To get cheap cardboard boxes in the UK, buy the smallest single wall box that fits what you are packing, and count delivery in the price before you compare. Four things set the cost of a box: the board, the size, how many you buy and what it costs to get them to you. Our single wall cardboard boxes start from £0.35 ex VAT (£0.42 inc VAT) per box, with a minimum of 5 per size and free Royal Mail Tracked 48 delivery on every order.
This guide covers those four costs, when second hand or free boxes will do the job, single wall against double wall on price, and how size and quantity bring the cost per box down.
In This Guide
- Quick picks for cheap packing boxes
- Where does the cost of a cardboard box come from?
- Are second hand or free cardboard boxes good enough?
- How much more does a double wall box cost than a single wall box?
- How does choosing the right box size cut the cost per box?
- What are the cheapest boxes for moving house?
- How much do tape and packing time add to the cost of a box?
- Is it cheaper to buy boxes per box or in volume?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Quick picks for cheap packing boxes
These three cover most low cost packing jobs, from posting light orders to moving house.
Lowest cost per box
Single Wall Cardboard Boxes
Light corrugated boxes for everyday online orders, storage and light moving.
- 15 sizes, 5 x 5 x 5" to 24 x 18 x 18"
- Sold per box, minimum 5 per size
- Supplied flat packed
From £0.35 ex VAT (£0.42 inc VAT)
Choose sizeView product
Best for heavy or fragile items
Double Wall Cardboard Boxes
Heavy duty corrugated boxes with two layers of fluting, also used as moving boxes.
- 11 sizes, 9 x 6 x 6" to 24 x 24 x 24"
- Minimum 5 boxes for most sizes
- Price per box falls as you buy more
From £0.59 ex VAT (£0.71 inc VAT)
Choose sizeView product
Best for saving tape and packing time
Crash Lock Boxes
Boxes with a base that locks as you open them, so you only tape the top.
- 10 sizes, CL-A to CL-K
- No tape on the bottom
- Sold per box, minimum 5 per size
From £0.59 ex VAT (£0.71 inc VAT)
Choose sizeView productWhere does the cost of a cardboard box come from?
The cost of a cardboard box comes from four things: the board, the size, the quantity you order and the delivery.
| Cost | What changes it |
|---|---|
| Board | Single wall has one layer of fluting, double wall has two. |
| Size | A bigger box uses more board and needs more filling. |
| Quantity | Our boxes are priced per box and the price falls as the quantity rises. |
| Delivery | A carriage charge on a small order can cost more than the boxes. |
Delivery is the cost people most often leave out of the comparison. Royal Mail Tracked 48 is free on every Pack Solution order with no minimum, so five boxes at £0.35 ex VAT cost £1.75 ex VAT (£2.10 inc VAT) delivered. A surcharge applies to large parcels going to the Highlands and Islands, Northern Ireland and some offshore postcodes, and the product page lists it.
Compare the delivered price. Take the basket total including delivery and VAT, then divide it by the number of boxes. That figure is your cost per box.
Are second hand or free cardboard boxes good enough?
Second hand and free cardboard boxes are good enough for storage and a local move if they are dry, clean and undamaged, and they are a weaker choice for posting. Cardboard loses stiffness each time it is crushed, creased or gets damp, so a used box will not stack or take knocks as well as it did when new. If free boxes do your job, use them and buy nothing.
| Job | Second hand or free box? | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Storage at home | Yes, if dry and clean | The box sits still. |
| Local move in your own car or van | Yes, for light and unbreakable things | You control the handling. |
| Posting a low value item | Sometimes | Only if the box is still stiff and the old labels come off or can be covered. |
| Posting fragile, heavy or high value goods | No, buy new | Parcels are stacked and sorted with others, and a tired box gives way at the corners and seams. |
| Orders for your customers | No, buy new | Mixed sizes slow packing, and old branding looks careless. |
Check any used box before you trust it:
- Dry. Reject anything that has been damp or smells musty. Damp board stays soft.
- Corners and flaps. Crushed corners, extra fold lines and torn flaps are where a box fails.
- Old labels. Remove or fully cover old address labels and barcodes.
Free boxes also cost time to collect and sort, and you rarely get twenty the same. If you post parcels every week, one size bought new for pennies per box is usually cheaper once your time is counted.
How much more does a double wall box cost than a single wall box?
A double wall box costs more than a single wall box of the same size because it has two layers of fluting where single wall has one. Our single wall boxes run from £0.35 to £4.00 ex VAT (£0.42 to £4.80 inc VAT) per box depending on size, and our double wall cardboard boxes run from £0.59 to £5.00 ex VAT (£0.71 to £6.00 inc VAT). The two ranges start at different sizes, so compare the same size on each product page to see the real gap.
Paying for double wall on every parcel is an easy way to overspend. Single wall is the right board for light, everyday orders such as clothing, books and boxed gifts. Double wall is stronger and stacks better, so keep it for heavy contents, fragile or high value goods, and boxes that will sit under other boxes.
Our guide to single wall vs double wall cardboard boxes covers the choice in full.
How does choosing the right box size cut the cost per box?
The right size cuts the cost three ways: a smaller box costs less to buy, needs less filling and can cost less to post. To size a box properly:
- Measure the item's length, width and height at its widest points.
- Add room for wrapping on every side. Fragile items need more than soft ones.
