Frequently Asked Questions

All our boxes are inspected and graded on an A-D scale. Grade A boxes are like-new with minimal wear, suitable for customer-facing shipments. Grade B shows light use and is ideal for e-commerce. Grade C has moderate wear but remains structurally sound, perfect for storage and internal moves. Grade D is well-used but still functional for non-critical applications. We reject any boxes that fail our structural integrity test, so every grade we sell is safe to use for its rated weight capacity.

No minimum order! You can buy as few as one box or as many as a full truckload. However, volume discounts start at 50 boxes, with increasing savings at 200, 500, and 1,000+ units. For truckload quantities (2,000+ boxes), we offer custom pricing that can bring costs down to as low as 30 cents per box depending on size and grade. Contact us for a volume quote tailored to your needs.

Used boxes typically cost 40-60% less than new boxes of the same size and strength. A standard 12 x 12 x 12 used box in Grade B condition costs approximately $0.60-$0.90 compared to $1.50-$2.00 for new. Exact pricing depends on size, grade, quantity, and current availability. Gaylord boxes range from $3-$12 depending on wall thickness and condition. Contact us for a free, no-obligation quote that includes delivery estimates.

Yes! Orders placed before noon on business days can be delivered the same day within the Portland metro area. Next-day delivery is available for orders placed after noon. We maintain a fleet of box trucks that run delivery routes throughout the greater Portland area Monday through Saturday. For urgent needs outside our standard delivery windows, email us directly to discuss expedited options.

Absolutely. Our warehouse at 8840 N Ramsey Blvd in North Portland is open for walk-in customers during business hours, Monday through Friday from 7 AM to 5 PM and Saturday from 8 AM to 2 PM. You are welcome to browse our inventory, inspect box quality in person, and load up your vehicle. We can also help you select the right sizes if you bring measurements or a sample of what you need to pack.

We specialize in corrugated boxes, but we also stock essential packing supplies including packing tape, bubble wrap, packing paper, and stretch wrap. These are available at our warehouse and can be included with box deliveries. We do not carry a full retail selection of supplies, but we carry everything you need to pack and seal the boxes we sell.

We purchase most corrugated boxes in reasonable condition, including standard RSC boxes, gaylord/bulk boxes, and specialty corrugated. Boxes should be clean, dry, and free of food contamination or hazardous materials. We pay the best prices for once-used boxes in popular sizes (12x12x12 through 24x24x24). We also buy odd sizes and printed boxes, though pricing varies based on resale demand.

Pricing depends on the type, size, condition, and quantity of boxes. Clean, single-use boxes in popular sizes command the best prices, typically ranging from $0.25-$0.75 per box. Gaylord boxes in good condition can earn $2-$8 each. Heavily printed, damaged, or non-standard sizes are worth less but we will still make you an offer. Contact us with details about your boxes, including approximate quantities and sizes, for a same-day quote.

Yes, we offer free pickup for quantities of 50+ boxes or one pallet or more within the Portland metro area. For smaller quantities, you are welcome to drop off at our facility during business hours. For large or recurring pickups (distribution centers, manufacturers), we can set up scheduled weekly or biweekly collection routes at no charge. Our trucks are equipped to handle palletized, banded, or loose boxes.

Remove all tape, labels, and packing material from the boxes. Flatten them and stack by size if possible. Boxes should be clean and dry with no food residue, grease stains, or chemical contamination. Remove any inserts or dividers unless they are integral to the box design. The less work we need to do to prepare them for resale, the better price we can offer you.

Boxes that fail our reuse inspection are baled and sent to certified recycling mills in the Pacific Northwest. They are pulped and turned into new paper products such as brown paper bags, new corrugated board, and paperboard. Nothing goes to landfill. We maintain a zero-waste policy in our facility, and we track our recycling tonnage monthly to ensure accountability. In 2025, we diverted over 200 tons of cardboard from landfill through our recycling program.

Contact us with information about your typical cardboard volume and preferred pickup frequency. We will design a collection schedule that works for your operations at no charge for qualifying volumes. Most of our business clients receive weekly or biweekly pickups. We provide collection bins or gaylord containers at your location if needed, and our drivers handle all loading. Setup typically takes 1-2 business days from your initial call.

