Understanding the Difference
New boxes are manufactured fresh from virgin or recycled corrugated material and have never been used. Used boxes (also called once-used or recycled boxes) have been used at least once but are inspected and graded for quality before resale.
- •New boxes: Never used, full structural integrity, consistent appearance
- •Used boxes: Previously used, inspected for quality, 40-70% cost savings
- •Recycled content: Both new and used can contain recycled materials
When to Choose New Boxes
New boxes are essential when appearance, consistency, and maximum protection matter. For retail packaging, custom printing, and regulated industries, new boxes are typically required.
- •Retail and customer-facing applications
- •Custom printed or branded packaging
- •FDA regulated food and medical products
- •Heavy-duty applications requiring maximum strength
- •Export and international shipping
- •When uniformity and appearance are critical
When Used Boxes Make Sense
Used boxes offer significant cost savings for internal operations, one-time moves, and applications where appearance is secondary to function.
- •Internal warehouse operations and storage
- •Moving and relocation (residential or office)
- •Returns processing and reverse logistics
- •Non-customer-facing shipping
- •Budget-conscious startups and small businesses
- •Environmentally conscious operations
Quality Grading for Used Boxes
Used boxes are graded based on condition. Understanding grades helps you select the right quality level for your application.
- •Grade A (Like New): Minor wear, full strength, suitable for shipping
- •Grade B (Good): Visible wear, 80%+ strength, good for storage
- •Grade C (Usable): Significant wear, internal use only
- •We only sell Grade A and B boxes for shipping applications
Cost Comparison
Used boxes typically cost 40-70% less than equivalent new boxes. For a business shipping 1,000 boxes monthly, this can mean $2,000-5,000 in annual savings.
- •Small shipping boxes: $0.25-0.50 used vs $0.75-1.25 new
- •Medium boxes: $0.50-1.00 used vs $1.25-2.50 new
- •Gaylord boxes: $5-10 used vs $12-20 new
- •Volume discounts available on both new and used
Environmental Considerations
Using used boxes extends their lifecycle and reduces demand for new manufacturing. A single corrugated box can typically be reused 3-5 times before recycling.
- •Each reuse prevents manufacturing of one new box
- •Reduces carbon footprint of packaging operations
- •Supports circular economy practices
- •Used boxes can still be recycled at end of life