The right packaging company is the one whose type fits your order. If you need plain boxes, mailing bags, tape or pallet wrap in days, buy from a stockist that holds them on the shelf. If you need printed or made-to-measure packaging, go to a manufacturer and expect a larger minimum and a lead time.
This guide sets out the kinds of packaging companies in the UK, gives you an eight-point checklist for shortlisting packaging suppliers, lists the questions to ask before a first order, and then answers every point for Pack Solution, including what we do not do. It ends with how to place a first order so each unit costs less.
In This Guide
- Quick picks: stock lines to test a packaging supplier with
- What kinds of packaging company are there in the UK?
- What should you check before you shortlist a packaging company?
- Which questions should you ask before your first order?
- Does it matter if a packaging company is near you?
- How does Pack Solution answer each point on the checklist?
- When should you use a packaging manufacturer instead?
- How do you place a first order and keep the cost per unit down?
- Frequently Asked Questions
Quick picks: stock lines to test a packaging supplier with
A small first order of everyday lines tells you most of what you need to know about a supplier, and these three are the ones most packing benches use.
Best for everyday parcels
Single Wall Cardboard Boxes
Lightweight corrugated boxes for online orders, storage and light moving, priced per box.
- 15 sizes, 5 x 5 x 5" to 24 x 18 x 18"
- Minimum of 5 boxes per size
- Supplied flat packed
From £0.35 ex VAT (£0.42 inc VAT)
Choose sizeView product
Best for clothing and soft goods
Grey Mailing Bags
Opaque polythene postal bags with a self-seal strip, so you do not need tape.
- 16 sizes, 4 x 6" to 34 x 42"
- Packs of 100, 50 or 25 depending on size
- Water resistant outer
From £2.90 ex VAT (£3.48 inc VAT)
Choose sizeView product
Best for sealing cartons
Brown Packing Tape
Buff polypropylene packing tape that matches brown boxes, sold in packs of 6 rolls.
- Five tapes, 48mm or 72mm wide
- Rolls from 66m to 150m
- Two low noise options
From £4.50 ex VAT (£5.40 inc VAT)
Choose sizeView productWhat kinds of packaging company are there in the UK?
There are three kinds of packaging company you will meet as a buyer: manufacturers, stockists (also called merchants or distributors), and marketplace sellers. They differ in what they hold, how much you have to buy and how fast the goods arrive.
| Type | What they do | Suits you when |
|---|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Makes packaging to order, including printed and made-to-measure boxes and bags | You need your own print or a size nobody stocks, and you can commit to a production run and wait for it |
| Stockist or merchant | Buys plain standard lines in bulk and sells them from a warehouse in smaller quantities | You need standard boxes, bags, tape or wrap quickly, in amounts from a single pack upwards |
| Marketplace seller | Lists packaging on a marketplace, sometimes its own stock and sometimes somebody else's | You need one small top-up and already shop on that marketplace |
Pack Solution is a stockist. We hold plain stock lines in Cheetham Hill, Manchester, and ship them across the UK. For the full comparison, including how wholesalers fit in and what each type tends to ask of you, read packaging suppliers vs manufacturers vs wholesalers.
What should you check before you shortlist a packaging company?
Check eight things: stock range, minimum order, delivery cut-off and cost, VAT invoices, trade account terms, collection, phone support and whether volume pricing is shown up front. You can find most of them on a supplier's website in ten minutes.
| Check | Why it matters | What to look for |
|---|---|---|
| Stock range | One order and one delivery is less work than several | Boxes, bags, tape, protection and pallet wrap from the same warehouse |
| Minimum order | A high minimum ties up cash and shelf space | The minimum stated per product, in packs or units |
| Delivery cut-off and cost | The cut-off decides whether you pack tomorrow or next week | A stated cut-off time, and delivery cost shown before checkout |
| VAT invoices | A VAT registered business needs one to reclaim the VAT | A VAT invoice issued with every order, with prices shown ex and inc VAT |
| Trade account | Regular buyers should not have to renegotiate each order | A published way to apply and a named contact |
| Collection | Useful when you run out mid-week | A collection address, and how soon an order is ready |
| Phone support | Sizes and specifications are quicker to settle by voice | A phone number that is answered in working hours |
| Volume pricing shown up front | You can plan cost per unit without asking for a quote | Price tiers listed on the product page |
Compare like with like. A lower pack price can hide a delivery charge or a larger minimum. Work out the delivered cost per unit, ex VAT, for the quantity you would really buy.
Which questions should you ask before your first order?
Ask about anything that affects the delivered cost or the date the goods arrive, which comes to these seven questions.
- Is this item in stock now? A product can be listed on the website without being on the shelf.
- What is the minimum for this exact size? Minimums are often set per size or per pack.
- What time is the order cut-off, and which days do you dispatch? Ask about Fridays and bank holidays too.
- What does delivery cost to my postcode? Bulky cartons and remote postcodes can carry a surcharge.
- Are sizes internal or external? For boxes this decides whether your product fits.
- At what quantity does the price drop? If the next tier is close, it may be worth ordering up to it.
- Will the VAT invoice come with the order? If you have to request it each time, that is extra admin every month.
If you buy on account or in pallet quantities, there is more to ask about terms and repeat orders. Our guide to wholesale packaging supplies and how trade buying works covers that side.
Does it matter if a packaging company is near you?
A packaging company near you matters when you need stock the same day or want to collect. For planned orders it matters much less, because a stockist anywhere in the UK can post standard lines to you within a couple of working days.
Distance counts most for bulky goods. We run a same-day van within 10 miles of Cheetham Hill, with details on the local delivery page, and click and collect in Manchester is free and usually ready within 2 hours.
