Products
Serving Portland, Oregon and the metro area
Referral service. Quotes come from partner suppliers.
Two layers of fluting add crush resistance and stacking strength for heavier shipments. Request used double wall boxes through partner suppliers.
Double wall corrugated board features two layers of fluted medium separated by a flat liner, creating a five-layer construction with more crush resistance and stacking strength than single wall.
Often built with BC flute (B-flute plus C-flute), double wall boxes are a common step up for heavier goods, stacking, and long-term storage. Ask the supplier for rated capacity.
Used double wall boxes are available through partner suppliers. Prior use affects strength, so ask about condition before you rely on a box for a heavy load. Availability depends on partner suppliers.
Board construction
Fluted layers
Common flute pairing
Common double wall rating
| Dimensions (L x W x H) | Typical Use |
|---|---|
| 10 x 10 x 10 | Dense small items, heavy tools |
| 12 x 12 x 12 | Heavy small items, tools, castings |
| 14 x 14 x 14 | Equipment, dense electronics |
| 16 x 16 x 16 | Equipment, electronics, lab gear |
| 18 x 14 x 14 | Server components, UPS units |
| 18 x 18 x 18 | Industrial parts, machinery components |
| 20 x 20 x 20 | Heavy equipment, bulk goods |
| 24 x 18 x 12 | Flat heavy items, metal plates |
| 24 x 18 x 18 | Automotive parts, manufacturing |
| 24 x 24 x 24 | Larger heavy items, storage |
| 30 x 24 x 24 | Oversized heavy items, export shipping |
| 36 x 24 x 24 | Large machinery parts, industrial storage |
| 36 x 36 x 24 | Oversized equipment, palletized goods |
| 40 x 30 x 24 | Large industrial components |
Double wall boxes are commonly 44 or 48 ECT. Sizes are for reference, not a stock list. Ask the supplier for the rating and rated capacity. Availability depends on partner suppliers.
Heavy machinery parts, automotive components, and manufacturing supplies that need more protection in transit.
Longer trips with more handling are harder on a box. Double wall gives extra protection for the journey.
Warehoused goods that sit under stacking pressure for a long time. Double wall is better at holding up than single wall.
Understanding how double wall corrugated is built helps you decide when it is worth asking for.
Double wall corrugated board consists of five distinct layers, from outside to inside: (1) outer liner, (2) outer fluting, (3) center liner, (4) inner fluting, (5) inner liner. This five-ply board, roughly 1/4 to 3/8 inch thick, adds crush resistance, puncture resistance, and stacking strength. The center liner keeps the two fluted layers apart so they work independently under compression.
A common double wall configuration is BC flute: a B-flute layer (3mm) combined with a C-flute layer (4mm). The C-flute adds cushioning and stacking strength, while the finer B-flute helps resist puncture and gives a better printing surface on the outer face. BC double wall is a common choice for heavy shipping boxes and industrial containers.
For fragile items, AC flute combines the thick A-flute (5mm) with C-flute (4mm). This makes a thicker board with more cushioning. The tradeoff is lower flat crush resistance than BC, so it suits sharp-edged contents less well. Ask a partner supplier whether it is available.
Printing surface, puncture resistance
Crush resistance, dent protection
Separates the flutes, spreads load
Cushioning, stacking strength
Clean interior surface
Double wall has more paper to get through, so it generally takes up moisture more slowly than single wall. It is still corrugated, though, and damp conditions weaken it. In a wet Portland winter, keep boxes dry and off the floor.
Single wall suits many jobs, but there are situations where double wall is worth asking about. Use this guide to decide.
As contents get heavier, single wall has less margin, especially when stacked. Ask the supplier for rated capacity and step up if your load is near the limit.
If boxes will sit stacked on pallets for a long time, consider double wall. Corrugated experiences "creep", a gradual compression under sustained load, and sturdier board helps.
Shipments that move between truck, rail, or ocean freight see more vibration and handling than a single local trip. Double wall adds some reserve for those transitions.
When the contents are worth far more than the box, the step up to double wall is often easy to justify. Good cushioning still matters.
Tools, machined parts, and metal brackets can puncture single wall from the inside during transit. Double wall adds resistance, especially where items can shift.
If boxes will sit in a refrigerated space or be exposed to damp during loading, double wall generally holds up better than single wall. Keep them as dry as you can.
A side-by-side look at how the two constructions differ. Actual performance varies by board, flute, and condition.
| Feature | Single Wall | Double Wall |
|---|---|---|
| Board | 3-ply | 5-ply |
| Fluted Layers | 1 | 2 |
| Approx. Thickness | 1/8" - 3/16" | 1/4" - 3/8" |
| Common Flutes | B, C, E | BC, AC |
| Common ECT | 32, with 44 as a stronger grade | 44 or 48 |
| Stacking | Good for lighter stacks | Better for heavier stacks |
| Puncture Resistance | Good | Better |
| Weight of the Box | Lighter | Heavier |
Ask the supplier for rated capacity for the box you are quoted.
Double wall boxes are common where contents are heavy or hard to replace. Here are some of the usual uses and sizes.
Brake assemblies, stamped parts, and other dense components. Double wall helps resist puncture from sharp edges.
Hand tools, fasteners, and hardware kits are heavy for their size and can have sharp edges that work at the box walls.
Precision-machined parts need protection from knocks. Double wall with suitable inserts is a common way to pack them.
Pumps, motors, and heavy electrical components. Double wall helps with the weight, and cushioning protects machined surfaces.
Bottles are heavy and fragile together. Double wall with cell partitions separates them and adds strength.
Flat-pack panels, hardware kits, and furniture pieces ship in double wall boxes that resist bending in transit.
Send a free, no-obligation quote request and a partner supplier follows up. Availability depends on partner suppliers.