps to provide the necessary strength to support the weight and protect the product inside.

CustomCorrugated Boxes 

The strength of a corrugated cardboard box begins with its material. The strength of a box is relative to its density. The more walls a box has, the stronger it will be. The manufacturer's seal inside the box usually indicates a wall, a double wall or a triple wall to let you know the strength of the box.

Because all corrugated boxes are not made in the same way, the external and internal dimensions may vary, which means that the weight that the box can carry can also vary. Calculating the size of the box also allows companies to make informed decisions about logistics and supply chain management, but the size of the box will not affect the strength of the box in general.

Although it may be tempting to simply measure from the outside, the box size is always given in terms of internal dimensions. Usually, the length is mentioned first, or the longest dimension of the opening, followed by the width and depth.

Ideally, corrugated boxes maintain a ratio of 2: 1: 2 (L: W: D). However, corrugated boxes of different dimensions are absolutely available for products that do not conform to standard sizes.

For boxes of all sizes, the calculation of the weight that corrugation can withstand is done by something called an edge crush test (ECT). “ECT is a measure of the compressive strength of corrugated cardboard. It is measured by compressing a small segment of plate at the edge between two rigid plates perpendicular to the direction of the flutes until a maximum load is established. "

Compared to previous industry standards, the use of corrugated boxes with ECT classification results in fewer raw materials, lower energy requirements and less pollution, at all stages of the package life cycle.

CustomCorrugated Boxes 

To calculate the weight that a corrugated cardboard box can support, the ECT rating is essential. At the bottom of almost all shipping boxes, there will be a Box Maker Certificate. There will be a number corresponding to the "Edge Crush Test".



Below are estimates of the amount of weight that a single-wall corrugated cardboard box can support based on the ECT number found on the bottom of the box.

ECT # Weight that can be maintained in pounds (lb)

32 30

40 40

44 50

55 65



A double-walled corrugated cardboard box can contain the lower weight according to the ECT number found on the bottom of the box.

ECT # Weight that can be maintained in pounds (lb)

48 60

51 80

61 100

71 120

82 140



Based on these calculations, companies can make informed financial decisions about how much product to place in a box or what size corrugated box is needed to meet their needs.

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