If you are in the area, packaging supplies in Manchester explains what we stock for local businesses, and packaging supplies near me in Greater Manchester covers collection and van delivery. Outside the area, a supplier's cut-off time and delivery cost tell you more than its postcode.
How does Pack Solution answer each point on the checklist?
Pack Solution is a stockist of plain packaging with no minimum order value, free tracked delivery and prices shown ex VAT on every product page. The table gives our answer to each point on the checklist, including the limits.
| Check | Our answer |
|---|---|
| Stock range | Plain stock lines only: cardboard boxes, mailing and polythene bags, packing tapes, labels, protective packaging, pallet wrap and refuse sacks |
| Minimum order | No minimum order value. Some lines have a minimum quantity, for example 5 boxes per size on single wall boxes |
| Delivery cut-off and cost | Orders placed by 2pm Monday to Friday leave our Manchester unit the same working day. Royal Mail Tracked 48 is free on every order |
| VAT invoices | A VAT invoice comes with every order |
| Trade account | Available for regular buyers. Apply on the trade account page |
| Collection | Free click and collect in Manchester, usually ready within 2 hours |
| Phone support | Call 0161 706 1246, or use the contact page |
| Volume pricing shown up front | Many products have volume pricing. The price per pack falls as you buy more, and the tiers are listed on each product page |
As examples of the stock lines, single wall cardboard boxes come in 15 sizes from 5 x 5 x 5" (127 x 127 x 127mm) to 24 x 18 x 18" (610 x 457 x 457mm), from £0.35 ex VAT (£0.42 inc VAT) per box. Grey mailing bags run from 4 x 6" (100 x 150mm) to 34 x 42" (850 x 1050mm), from £2.90 ex VAT (£3.48 inc VAT). Brown packing tape comes in packs of 6 rolls, from £4.50 ex VAT (£5.40 inc VAT), and the standard 48mm x 66m roll is acrylic adhesive on 42 micron polypropylene film.
Best for pallet loads and bundling
Clear Pallet Wrap
Clear hand stretch film that clings to itself, sold by the single roll.
- 400mm or 500mm wide
- 20 or 23 micron
- Rolls of 120m, 200m or 250m
From £4.00 ex VAT (£4.80 inc VAT)
Choose sizeView productWhen should you use a packaging manufacturer instead?
Use a packaging manufacturer when you need printed packaging or a size made to measure. We do not sell custom printed packaging of any kind. Everything we stock is plain and comes in the sizes listed on the product page.
- Boxes or bags printed with your logo. A manufacturer or print specialist does this. Expect a minimum run and a lead time, and ask for both in writing.
- A box cut to your product's exact dimensions. If none of our stock sizes is close enough, a manufacturer can make one.
- Lines we do not stock. We do not sell strapping, grip seal bags, carrier bags, gift boxes, wardrobe boxes or label printers.
Plenty of businesses use both: branded outer packaging from a manufacturer a few times a year, and plain cartons, tape and wrap from a stockist in between.
How do you place a first order and keep the cost per unit down?
Keep the first order small, then buy in larger quantities once you know the sizes are right. Volume tiers lower the cost per unit, but only on stock you will use.
- Measure before you order. Measure your product and add room for padding. Our box sizes are internal, length x width x height.
- Order a trial quantity. On single wall boxes that is 5 of a size. For bags and tape it is one pack.
- Pack real orders with it. A week of parcels tells you whether the size and strength are right. If items are heavy, compare with double wall boxes, from £0.59 ex VAT (£0.71 inc VAT).
- Check the price tiers. They are on each product page. Work out how many weeks of stock the next tier gives you, and buy it if you have the space.
- Combine lines in one order. Boxes, tape and clear pallet wrap, from £4.00 ex VAT (£4.80 inc VAT) per roll, can go in the same order with one invoice.
- Order before 2pm. Orders placed by 2pm Monday to Friday leave the same working day. Delivery by Royal Mail Tracked 48 is free with no minimum.
Buying every month? Open a trade account so repeat orders are quicker to place. If you are within 10 miles of Cheetham Hill, same-day van delivery or free collection saves waiting for the post.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a packaging company and a packaging supplier?
A packaging company is any business that makes or sells packaging, so the term covers manufacturers, stockists and marketplace sellers. A packaging supplier usually means a stockist or merchant that holds standard lines and sells them in smaller quantities. Pack Solution is a packaging supplier of this kind, based in Cheetham Hill, Manchester.
How do I find a packaging company near me?
To find a packaging company near you, look for a supplier that publishes a collection address and a local delivery area. Pack Solution offers free click and collect in Manchester, usually ready within 2 hours, and same-day van delivery within 10 miles of Cheetham Hill. Buyers elsewhere in the UK get free Royal Mail Tracked 48 delivery on every order.
Does Pack Solution sell custom printed packaging?
No. Pack Solution does not sell custom printed packaging or made-to-measure boxes. We sell plain stock lines in the sizes listed on each product page, so a business that needs printed packaging should use a packaging manufacturer.
Is there a minimum order at Pack Solution?
Pack Solution has no minimum order value, and Royal Mail Tracked 48 delivery is free on every order. Some products have a minimum quantity. Single wall cardboard boxes, for example, are sold with a minimum of 5 boxes per size.
Do cardboard box suppliers give VAT invoices?
Cardboard box suppliers that are VAT registered should give a VAT invoice, but some only send one on request, so ask before you order. Pack Solution sends a VAT invoice with every order. Prices on our product pages are shown ex VAT, with the inc VAT price alongside.
