Knowledge Centre
Materials & Board
The board decides how a box performs before any print goes on it. These guides explain the boards used in custom packaging, how they are measured and how to choose between them.
Guides
Materials & Board
Coated vs uncoated board: print, feel and finishes compared
Coated board has a thin mineral coating on its printing face that makes it smooth, bright and less absorbent, so colours print sharper and finishes sit cleanly. Uncoated…
Read the guideMaterials & Board
E flute vs B flute vs C flute: which corrugated flute do you need?
E flute is about 1.5 mm thick with the smoothest print surface and suits printed mailer boxes for lighter products. B flute, about 3 mm, is the general-purpose choice for…
Read the guideMaterials & Board
GSM and board thickness explained: GSM, microns and points
GSM (grams per square metre) measures how heavy a board is; calliper, quoted in microns, measures how thick it is. The two are linked by density, so boards of the same…
Read the guideMaterials & Board
Packaging materials guide: board, paper and corrugated
Most custom packaging is made from one of three board families: folding boxboard for printed cartons, corrugated board for mailers and transit boxes, and greyboard…
Read the guideMaterials & Board
Recycled vs virgin fibre board: how they compare for packaging
Virgin fibre board is made from new wood pulp, giving long, strong fibres, bright surfaces and consistent stiffness for its weight. Recycled board is made from recovered…
Read the guide
Also in this topic
Covered in depth on these pages
Material
Greyboard
Greyboard is a stiff, unlined board, usually made from recycled paper fibre and typically 1.5–3 mm thick, used as the structural core of rigid (set-up) boxes. It is cut…
Read the guideMaterial
Folding boxboard and SBS
Folding boxboard (FBB) is a layered carton board with a bulky mechanical-pulp core between bleached outer layers; SBS is bleached chemical pulp throughout. Both are…
Read the guideMaterial
Kraft board
Kraft board is unbleached board made from kraft (sulphate) pulp, which keeps its natural brown colour and long, strong fibres. It is used for cartons, mailer boxes,…
Read the guideMaterial
Corrugated board
Corrugated board is made from a fluted paper layer glued between flat paper liners. It is graded by flute size (E, B and C flute, typically around 1.5 mm, 3 mm and 4 mm…
Read the guide
Topics
Other topics
Ready to specify your packaging?
Our team replies during business hours, 10:00–18:00 UK time.