If you have heard the term Gaylord box and wondered exactly what that is, don’t worry since you aren’t alone. Gaylord box is a term that’s commonly used in the shipping industry and has evolved over the years from being just one type of box to be a term that refers to a range of box products.
A Gaylord box is essentially a bulk-size corrugated box. Gaylord boxes are traditionally bulky or large sized and make it possible to ship products in either a single, large container or on a pallet.
The term “Gaylord box” has slowly transformed into a generic term for any pallet-sized box used for bulk storage or shipping. The term Gaylord is a trade name for this kind of box because the first bulk bins to be manufactured in North America were by the Gaylord Container Company; hence, the name.
Just as the terms “Band-Aid” and “Kleenex” are used to refer to an adhesive bandage and a tissue, respectively, the name stuck, and corrugated boxes have been referred to as Gaylord boxes since then.
Gaylord boxes are today synonymous with large-sized corrugated boxes. The boxes are also sometimes referred to as bulk boxes, pallet boxes, pallet containers, tote boxes, skid boxes, and bulk bins.
The Uses and Benefits of Gaylord Boxes
Gaylord boxes from The Gaylord Box Exchange offer several benefits to consumers, retailers, and manufacturers. For starters, they are strong, heavy boxes capable of handling just about anything that’s put in them. Gaylord boxes, however, are not intended to be used and reused continuously.
Gaylord boxes are actually designed to be single-use. Fortunately, they are totally recyclable. The corrugated material not only makes it inexpensive to manufacture and use the boxes but also presents an environmentally friendly solution.
Gaylord boxes are primarily used for storage, shipping, and moving, although they can still be used for display purposes. If you visit your local grocery store, you will probably come across bagged products and fresh produce displayed in Gaylord boxes.
What makes Gaylord boxes ideal for varied uses is how they are actually made. Gaylord boxes are made of corrugated cardboard, which is a strong, stiff, and lightweight material consisting of up to 3 layers of brown Kraft paper. The paper resists splitting, tearing, as well as bursting.
During the production process, the Kraft paper is crimped and glued to form corrugated cardboard that’s then cut and folded to make boxes. The result is a durable, flexible, tear and impact resistant box.
An added benefit: Using corrugated cardboard means that Gaylord boxes are both inexpensive, green, and easy to replace.
Types of Gaylord Boxes
With the evolution of the term Gaylord box into a generic term for any pallet-sized box, there have emerged several types of boxes sold in different sizes. Gaylord boxes come in single, double, or triple-wall construction made using corrugated paper.
They can all fit onto a pallet and this makes them ideal for use for both shipping and storage. The 2 main sizes of Gaylord boxes are D Containers and E Containers.
D Containers
The D Container cargo boxes are double wall heavy-duty fiberboard containers that come with a lid. The interior dimensions are 58”x42”x45” and their approximate weight capacity is 1,200 lbs.
To reduce shipping costs, the boxes are shipped flat and come disassembled in 4 parts. Assembly is extremely easy and staples or glue aren’t required. All you have to do is connect the 4 parts and they are ready to use.
D Container boxes are also available with a pallet, which makes them even easier to ship and use. The dimensions of the heat-treated stamped pallet are 60”x44”x95” and have an approximate weight capacity of 765 pounds. Each pallet is capable of holding a maximum of 15 Gaylord boxes.
E Containers
The E Container cargo box is a large-sized corrugated box whose interior dimensions are 41.25”x 28.25”x24.25”. It is constructed of Heavy-Duty 275# bursting strength Double Wall cardboard/fiberboard.
Final Thoughts
A Gaylord box is an excellent item to use for moving, storage, and shipping since it is essentially made to be durable and economic.
