Corrugated Packaging Specifications: Grades, Grammages, Flutes, Sizes and MOQ
This page brings together the specs the Auto Boxes factory actually produces: 5 liner grades and 1 fluting medium grade, grammages from 105 to 250 GSM, and 5 flute types covering 3-ply and 5-ply structures, along with minimum order quantities, printing systems and lead times for each type of job.
Paper Grades and Grammages You Can Order
All values apply to both boxes and sheets. Minimum orders can be adjusted to the actual size and spec of each job, so you can check with our team before deciding to order.
This table lists every grade and grammage the factory produces. For grammages not listed, availability depends on the raw materials in that production run, so please check with our team before confirming the spec on your purchase order.
| Grade | Full name | Paper shade | Available grammages (GSM) | Used as |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| KA | Kraft A | Golden yellow | 125 · 150 · 185 · 230 | Liner |
| KH | Kraft H | Earth Brown | 150 · 175 · 200 · 250 | Liner |
| KI | Kraft I | Light brown | 125 · 150 · 185 | Liner |
| WS | White Surface | White Top | 140 · 170 | Liner |
| KK | Kraft K | Dark brown | 125 · 150 · 185 | Liner |
| CA | Corrugating Medium | Light brown | 105 · 125 · 150 · 185 | Fluting medium and inner liner only |
Where CA can be used This grade serves as the fluting medium and can also be used as the inner liner. It cannot be used for the visible outer liner or for printing, because the paper is not made to take ink or to resist outside forces.
Different grades for outer and inner liners One board structure can use different liner grades. This suits jobs that need a specific surface quality on the side people see, while the inside uses a grade that keeps cost under control. Tell us which side is visible, and our team will propose a grade pair that meets the required strength at a suitable cost.
Compare the properties of each grade and how to chooseFlutes and Board Structures You Can Order
| Flute | Flute height | Flutes per foot | Ply | Used for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| E | 1.0 mm | 90 to 96 | 3-ply | Small boxes, print work that needs fine detail |
| B | 3.0 mm | 47 to 50 | 3-ply | General boxes, retail packaging |
| C | 4.0 mm | 39 to 43 | 3-ply | Shipping boxes, jobs that are stacked |
| BE | 4.0 mm | Two flutes combined | 5-ply | Jobs that need both strength and good print surface quality |
| BC | 7.0 mm | Two flutes combined | 5-ply | Heavy products, high stacking, export |
| 2-ply sheet (Single Face) | Per selected flute | Per selected flute | 2-ply | Wrapping and outer cushioning material. It cannot be formed into a box. |
Specifying flutes on your purchase order BE and C flutes are both 4 mm thick, so thickness alone is not enough to start production. A complete spec must always state the flute type, because the flute type also tells us the number of plies. E, B and C flutes are 3-ply structures, while BE and BC flutes are 5-ply structures.
Cost between flutes B and C flutes are priced at a similar level, because both are charged on the actual area of the piece. 5-ply structures cost more because they use more paper.
Properties of each flute type and how they perform in useSupported Printing Systems
| Printing system | Maximum colors | Minimum order | Lead time | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flexo | 4 colors | 500 pieces | 10 to 14 business days | High volumes, logos and text |
| Offset | 6 colors (CMYK plus spot colors) | About 2,000 pieces | About 20 to 30 business days | Full-color work that needs high sharpness |
| Digital | 4 colors CMYK | 1 piece | 10 business days | Low volumes, designs that change every run |
Printing notes
- Printed sides You can print one side or both. The minimums in the table are based on one-side printing, so two-side printing changes the price, production steps and minimum order. State this when you request a quotation so the quote does not need revising later.
- Color matching Specify Pantone numbers or send a color sample for matching. Printing directly on corrugated board has a registration tolerance of about 1.5 mm under international norms, so designs with lines placed close together should allow for this from the design stage.
- Artwork files .AI and .PDF files with all fonts embedded are the first choice, because vector files scale without losing quality and carry no extra layout charge. If you have no vector file at all, a .PNG at 300 DPI or higher can be used.
