Cardboard & corrugated board
Part of the Paper & Cardboard sector
Cardboard and corrugated board are the stiff, fluted materials boxes and shipping cases are made from. This hub explains the main board types and flutes, and how to find and compare verified board suppliers on Digibition.
Looking to source in this sector, or want your company to appear here? Browse the directory or list your company.
Overview
Corrugated board is made by gluing a fluted (wavy) inner sheet between flat outer liners, which gives it strength and cushioning at low weight. It is described by its construction — single-wall, double-wall or triple-wall — and by the flute profile, with coarser flutes such as A and C offering cushioning and finer flutes such as B, E and F giving a smoother printable surface. Cardboard is a broader term that also covers solid boards like folding boxboard and carton board used for retail packaging.
The liners and fluting medium are themselves paper grades, often made from recycled fibre (testliner, fluting) or from primary kraft fibre where extra strength is needed. The finished board is specified by the combination of liners, medium, flute and the resulting burst or edge-crush performance.
On Digibition, board mills, sheet plants and corrugated converters publish verified profiles, so professional buyers can discover and compare them by specialization and country.
What to check when sourcing
When you source cardboard or corrugated board, start from how the finished pack must perform: the weight it will carry, how it will be stacked, and whether it must survive humidity or long transit. That points you to the wall type, flute and board grade, often expressed through edge-crush (ECT) or bursting-strength targets rather than a single thickness figure.
Then confirm the practical details: sheet sizes or box dimensions, print requirements, minimum order quantities and lead times, and whether the supplier delivers sheets for your own converting or finished boxes. Recycled content is common and often expected, so ask about the fibre furnish and any chain-of-custody scheme, such as FSC or PEFC, and request the certificate.
Use the directory to shortlist suppliers by specialization and country, then contact several, request samples where you can, and compare their responses before you commit.
What to check when sourcing cardboard and corrugated board
| Criterion | What to look for |
|---|---|
| Construction | Single-, double- or triple-wall matched to the load and stacking |
| Flute profile | A, B, C, E or F chosen for cushioning versus print surface |
| Performance | Edge-crush (ECT) or burst strength targets, not thickness alone |
| Format | Sheet sizes for your own converting, or finished box dimensions |
| Lead time & MOQ | Realistic lead times and minimum order quantities for your volume |
| Fibre & certification | Recycled versus kraft content, with FSC / PEFC verified |
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between cardboard and corrugated board?
- Corrugated board has a fluted inner layer glued between flat liners, which is what gives shipping boxes their strength. Cardboard is a broader, everyday term that also includes solid boards such as folding boxboard used for lighter retail cartons.
- What do single-wall and double-wall mean?
- Single-wall board has one fluted medium between two liners and suits most standard boxes. Double-wall adds a second fluted layer for heavier or stacked loads, and triple-wall is used for very heavy-duty applications. The right choice depends on the weight and handling your pack must withstand.
- What do the flute letters (A, B, C, E, F) mean?
- Flute letters describe the size and spacing of the corrugations. Coarser flutes such as A and C give more cushioning and stacking strength, while finer flutes such as B, E and F give a smoother, more printable surface for retail packaging.
- How do I find cardboard and corrugated board suppliers?
- Use the Digibition directory to filter by this specialization and by country, then open each company profile to review its products, certifications and specializations. You can message suppliers directly, or add several to a quote list and request quotes from all of them at once.
- What should I check before placing a large order?
- Confirm the construction, flute and performance target, agree sheet or box dimensions, print, lead time and minimum order quantity, and clarify the fibre furnish and any chain-of-custody documentation. Where possible, request samples before committing to volume. This is general information, not legal or technical advice.
Looking to source in this sector, or want your company to appear here? Browse the directory or list your company.
Important notice
This page is general industry information published by Digibition for educational purposes only. It is not legal, financial, tax, customs, regulatory, or other professional advice, and it is not a substitute for advice from a qualified professional. Standards, certifications, duties, taxes, and regulatory requirements differ between countries and markets and change over time; nothing here is guaranteed to be accurate, complete, or current. Verify any requirement independently with a qualified adviser and the relevant competent authority before you act. Digibition is an online company directory and digital-fair platform; it is not a party to any transaction between users and does not endorse, guarantee, or accept responsibility for any third-party company, product, claim, or certification. A company being reviewed or approved for listing refers only to Digibition's internal listing review and is not a warranty of that company's quality, legality, solvency, or performance. Any mention of specific standards or certifications is illustrative and is not an endorsement or a statement of compliance. To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Digibition accepts no liability for any loss or damage arising from reliance on this page; any reliance is at your own risk.