Detailed Cost Comparison of Corrugated vs Cardboard to Know

Choosing the right packaging material isn’t always about quality and product protection. You also need to consider which option is giving you the best ROI. Corrugated and cardboard not only vary in their qualities, but also in cost.

To pick the most suitable options, you need to understand an individualized price breakdown of both materials. Here in this blog, we’ll discuss a cost comparison between cardboard and corrugated materials in detail to find out the option that brings better value for money. So, read on to know more.

Which One is More Expensive: Corrugated or Cardboard?

So, it’s a no-brainer that corrugated packaging is expensive when compared to the cardboard material because of the material requirements to craft these foldable cartons. For instance, they may seem simple, but they’re elegant in appearance, serving a practical purpose of safer logistics from local retail stores to overseas shipments and beyond.

Reasons Why Corrugated Packaging is More Expensive in the Packaging Industry?

There are many reasons why corrugated packaging is costly. Some of the common details are mentioned below, as they may be due to the:

• Structure: The corrugated boxes are made up of multi-layers having an inner liner, outer liner, and a fluted medium in the middle that provides exceptional.
• Durability: Nothing can beat the strength of corrugated material when it comes to bulk shipping solutions. These are designed to provide stacking strength, absorbing the shocks and bumps during transit.
• Application:Corrugated packaging is widely used in shipping, e-commerce, and industrial applications because of its reliability. That’s why businesses tend to pay extra, as it ideally secures the fragile items.
• Sustainability: Corrugated materials are highly sustainable as it is made-up of more than 50% recycled fiber that offers easy reusability. Also, it’s 80% lighter than wood but-based materials, which reduces the shipping costs.

Here’s Why Cardboard Packaging Stands Out as a Budget-friendly Option

In contrast to the corrugated packaging, the cardboard features are not the same; you may say they are distinctive in their category. Some of them are:

• Structure: The cardboard boxes are made of a single, thick layer of paper pulp that provides sufficient sturdiness for individual product packaging.
• Strength:Cardboard boxes are crafted to pack the lightweight items appealingly, but they’re not built for delicate products.
• Compostable: Just like corrugated material, cardboard is more sustainable as it decomposes quickly because of its single-layer.
• Limited Application: Unfortunately, due to its structural reasons, it is limited only to retail and display packaging purposes. To ship the products packed in the cardboard boxes, they must be equipped with the corrugated cartons to ensure seamless delivery.

Factors That Influence the Packaging Costs

Whatever material you go with, below are some of the factors that define the costs of the packaging and directly contribute to the final budget.

• Packaging Type: First and foremost is the style of the box you demand. Multiple brands have different options that make their packaging stand out. If you choose a standard style box, this may not cost a fortune, but if you go for high-end luxury styles, it will eventually reflect in your business costs.
• Size and Dimensions: The size of the box is another contributing factor to the packaging cost, as smaller boxes are more affordable as it demands less material to craft. While bulky cardboard or corrugated cartons cost much more as well.
• Customization: The more you upgrade the packaging, the higher the cost goes, and vice versa. Minor embellishments may seem cheap for a moment, but the actual difference occurs when they are compared with the profit margins. If the packaging cost gets higher due to customizations, it’s a red flag, as you have to reconsider it to keep the expenses under budget constraints.

What to Expect in the Upcoming Years?

Predicting the exact costs of the packaging is not possible. While many factors indicate that if they change, this will definitely impact the costs, such as some are:

• Labor costs, because wholesale packaging businesses operate at low margins, which is why the shift in the wage rates is reflected in the material prices.
• Energy prices are one of the raw ingredients to bring packaging materials to life. While plants that are relying on third-party energy resources may seem to experience a spike in production costs due to high tariffs.
• Currency volatility will also impact the packaging costs, as the shipping charges are highly affected as soon as there’s a change in the forex rates.
• Environmental compliance may increase the cost for businesses that rely on traditional non-paper-based materials. They either have to move to cardboard, corrugated, or even the most popular kraft packaging solutions.

Which One to Choose: Corrugated or Cardboard?

Still unsure about what to consider and what to skip? Well, you can opt for both options to have a blend in your packaging. While cardstock is ideal to consider at the start if you’re getting low-volume orders. Or go for the corrugated material if you have to deliver the products country-wide and cross borders. These will ensure your products remain pristine and are delivered the same as when packed.

The Bottom Line

To sum up the above, both options may seem like a win-lose game if you see them from one perspective. But that’s not the scenario here. Both are meant to provide a reliable packaging solution for inventory and logistics needs. Now it’s up to you to understand your business dynamics and opt for the solution that aligns with the packaging goals.

Still unsure where to get started? Don’t hesitate to consult with a packaging expert and get professional recommendations that are tailored for operations.