You probably spend most of your time considering protecting the product when you pack it to send. Have you ever stopped to consider all of the empty space inside of the box? That extra space is likely costing you money.
The correct cardboard box will impact the price you pay for shipping. Although a box that is too large may appear innocent, the additional space could cause greater shipping expenses, increased use of packaging materials and reduced storage area.
Why does Box Size Matter?
The Shipping Company typically considers both the weight and size of a package when establishing pricing for the service. Therefore, a large, light weight box that holds the same item as a smaller box could end up being more expensive to ship due to the dimensions of the box.
For Example: Assume you sell small kitchen utensils. You put each order into a large box since this was the size you had in stock. Since the items are extremely light, the shipping company may bill you by the amount of space the box occupies rather than by weight.
Imagine now that you were to purchase a box that would be a much closer match to your kitchen utensil. Now, although you are shipping the same product, you are occupying less space on the delivery vehicle.
However, shipping expense is just one of two major issues.
When cardboard boxes are overly sized, it generally requires more packing paper, bubble wrap, etc. to fill the voids. These supplies cost money and more time will be required from your employees to properly pack every order.
Although these costs individually may not appear significant over hundreds of orders they certainly do accumulate.
Storage space is another issue to consider. When you have hundreds of cardboard boxes stored for daily orders, larger boxes consume space within your warehouse that could be utilized otherwise. Having multiple commonly used box sizes readily available will enable your employees to quickly select the appropriate size for each shipment without having to waste time selecting a suitable size.
Obviously you do not desire a box that is too small; however, your products still need sufficient room for them to remain secure during transit.
Your ultimate objective should be finding the ideal combination of size, strength and security.
Prior to ordering your next batch of cardboard boxes, take a moment to determine the measurements of your frequently shipped products. Also, review your current box sizes and assess if there is a more suitable option available.
At times reducing shipping costs can be achieved through purchasing better fitting boxes instead of seeking alternative carriers or negotiating lower rate options with existing carriers.
