Products
Serving Portland, Oregon and the metro area
Referral service. Quotes come from partner suppliers.
Pallet-sized corrugated containers for warehousing and logistics. Tell us what you need and we pass your request to partner suppliers.
Gaylord boxes, also known as bulk bins, pallet boxes, or octagonal bins, are large corrugated containers designed to sit on pallets. They are a common way to store, ship, and sort bulk materials in warehouse and industrial settings.
A typical gaylord measures 48 x 40 x 36 inches, which sits on a standard 48x40 pallet and holds about 40 cubic feet. Load ratings depend on construction, so ask the supplier for rated capacity. They are used across manufacturing, recycling, and agriculture.
Used and new gaylords are available through partner suppliers, who set prices, terms, pickup, and delivery. We take requests from Portland, Oregon and the metro area, including Swan Island, Rivergate, Clackamas, and Tualatin. Availability depends on partner suppliers.
One fluted layer. Suited to lighter bulk materials such as textiles, plastics, and foam.
Two fluted layers. Common for general warehouse use and medium-weight parts.
Three fluted layers. Used for heavier industrial loads, often with reinforced corners.
Eight-sided design that helps spread load on the walls. Often used for loose bulk materials.
Gaylords with attached or separate lids for dust protection and stacking.
These are sizes people commonly ask about. All dimensions are in inches (L x W x H) and volumes are rounded. Availability depends on partner suppliers, and custom sizes can be requested.
| Dimensions | Wall Type | Volume (cu ft) | Flap Type | Pallet Fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 40 x 30 x 30 | Single Wall | 21 | Full | Custom 40x30 |
| 48 x 40 x 36 | Single Wall | 40 | Full | Standard 48x40 |
| 48 x 40 x 36 | Double Wall | 40 | Full | Standard 48x40 |
| 48 x 40 x 36 | Triple Wall | 40 | Full | Standard 48x40 |
| 48 x 40 x 48 | Single Wall | 53 | Full | Standard 48x40 |
| 48 x 40 x 48 | Double Wall | 53 | Full | Standard 48x40 |
| 48 x 40 x 48 | Triple Wall | 53 | Full + Lid | Standard 48x40 |
| 48 x 45 x 36 | Double Wall | 45 | Half | Custom 48x45 |
| 48 x 48 x 48 | Triple Wall | 64 | Full + Lid | Custom 48x48 |
| 58 x 42 x 45 | Triple Wall | 63 | Full | Custom 58x42 |
A gaylord box is more than a big cardboard container. Knowing its parts helps you ask for the right configuration.
The four vertical sides of the gaylord, in single wall (3-ply), double wall (5-ply), or triple wall (7-ply). Single wall board is roughly 1/8" to 3/16" thick, double wall 1/4" to 3/8", and triple wall about 1/2" to 5/8". Wall type has a major effect on strength and puncture resistance.
The base closure. Full flaps overlap across the bottom, which helps spread load. Half flaps meet at the center and rely more on the pallet underneath. Ask which your box has, and how it should be supported.
Top closure options include folding flaps, a separate corrugated lid for dust protection and stacking, or an open top for collection and recycling.
Standard gaylords use folded corners. Reinforced gaylords add corner posts, which are vertical corrugated or wood inserts that increase vertical compression strength.
Optional polyethylene or kraft paper liners can protect the interior from moisture, dust, or product residue, and help keep the box clean between uses.
Most gaylords sit on a specific pallet size. The 48x40 pallet is the most common, and 48x45 and 48x48 options exist for larger gaylords. Some models have a pallet base attached directly to the box bottom.
Choosing the right wall type matters for safety and cost. This guide covers how each construction is built and what it is commonly used for. Ask the supplier for rated capacity.
| Construction | Plies | Fluted Layers | Approx. Thickness | Common Uses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Single Wall | 3 | 1 | 1/8" - 3/16" | Light materials, textiles, plastics |
| Double Wall | 5 | 2 | 1/4" - 3/8" | General warehouse, medium-weight parts |
| Triple Wall | 7 | 3 | 1/2" - 5/8" | Heavy industrial, automotive, metal scrap |
Proper handling and storage help a gaylord box stay useful for longer. Follow these guidelines.
Check all four walls for soft spots, punctures, and wet areas. Inspect the bottom flaps for separation at fold lines. Press the corners firmly. Any flex or crumbling means the box should not carry heavy loads.
Corrugated board loses much of its strength when wet, which matters in a damp Portland winter. Store gaylords indoors or under cover. If one gets damp, let it dry completely before use, and never load a damp gaylord.
Lift gaylords from underneath using the pallet, never by the box walls. Insert fork tines fully to spread the load, and avoid tilting a loaded gaylord.
Overloading is a common cause of gaylord failure. Weight ratings generally assume an evenly spread load, and a single heavy object puts more stress on the bottom. Ask the supplier for rated capacity and leave yourself a margin.
Collapse empty gaylords flat with the flaps folded in. Store them off the ground and away from walls to prevent moisture wicking. Collapsed storage takes up far less floor space.
Small punctures and tears can be patched with heavy-duty tape, and damaged corners can take a corrugated corner protector. Treat a repaired gaylord as a lighter-duty box from then on.
The name is generally traced to the Gaylord Container Corporation, a corrugated packaging manufacturer. It stuck as a generic term, and today "gaylord" refers to any large corrugated bulk container, regardless of who made it.
It depends on what it carries and how it is handled. Heavier loads, moisture, and rough forklift handling all shorten its life. Inspect the box before each use and retire it when the walls, corners, or bottom show damage.
Used gaylord boxes may have held non-food materials, so they are not a fit for direct food contact. We do not offer food-grade packaging. If your product is food, check current regulations before choosing a container.
Often, yes. Send a request with the size, wall type, condition, and quantity, and a partner supplier can tell you whether they can buy them, pick them up, or recycle them.
The terms are often used interchangeably. A "gaylord" usually means a corrugated container designed to sit on a pallet, while a "pallet box" can mean any bulk container, including plastic, wood, or metal. In Portland, as elsewhere, "gaylord" almost always means a large corrugated bulk container.
Gaylord boxes are usually shipped collapsed flat on pallets, because far more fit on a truck that way than when assembled. Pickup and delivery are available through partner suppliers, so ask what works for your location and quantity.
Send a free, no-obligation quote request and a partner supplier follows up. Pricing is by quote, and availability depends on partner suppliers.