- Pick the next internal size up. Our box sizes are internal, length x width x height.
- Check the finished parcel against your carrier's current size and weight bands before you order in quantity.
If you post with Royal Mail, the 17.7 x 13.7 x 6" (450 x 350 x 160mm) single wall box is the Royal Mail Small Parcel maximum size. Carrier limits change, so check them before you rely on a size. The full method is in our postal box sizing guide.
Clothes and other soft goods that cannot be crushed often do not need a box at all. A mailing bag from our bags range costs less and adds less weight.
What are the cheapest boxes for moving house?
The cheapest way to box up a house move is to mix free boxes for light, unbreakable things with new boxes for the heavy and fragile loads. Bedding, cushions and coats travel well in clean second hand boxes. Books, plates and glasses are where a soft, reused box splits, so those are the loads to buy new boxes for.
- Books and heavy items. A small double wall box such as 12 x 12 x 12" (305 x 305 x 305mm), so the box stays easy to lift.
- Kitchenware and general packing. Double wall in 18 x 18 x 18" (457 x 457 x 457mm).
- Bulky, light things. A single wall 24 x 18 x 18" (610 x 457 x 457mm) box is enough for bedding and clothes.
We do not stock wardrobe boxes. For how many boxes a move needs, read our moving boxes guide. Breakables still need wrapping, and bubble wrap and paper are in our protective packaging range.
How much do tape and packing time add to the cost of a box?
Tape and packing time add a small amount to every box, and they add up over hundreds of parcels. A standard box needs tape on the bottom seam and the top seam.
Crash lock boxes take the bottom seam out of the job. The base locks as you open the box, so you only tape the top. They start from £0.59 ex VAT (£0.71 inc VAT) per box, minimum 5 per size, in ten sizes from CL-A (100 x 100 x 70mm) to CL-K (426 x 300 x 300mm). That is more than the lowest priced single wall box, so crash lock pays back at volume. For a handful of parcels a month, a single wall box and a roll of tape is cheaper.
Best for sealing brown boxes
Brown Packing Tape
Buff polypropylene packing tape in packs of 6 rolls, in a colour that matches brown cartons.
- Standard roll 48mm x 66m, acrylic on 42 micron film
- Longer 132m and 150m rolls for busy benches
- Proloc 72mm x 66m for large or heavy cartons
From £4.50 ex VAT (£5.40 inc VAT)
Choose sizeView productIs it cheaper to buy boxes per box or in volume?
Buying in volume gives the lowest price per box, and buying per box is cheaper overall when you only need a few. Our single wall, double wall and crash lock boxes are sold per box with a minimum of 5 per size, so you can order 5 of one size and 10 of another without paying for a full pack. The 24 x 24 x 24" double wall size is the exception, with a minimum of 90.
- A few parcels or one clear out. Buy the minimum of 5 per size. Free Tracked 48 delivery has no minimum, so a small order carries no carriage charge.
- Regular posting. Work out a month of orders for your main size and buy to the nearest price tier shown on the product page.
- Trade quantities. For pallet quantities or weekly orders, apply for a trade account or ring 0161 706 1246.
Do not buy more than you can keep dry, because boxes stored in a damp garage or shed go soft. Our guide to buying cardboard boxes in bulk covers quantities and storage, and packaging cost per order and stock planning shows how to cost a whole parcel.
Orders placed by 2pm Monday to Friday leave our Manchester unit the same working day. Click and collect from Cheetham Hill is free and usually ready within 2 hours, and we run same-day van delivery within 10 miles. Every order comes with a VAT invoice. If you are not sure which box is the cheapest safe choice for your item, contact us, or see every size in the cardboard boxes range.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where can I get cheap cardboard boxes in the UK?
You can get cheap cardboard boxes from a packaging supplier that sells per box and includes delivery in the price. Pack Solution sells single wall cardboard boxes from £0.35 ex VAT (£0.42 inc VAT) per box, with a minimum of 5 per size and free Royal Mail Tracked 48 delivery on every order. Always compare the delivered price per box.
Are second hand cardboard boxes safe to use for posting?
Second hand cardboard boxes can be used for posting low value, unbreakable items if the box is dry, stiff and undamaged and the old labels are removed or covered. Used cardboard is weaker than new cardboard because creases, crushed corners and damp reduce its stiffness. For fragile, heavy or high value parcels, a new box is the safer choice.
Can I use free boxes from a shop for moving house?
Free boxes from a shop are fine for moving light, unbreakable things such as bedding and clothes, as long as the boxes are clean and dry. Books, kitchenware and anything heavy or fragile are better in new double wall boxes, which are stronger and stack better.
Is single wall or double wall cardboard cheaper?
Single wall cardboard is cheaper than double wall cardboard in the same size because it has one layer of fluting where double wall has two. Pack Solution single wall boxes start from £0.35 ex VAT per box and double wall boxes start from £0.59 ex VAT per box, although the two ranges start at different sizes. Double wall is worth the extra for heavy, fragile or stacked loads.
What is the minimum order for cardboard boxes at Pack Solution?
The minimum order for single wall, double wall and crash lock boxes at Pack Solution is 5 boxes per size, apart from the 24 x 24 x 24" double wall box, which has a minimum of 90. Boxes are priced individually and the price per box falls as the quantity rises. Royal Mail Tracked 48 delivery is free with no minimum order value.
