The main board families
| Material | Typical thickness | Typical uses |
|---|---|---|
| Paperboard (250 to 400 g/m²) | 0.3 to 0.6 mm | Cosmetic and pharmaceutical cartons, bakery boxes, lightweight gift boxes. Fine printing, foil stamping, spot varnish. |
| Microflute (E, F) | 1.2 to 2 mm | Pizza boxes, mailer boxes, sturdier retail packaging. Good print quality, good rigidity. |
| Single wall (B, C flute) | About 3 to 4 mm | Shipping boxes, displays, heavy products. |
| Double wall (BC…) | About 6 to 7 mm | Shipping heavy loads, floor displays. |
The deciding factors
- Product weight and fragility: a glass jar won’t travel safely in a 300 g/m² carton.
- The journey: over-the-counter sale, retail shelf, home delivery, shipping by carrier.
- Print quality: paperboard reproduces fine detail better; corrugated board can show its flutes through large solid areas.
- Food contact: for unwrapped food (pizza, pastries), insist on a suitable board and the matching compliance certificate.
- Price and storage: thicker board costs more and takes up more space, both flat and assembled.
White or kraft?
White-lined board reproduces colors as designed. Brown kraft gives a natural look, but it darkens and warms colors, and printed white doesn’t exist without white ink. Plan artwork designed for kraft, or order a test print.
Thickness changes the dieline
The thicker the board, the more room the folds, flaps and glue flaps need. A dieline drawn for paperboard won’t work for microflute. Choose your material before you finalize the dieline: on boite.ma, changing the material redraws the box.