Gaylord Boxes (Heavy Duty Gaylord Containers)

Gaylord boxes are pallet-sized bulk corrugated cardboard containers designed for the handling, storing, and transporting of bulk intermediate materials like loose parts and granular items in the agricultural, food, and plastics industries.

Gaylord boxes are also called skid or pallet boxes, pallet containers, or octabins, but Gaylord is the packaging industry term.

The term Gaylord box originates from Gaylord Container Company, who were the major box suppliers in the 1980s. It’s similar to “Googling” or calling an “Uber” even though those brands may not necessarily be used, the word became popular and stuck.

These are some of the most frequently asked asked questions, but there’s hardly a straight answer because boxes come in various shapes and sizes. Check out our box size guide and dimensions fact sheets.

• Collapsable yet stiff, sturdy, and lightweight
• Materials are tear-, split-, and burst-resistant
• Versatile and many use cases
• Cost effective alternative to plastic totes and super sacsk
• Designed for single-use but can re-used and recycled
• Help protect bulky, hard to pack, and irregularly shaped items
• Easily to dispose of

These are some of the most frequently asked asked questions, but there’s hardly a straight answer because boxes come in various shapes and sizes. Check out our box size guide and dimensions fact sheets.

These are some of the most frequently asked asked questions, but there’s hardly a straight answer because boxes come in various shapes and sizes. Check out our box size guide and dimensions fact sheets.

Gaylords have either rectangular or octagonal form factors. For some reason, most customers prefer rectangular boxes, probably because they look most normal. But octagonal boxes help with stacking, even once the box is attached to a pallet.

The four extra pressure points on an octagonal box provides for more optimal weight distribution compared to a rectangular box. Therefore, octagonal gaylord boxes have better stacking ability. Each wall on an octagonal box bears half as much weight as a rectangular box.

There are at least 2- but up to 8-walls in a gaylord box. 2- and 3-wall boxes are most common and help meet many capacity requirements, which usually hold up to about 1,000 pounds, but are not for heavy duty materials.

4- or 5-wall gaylords meet most capacity requirements, usually hold up to about 2,000 pounds, and are rated for heavy duty materials.

Pallet boxes found on Verde Trader will either be regular/half slotted or overlap slotted containers, which have either partial or full bottoms.

Half slotted containers have same length flaps, but only on the bottom, but still meet at the center when folded. These would be considered as full flap bottoms.

Regular slotted containers have same length flaps at both top and bottom, and meet at the center when folded. This is known as full tops and bottoms.

Regular and half slotted containers are known as partial bottoms in the industry, while overlap slotted containers are full bottoms. Slip sheets are often placed into partial bottoms to make them flush and make them into full bottoms.

As named, overlap slotted containers have flaps that overlap when folded. This creates a full bottom, as it is flat and flush rather than disconnected with a crack down the middle. Many in the industry refer to these as well as full flap bottoms.

Boxes are stapled to pallets by the bottom flaps, and the pallet functions as a sturdy floor. This is why they are popularly referred to as pallet boxes. Without a pallet, the contents would fall out of the butt when lifted, because the flaps and staples aren’t strong enough to hold the bulk materials on their own.

Customers are most concerned about the weight of the boxes, rather than their own carrying capacity.  Usually the size and height of the box don’t factor into its weight, but rather the walls and type of bottom.

Empty gaylord boxes are collapsible and are folded down and palletized, about 20 to 100 boxes per skid depending on the size and wall thickness. Once folded down they are placed on a pallet usually a 48 x 40 GMA pallet, but pallet size and grade will vary. Gaylords are then strapped and banded to the pallet making it possible to unload and load easily with a forklift.

• 2 wall – 1000 to 2000
• 3 wall – 600 to 1200
• 4 wall – 400 to 500
• 5 wall – 400 to 500

• 2 wall – 50 to 100 per pallet
• 3 wall – 25 to 100 per pallet
• 4 wall – 20 to 25 per pallet
• 3 wall – 20 to 25 per pallet

Surprisingly, supply and demand of gaylords waxes and wanes. There is never a constant supply of cardboard boxes. New boxes are expensive and can be very difficult to find on a timely and regular basis, and in the quantity needed.

Although designated for single-serve uses, gaylord boxes can be re-used. Box manufacturers only say that to sell more new boxes!

VerdeTrader can help you find used gaylords from all over North America. Used gaylord boxes can function just as well as new boxes, but are much cheaper and affordable.

Buying and using used gaylords can help your industrial business become more sustainable. Try the Search Now function to find gaylord boxes near you!

The starting point to picking the right box is knowing the contents. The heavier the weight capacity of all items together, the more walls required. The size of the box depends on whether or not the contents need to be covered, and the space limitations. As we move up the wall and height scale, the more expensive boxes become.