Not All "Cardboard" Is Created Equal
The word "cardboard" is used loosely to describe any thick paper-based material, but in the packaging industry, there are three distinct types — each with different properties, costs, and appropriate applications.
Corrugated Board
This is what most people mean when they say "cardboard box." Corrugated board has a wavy fluted layer sandwiched between flat linerboard faces. The fluting provides cushioning, structural rigidity, and excellent strength-to-weight ratio.
Corrugated is the standard for shipping boxes, moving boxes, and industrial packaging. It comes in single wall (one fluted layer), double wall (two), and triple wall (three), with strength ratings from 32 ECT to 71 ECT.
Use for: Shipping, storage, moving, industrial packaging, gaylord boxes.
Chipboard
Chipboard is a single-layer, non-fluted board made from recycled paper fibers. It is thinner and less rigid than corrugated but stiffer than regular paper. You see it in cereal boxes, shoe boxes, backing boards, and light retail packaging.
Chipboard provides no cushioning protection and limited structural support. It is not suitable for shipping without an outer corrugated box.
Use for: Retail product boxes, backing boards, dividers, craft projects, light packaging.
Fiberboard (Solid Fiber)
Solid fiberboard is dense, heavy, and extremely strong. Unlike corrugated, it has no fluting — just multiple layers of compressed fiber. It is used in applications requiring high puncture resistance and durability: heavy industrial containers, reusable shipping cases, and protective sleeves.
Fiberboard is more expensive than corrugated but lasts significantly longer under rough handling.
Use for: Reusable shipping containers, protective cases, industrial applications, archival storage.
Why It Matters
Ordering the wrong type of board is a common (and expensive) mistake. Shipping fragile items in a chipboard box is asking for damage claims. Using solid fiberboard for one-time light shipments is overkill.
At Portland Boxes, we deal primarily in corrugated — the versatile middle ground that handles 95% of shipping and storage applications. If you are unsure what you need, we can advise based on your product and use case.