- Printing plates and cutting dies These are a one-time cost. Repeat orders of the same design carry no further charge for them. The actual price depends on the size and complexity of the design, so our team states it on the quotation case by case.
Minimum Order Quantities
| Job type | Minimum order |
|---|---|
| Unprinted regular slotted boxes | 300 pieces |
| Printed regular slotted boxes | 500 pieces |
| Custom-shape die-cut boxes | 500 pieces |
| Offset-printed boxes | About 2,000 pieces |
| Mailer boxes in sizes 00 · 0 · A · B printed with your brand | 5,000 pieces per size |
| Mailer boxes in other specs and sizes | 1,000 pieces per size |
| Large packaging parts for export | 100 sets |
| Special assembly work | 100 pieces |
| 2-ply corrugated rolls | 40 kg |
| 3-ply and 5-ply corrugated sheets | From 300 meters |
Basis for the figures in the table Minimums for printed boxes are based on one-side Flexo printing, the factory standard. Special printing changes both the minimum and the price, especially jobs printed inside and out, so these are assessed case by case. Minimums and lead times shown for Offset and Digital printing are estimates. Our team works out the actual figures with our sales team case by case, based on the job details.
The figures in the table are references for typical jobs Actual quantities can be adjusted to the size and spec of each job. If you need less than the listed amount, our team reviews it case by case with production, and in many cases we can plan it together with other orders or adjust the terms to make it work.
How sheet minimums are calculated The minimum for sheets is based on one machine run. For the same ordered length, large sheets give fewer pieces than small sheets.
Lead Time for Each Step
| Step | Lead time | Counted from |
|---|---|---|
| Quotation | 3 to 5 business days | Complete information received |
| Delivery date confirmation | Within 24 hours | Order confirmation from the customer |
| New production that needs new tooling | 10 to 14 business days | Artwork approval and deposit payment |
| Repeat production with existing tooling | 7 to 10 business days | Order confirmation |
| Rush order | 3 to 7 business days, case by case | Artwork approval and deposit payment |
| Offset printing | About 20 to 30 business days | Artwork approval and deposit payment |
| Digital printing | 10 business days | Artwork approval and deposit payment |
| Complex structures that need a sample first | 14 to 21 business days | Brief received |
Size Range and Conditions to Review Together First
The factory produces boxes and sheets to the sizes you specify. The table below lists the cases where job size affects structure and cost. Knowing these conditions before you send a brief cuts down on quotation revisions.
| Case | Effect on the job |
|---|---|
| Very small boxes | Must be formed on the die-cut process so fold lines are crisp and the shape follows the design, which adds a cutting die cost |
| Boxes taller than 800 mm or flat blanks wider than 1,500 mm | Paper roll width must be reserved with production before the price and delivery date are confirmed |
| Boxes whose flat blank is wider than the converting machine | Switch to a joined box construction, which adds one joint and an assembly charge |
| Die-cut jobs with holes or vents | The narrowest supported gap between knife lines is 3 mm |
| Cut-to-size sheets | Cut to the size you actually use. Extra-large sizes must be checked with production before confirming |
| Corrugated rolls (2-ply) | Standard width 48 inches, about 40 kg per roll. Ask us to check other widths |
Stating size on your quotation request Give the size as width × length × height, and say whether it is an inside or outside measurement. The inside size is the size your product must fit exactly. If you have not set a box size yet, just send the product size instead, and our team will work out a suitable box size from it.
How to measure a box: inside or outside dimensionsStandards You Can Reference
Factory certifications
| Certification | Covers |
|---|---|
| ISO 9001 | The factory quality management system, controlling every production step |
| FSC Chain of Custody | Certifies the source of the paper. The FSC claim can be stated on the invoice when you order FSC material |
Export requirements Corrugated packaging is outside the scope of ISPM-15, which applies to wood packaging, so it does not need fumigation before export.