For businesses generating consistent volumes (1+ pallet per pickup), our recycling collection is free. For smaller volumes, we may charge a small collection fee of $25-$50 per pickup, or we recommend drop-off at our facility which is always free regardless of quantity. We also offer revenue-sharing arrangements for very large generators (10+ pallets per week) where you receive a per-ton payment for your recyclable cardboard.

Yes, tape and labels are removed during the pulping process at the recycling mill. However, boxes that are cleaner and free of tape and labels have higher value for reuse rather than recycling. If your boxes are in good shape, we may be able to pay you for them as reusable inventory rather than processing them as recycling. Bring them in or schedule a pickup and we will evaluate the best option.

We deliver throughout the Portland metro area including Portland, Beaverton, Hillsboro, Gresham, Lake Oswego, Tigard, Tualatin, Oregon City, Milwaukie, West Linn, Clackamas, Wilsonville, Sherwood, and Vancouver, WA. Extended delivery to Salem, Eugene, and the Oregon Coast is available for large orders (typically 500+ boxes or one pallet of gaylords). Contact us for delivery availability to other locations in Oregon and Southwest Washington.

Yes, our box trucks are equipped with liftgates for ground-level delivery and can also service standard loading docks at 48 to 52 inch heights. Please mention your dock specifications when ordering so we can assign the appropriate vehicle. For businesses without a dock or liftgate access, our drivers can hand-unload bundled boxes to your door. We just ask that someone be available to direct the driver to your preferred unloading spot.

Boxes are delivered flat (knocked-down) on pallets or bundled with stretch wrap and banding. Standard pallets hold 50-200 boxes depending on size. We can deliver them assembled upon request for an additional fee of $0.15-$0.25 per box. Gaylord boxes are delivered on 48x40 standard pallets, stacked flat in quantities of 5-15 per pallet depending on wall thickness. All deliveries include a packing slip with itemized quantities.

Delivery within the Portland metro core (roughly inside I-205 and west to Hillsboro) is free for orders of $100 or more. Orders under $100 within the metro area have a flat delivery fee of $25. Extended deliveries outside the metro core are quoted individually based on distance and order size. Pickup at our warehouse is always free. We find that most business orders qualify for free delivery with ease.

Our pricing is based on four factors: box size, box grade (A through D), order quantity, and current supply levels. Like any commodity, corrugated box pricing fluctuates with paper market conditions, seasonal demand, and available inventory. We update our pricing regularly and always offer the most competitive rates in the Portland market. Get a current quote by contacting us with your specific size and quantity needs.

Yes, volume discounts are a core part of our pricing structure. Discounts begin at 50 boxes and increase at 200, 500, 1,000, and 5,000+ unit thresholds. A business ordering 1,000 boxes can save 20-30% compared to the single-unit price. For ongoing accounts with regular monthly orders, we offer contracted pricing that locks in your rate for the term of the agreement, protecting you from market fluctuations.

We are confident our prices are the most competitive in the Portland area, but if you find a lower price for comparable used boxes from a local competitor, let us know. We will do our best to match or beat that price. Please provide a written quote from the competitor including box size, grade, quantity, and delivery terms so we can make an accurate comparison. We believe that once you factor in our quality grading and free delivery, our value is hard to beat.

For established business accounts with consistent ordering history, we offer Net 15 and Net 30 payment terms. New customers typically start with payment on delivery or prepayment for the first few orders. Once we establish a relationship, we are happy to discuss credit terms that work for your cash flow cycle. We accept cash, check, credit card, ACH transfer, and Venmo for business accounts.

Every reused box prevents approximately 1.3 pounds of CO2 emissions, saves 7 gallons of water, and conserves 3.5 kWh of energy that would have been used to manufacture a new box. It also keeps 2.5 cubic feet of material out of landfills. A business that reuses just 500 boxes per year prevents the equivalent carbon emissions of driving a car over 300 miles. Over time these savings compound dramatically, especially for companies that ship thousands of packages per month.

