Gaylord boxes are large, corrugated cardboard containers used to store and transport bulk materials. Frequently used in industries such as agriculture, food production, and plastics manufacturing, these boxes are designed to fit one to a pallet, allowing for the easy shipment and delivery of bulk materials.

While Gaylord is the standard packaging industry term, these containers can also be referred to as corrugated bulk bins, skid or pallet boxes, pallet containers, or octabins. The Gaylord Container Company popularized the use of these large boxes in the 1980s, resulting in the name that we know them by today.

Gaylord boxes come in a variety of styles that cater to various storage and transport needs. While standard Gaylord boxes are commonly used for general bulk storage and shipping, specialized varieties may feature additional reinforcements, liners, or coatings to accommodate items like hazardous materials, food products, or high-weight loads.

Fluting refers to corrugated paper sheets sandwiched between cardboard liners, and a box's wall size, or ply, refers to how many layers of fluting it has.

While other factors can impact the strength of a Gaylord, wall size is a strong indicator of a box's weight capacity and resistance to compression. Most Gaylord boxes have a wall size of 2, 3, 4, or 5.

Boxes with less ply are typically lower in cost, but those with more ply are more likely to be reusable.

The bottom of a Gaylord box impacts its stability, strength, and ease of use, with different styles offering varying levels of support:

Full: Full flaps fold over one another and cover the entire bottom of a Gaylord.

Partial: Partial flaps also fold over one another but cover only part of the bottom.

Insert: A cardboard insert can be used to cover the gap left by partial flaps.

Domelock: Domelock bottoms have interlocking flaps that help stabilize the box.