Production Conditions to Know Before You Order
Grades for higher grammages
Maximum grammage differs by liner grade. Jobs that need a liner above 185 GSM can only be made in KA, which goes up to 230 GSM, or KH, which goes up to 250 GSM. If the spec you received lists another grade at a higher grammage, our team will propose a substitute grade with equivalent strength for you to consider.
Tooling life and storage
Printing plates and cutting dies are a one-time cost and can run 50,000 to 100,000 times, depending on care. Tooling with no repeat order for 1 full year is destroyed under the space management procedure of our ISO 9001 system, so orders after that carry new tooling costs at actual price. If tooling is damaged by our own machines, the factory repairs or remakes it for as long as we continue to supply you.
Optional extras for boxes
Boxes can be ordered with a moisture-resistant coating for jobs with ongoing exposure to moisture, such as cold room storage or outdoor areas, at extra cost over the standard spec. Windows, hand holes and tear strips can be made to your design. Telling us how the box will be used on site with your brief helps our team propose a cost-effective option from the first round.
Information needed before a quotation
Five things we need to price the job: the size as width × length × height with inside or outside measurement, the quantity needed with a monthly order plan if you have one, the product to be packed and weight per box, printing details including number of colors and printing system, and any special requirements such as export, FSC or test criteria to meet.
Extra details that help us assess more accurately are the stacking method, number of layers stacked, storage conditions and the date you need delivery.
Delivery
Slotted and standard die-cut boxes are delivered flat and bundled in packs to save storage space and freight cost, then opened and formed at your packing line as you need them. For assembled and protective packaging with inner parts, you can choose our ready-to-use assembled box service, where the factory assembles the box and its parts before delivery. There are two seam options: glued, for a smooth seam that suits general consumer goods and branded boxes, and stitched, for higher strength that suits heavy-duty industrial boxes and sea freight exports. We deliver nationwide. Freight is estimated by destination and quantity and stated on the quotation, or you can arrange your own truck to collect from our Bang Pakong factory.
Design services
Box structure and die-line design is free. Our Technical Service team does this on every box job. For graphics, if you already have production-ready vector files such as .AI or .PDF with fonts embedded, our team places them on the box for you. If you have no files yet and want to start new graphics or a new logo from scratch, there is a fee based on the actual scope of work, which can be credited against your first production order.
What the factory does not provide
We cannot produce from Word files, PowerPoint files or images taken from the internet. The factory does not hold stock of finished goods for customers, so finished goods must be taken on the agreed schedule.
Product Groups That Use These Specs
FAQ: Specifications
It depends on the raw materials available in that production run. Send the value you need with the quantity, and our team will check it against the production run before confirming. In many cases, a nearby grammage we already stock gives the strength you need without waiting for a new material run.
No. What we really need is the size, the quantity, and the product to be packed with its weight. If you have not set the grade, grammage and flute yet, our team will propose a spec that suits the job along with the quotation.
No. For jobs produced before with an unchanged design, there is no further charge for printing plates or cutting dies, and lead time drops from 10 to 14 business days to 7 to 10 business days. The only condition is that the tooling must still be on file, which is kept for 1 year from the latest order.
Yes. Every box job must pass Print Master approval before it goes on the production line. The Print Master is the drawing that shows the die-line, print positions and the full spec of the job. You review and confirm it, and lead time starts after this step. Complex structures have one more step, where we make a real sample box for you to test with your product.
Grade, grammage and flute use the same set for both groups. What differs is the unit for minimum orders: boxes are counted in pieces, 3-ply and 5-ply sheets in meters, and 2-ply rolls in kilograms. Some optional extras, such as moisture-resistant coating, are for boxes only.
Request a Quotation for Your Spec Directly from the Factory
Tell us the size, the quantity needed and the product to be packed. Our team prepares a quotation and sends it within 3 to 5 business days once we have complete information. If you have not set a spec yet, tell us about the job and the weight it must carry, and our team can compare options for you first.