Packaging Boxes And Mailing Tubes

What Are Packaging Boxes and Their Uses?

Packaging boxes, which are also referred to as shipping cartons or packing cartons, are used for storage, shipments, and delivery purposes. This ranges from general retail shipments to larger sized bulk shipments - such as those used for large pallet deliveries.

Types of Box Packaging and Cardboard Boxes

Cardboard Box Packaging for Shipping and Storage

Your general packaging boxes can be used for both shipping and storage. When you need to send off general/non-fragile items or documents, most standard packaging boxes will do the trick. They’re also a good choice for storing away old items or sealed documents.

Packaging Box Cardboard for Heavy-Duty Items

You’ll find a selection of heavy-duty packaging boxes that are constructed to properly handle and protect larger, heavy-duty items, such as washing machines, fridges, and other appliances, as well as heavy and/or fragile furniture.

Bulk Packaging Boxes for Large Shipments

We also stock a range of larger packaging boxes that are a good choice for bulk items - including varying dimensions of pallet cartons to suit big warehouse shipments.

Benefits of Using Packaging Boxes for Shipping and Storage

Protects Items During Transit

Undoubtedly the main benefit of any quality packaging box is its ability to help protect items during transit. When used in conjunction with padding/protective materials such as lining paper, bubble wrap or honeycomb paper, you’ll secure items for the long-haul. Heavy-duty boxes are able to handle larger and heavier items with ease while pallet cartons protect entire bulks of items.

Easy to Store and Stack

Whether you’re purchasing one packaging box or 100, all of them come to you flat-packed and ready to box out and tape up as needed. While not in use, they’re easy to store and stack. And with proper handling, they can be reused as needed.

Customisable Sizes

Among our selection of packaging boxes, you’ll find some that provide adjustable or custom sizing. These allow you to effortlessly adjust the height/depth of your box to suit products or items of different sizes. This makes them a great choice for saving space for storage or ensuring items don’t move around as much during transit.

Cost-Effective Packaging Solution

Packaging boxes remain one of the most cost-effective packing solutions around, whether for the purposes of shipment, storage, or retail deliveries.

What Are Mailing Tubes, and How Are They Used?

Mailing tubes are long cylindrical tubes, typically protected with a hardened cardboard exterior and sealed plastic lids, that make it easy to ship a variety of documents without having to fold or bend them. They’re a popular choice for shipping posters, important documents that can’t be bent, and so on. And thanks to their varying sizes, you can easily ship smaller documents or larger posters, blueprints, and art prints.

Benefits of Using Mailing Tubes for Shipping

Protects Rolled Documents from Damage

If you need to send out documents that are best left unfolded, mailing tubes are a great choice to go with. The hardened cardboard casing ensures that documents won’t get crushed or damaged during transit and will arrive to the recipient in ideal condition.

Reusable and Eco-Friendly Options

Whether you’re using standard mailing tubes or ones made from recycled materials, they still offer eco-friendly benefits thanks to the fact that they can be reused multiple times. General shipping rarely leads to any damage to mailing tubes, which means they can be used again and again (whether by your business or the recipient of a shipment). 

Perfect for Posters, Blueprints, and Artwork

Along with being a good choice for shipping documents, mailing tubes are also an ideal option for posters, blueprints, architectural drafts, and artwork. Whether you need to ship these or simply have them safely stored away without being bent, mailing tubes are a worthy investment.

Choosing the Right Packaging Box or Mailing Tube for Your Needs

Choosing Between Cardboard or Reinforced Options

First, it’s worth noting that mailing tubes always tend to be reinforced, using a hardened, more resistant cardboard to keep documents and other items safe. So, no matter the mailing tube you opt for, you should expect solid protection.

For packaging boxes, going for more general cardboard options (so, non-heavy duty) can be an easy choice when you’re shipping or storing products that aren’t overly heavy or fragile. So, for example, if you’re a retailer sending pillows, sheets, or other materials that won’t be damaged from a little bit of movement or pressure, a standard cardboard box is fine.

However, if you’re shipping fragile items or heavier appliances and/or furniture, it is highly recommended you invest in reinforced packaging boxes, such as those marked for heavy-duty use. You can increase overall protection by making use of bubble wrap or honeycomb paper, too. 

Deciding Between Bulk or Single Packaging Boxes

This really depends on how much you need to ship/store and how often. If your business ships items and materials on a regular basis, purchase packaging boxes in bulk as this will lead to significant savings over time. If you only need boxes on random occasions, you may only need to purchase a few at a time.

Choosing Mailing Tubes for Different Types of Documents

Mailing tubes are versatile, and no matter the size you opt for they will provide good protection for documents. The main factor is the size of the documents themselves. Smaller mailing tubes will be suitable for common document sizes like A4. But if you’re needing to ship or store larger posters, artwork prints, blueprints or otherwise, make sure you select mailing tubes that will match those dimensions. 

Frequently Asked Questions About Packaging Boxes & Mailing Tubes

What are the common uses of mailing tubes?

Mailing tubes are generally used for the storage of shipment of documents, artworks, posters, blueprints, architectural drafts, etc. Essentially, any document or sheet of paper that needs to be protected during shipment or storage - and can’t be bent - will commonly be placed in mailing tubes. 

How do I choose the right mailing tube for posters?

It’s all about accounting for the measurements of the specific posters you’re shipping and ensuring the mailing tube you purchase can hold that size with the need for the poster to be folded. So, measure your posters and then confirm the mailing tubes you use have a length that matches or exceeds the maximum length of the poster.

Are large mailing tubes suitable for heavy items?

Typically, mailing tubes are best suited for different types of documents or prints rather than heavy items. If you’re looking to ship a print or document that is made of heavier materials, a mailing tube should still do the job. However, if you’re talking about general heavy item shipment, it’s best to go with a heavy duty packaging box.

Shop Packaging Boxes and Mailing Tubes for Safe Shipping

For all of your shipping and storage-related needs, shop the stock of packaging boxes and mailing tubes at Office Choice today! You can also check out our broader warehouse and packaging solutions here.