Reuse is significantly better than recycling from an environmental standpoint. Recycling a box requires energy to transport it to a mill, water and chemicals to break it down into pulp, and more energy to form it into new board. Reuse skips all of those steps entirely. The EPA estimates that reuse saves 70-80% more energy and resources than recycling the same material. We always prioritize reuse; recycling is our second-choice option for boxes that cannot be reused.

Yes, we track several environmental metrics including total boxes diverted from landfill, estimated CO2 savings, water conservation, and energy savings. We publish these numbers annually and share them with our business customers who need data for their own sustainability reports. In 2025 we diverted over 1.2 million boxes from landfill, saving an estimated 780 tons of CO2 and 8.4 million gallons of water. We are always looking for ways to improve these numbers.

We are working toward carbon neutrality and have taken significant steps including route optimization for our delivery fleet, LED lighting and energy-efficient systems in our warehouse, and sourcing from local suppliers to minimize transportation distances. We offset a portion of our transportation emissions through partnerships with Oregon-based reforestation programs. Our goal is full carbon neutrality by 2028, and we publish annual progress reports on our sustainability journey.

Yes, if you need a specific size that we do not currently have in stock, we can source it through our network of suppliers, box manufacturers, and partner recyclers throughout the Pacific Northwest. Sourcing lead time is typically 3-7 business days for used boxes and 7-14 business days for new custom-cut boxes. We maintain relationships with over 40 suppliers, which allows us to find almost any standard size within a week.

Custom printing is available on new boxes only, not on used boxes. We partner with regional corrugated manufacturers who can produce custom-printed boxes with your branding in 1-4 color flexographic printing. Minimum orders for printed boxes are typically 250-500 units depending on box size. Turnaround time is 3-4 weeks from artwork approval. Contact us for a printing quote alongside your box order.

We stock common divider configurations for wine shippers, glassware, and bottle packs. For custom insert designs, we work with a local die-cut manufacturer who can produce foam, cardboard, or pulp inserts to fit your product exactly. Custom insert tooling typically costs $200-$500 with a 2-3 week lead time. Once tooling is made, reorders are fast and affordable. This is ideal for fragile products that need repeatable, secure packaging.

Absolutely. Many of our business customers have standing weekly or monthly orders that we prepare and deliver on a set schedule. Standing orders guarantee inventory availability, lock in pricing, and save you the time of reordering each cycle. We can adjust quantities up or down with 48 hours notice. This is our most popular option for e-commerce businesses, subscription box companies, and manufacturers with consistent packaging needs.

Used boxes are generally not recommended for direct food contact, as they may have been previously used to ship non-food products. For food-adjacent applications such as outer shipping boxes that contain individually sealed food items, Grade A used boxes are acceptable and commonly used. For direct food contact such as bakery boxes or produce containers, we recommend our new box options that meet FDA food-contact requirements. When in doubt, ask our team and we will recommend the right solution.

Yes! If we do not have your exact size in stock, we can source custom-cut boxes through our supplier network or trim existing used boxes to your required height. Custom sizes are available in both new and select used options. New custom boxes require minimum orders of 100 units with a 7-14 day lead time. Used box trimming has no minimum order and is available same-day. Contact us with your exact dimensions and quantity for a quote.

All our boxes are stored indoors in our climate-controlled 15,000 sq ft warehouse at 8840 N Ramsey Blvd in North Portland. The facility maintains temperature between 65-75 degrees Fahrenheit and humidity below 50%, which protects corrugated integrity. Our warehouse is equipped with industrial shelving, pallet racking, and a dedicated inspection area. This protects inventory from moisture, sun damage, and contamination, ensuring consistent quality from the day we receive a box to the day it ships to you.

Portland Boxes has been serving the Portland metro area since our founding, building a reputation as the region's most trusted source for used and recycled corrugated packaging. Over the years we have grown from a small operation into a full-service box supplier with a 15,000 sq ft warehouse, a fleet of delivery trucks, and relationships with hundreds of local businesses. Our team brings decades of combined experience in corrugated packaging, logistics, and sustainability.

Yes, we regularly partner with nonprofits, schools, and community organizations throughout the Portland area. We offer discounted pricing for registered nonprofits and can often donate boxes for community events, food drives, and disaster relief efforts. If your nonprofit needs boxes, reach out and tell us about your organization and what you need. We believe in supporting the community that supports us.