Catalog

Five families. One fiber stream.

Every family here has a short spec summary: flute combination, wall count, stacking guidance, reuse and fiber. Quotes come from partner suppliers in our network.

Grades A–D48×40 · 48×48 · 40×40Double to five wallUsed and new
At a glance
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Spec summaries

The basics of each family

Borrowed from the idea of a material passport: the details a future user needs to keep the thing in service instead of throwing it away.

Used Gaylord BoxesSpec summary
Flute
BC / BCC
Walls
Double & triple wall
Stacking
Typically 2 high loaded (triple wall)
Reuse
Several more trips, depending on grade
Fiber
Recovered fiber (already in use)
New Gaylord BoxesSpec summary
Flute
BC, CC, BCC, AAC
Walls
Double, triple, five wall
Stacking
Depends on specification
Reuse
Reusable when handled well
Fiber
Varies by mill; ask for it on the spec
Bulk Bins & OctabinsSpec summary
Flute
BC / CC
Walls
Double & triple wall
Stacking
Depends on construction and fill
Reuse
Several trips with matched frames
Fiber
Recovered fiber (used stock)
PalletsSpec summary
Flute
n/a — timber & polymer
Walls
Stringer or block construction
Stacking
Rack, floor and drive-in rated options
Reuse
Many trips when graded and repaired
Fiber
Recovered timber (recycled grades)
Reference

Construction limits and specification tables

General guidance on construction, height, pallets, liners and grades. Pricing comes by quote for your specific load.

Assembled triple-wall gaylord boxes on wooden pallets inside a warehouseTriple wall
Assembled triple-wall gaylords on 48×40 pallets, staged indoors.
Warehouse aisles filled with banded pallets of knocked-down corrugated bulk boxesBundles
Banded bundles of knocked-down containers sorted by footprint and height.
Bulk bins and gaylord boxes with liners on a loading dock, pallet stacks behindOn the dock
Lined bulk containers on a loading dock.
Construction, thickness and typical working capacity
ConstructionThicknessTypical max weightStackingTypical use
Single wall C5/32" (4.0 mm)65 lbNot for bulkLids, layer pads, dividers
Double wall BC9/32" (7.1 mm)900 – 1,200 lb1 high loadedGeneral bulk under 1,200 lb
Double wall CC5/16" (7.9 mm)1,000 – 1,300 lb1 high loadedSlightly better cushioning than BC
Triple wall BCC7/16" (11.1 mm)2,200 – 2,500 lb2 high loadedThe bulk workhorse
Triple wall ACC1/2" (12.7 mm)2,400 – 2,700 lb2 high loadedDense product with cushioning need
Five wall AAC5/8" (15.9 mm)3,000 lb+3 high, matched palletsCastings, stampings, export
Height selection on a 48 × 40 footprint
HeightCubeFitsBest forWatch for
28"25.9 ft³Low-clearance racking, pick facesDense product, ergonomic sortingDoubles your container count on light goods
36"33.3 ft³Most standard rackingThe default — best price and availabilityCheck reach height if hand-loaded
40"37.0 ft³Cooler racks, harvest linesProduce, bakery, mixed DCTop-edge wear climbs with reach
44"40.7 ft³Tall bays, textile sortingLight bulky goods — foam, film, apparelHand-loading above 44" is uncomfortable
48"44.4 ft³Dedicated tall programsVery light, very bulky loadsTriple wall only; never stack loaded
Pallet grades and capacities
TypeSizeCapacityNotes
Recycled GMA #148 × 402,800 lb rack / 4,600 lb floorNo plugs, no companion stringers. Use under stacked loads.
Recycled GMA #248 × 402,500 lb rack / 4,000 lb floorUp to three repaired boards. Floor-level staging.
Remanufactured48 × 40 and custom2,200 lb rackBuilt from salvaged components. Heavier, variable deck gap.
ISPM-15 export48 × 40, 48 × 482,800 lb rackHeat-treated, stamped, moisture checked below 19%.
Nestable plastic48 × 402,200 lb rackWashdown and food environments; nests for return freight.
Presswood48 × 40, 45 × 451,500 lb floorLight, nestable, effectively one-way.
Liner selection — gauge, style, application
GaugeStyleProductNotes
2 milFlatDry, light, non-abrasive goodsBagged or boxed contents inside the container.
3 milFlat or gussetedLight powders, dry componentsUsually the lowest gauge suited to free-flowing product.
4 milGussetedPellets, produce, general purposeThe default specification for most applications.
5 – 6 milGussetedHeavy, sharp-edged or dragged productSpecify when discharge involves dragging the liner.
4 mil antistaticGussetedResin pellets and polymer powdersPerformance falls in very dry air; rotate stock.
Foil barrierGusseted, sealableHygroscopic powders, long storageSeal above the fill line, never against the board.
The four grades, attribute by attribute
AttributeGrade AGrade BGrade CGrade D
Vertical cornersSquare, no repairSound, light scuffingRepaired or trimmedFailed
Bottom flapsFull strengthSound, minor wearOne replacement allowedDead scores
InteriorClean, no filmLight dustVisible useResidue or staining
PrintNo conflicting marksOld labels presentMultiple marksIrrelevant
SquarenessWithin 1/8"Within 3/8"Visible rackOut of square
Moisture / odourNoneNoneNoneDisqualifying at any grade
Typical useFood-adjacent, customer-facingGeneral bulk, reusable poolsInternal staging, scrapPads, dividers, OCC
Bulk container styles, with the code to put on a drawing
StyleCodeDescriptionBottomUsed for
Full-flap bulk boxFEFCO 0201 scaledFour-panel body with top and bottom flaps meeting at the centre.Full overlapThe strongest common bottom. Heavy and dense loads.
Partial-overlap bulk boxFEFCO 0203 scaledFlaps overlap partially rather than fully.Partial overlapLighter loads; slightly less material, meaningfully less bottom strength.
Open-bottom sleeve on trayFEFCO 0300 seriesBody sleeve sitting on a separate die-cut tray or pallet-top sheet.Separate trayReusable pools — the body can be replaced without the tray.
Octagonal body (octabin)Custom scoredEight-sided body, usually with top and bottom frames.Frame or trayFree-flowing solids: resin, grain, powders, nuts.
Telescoping lidFEFCO 0301 capCap sliding over the outside of the body.n/aProtects contents and enables stacking. Order matched to body footprint.
Pallet capDie-cut coverFlat cap sitting over a loaded pallet or container.n/aDust and light protection where a full lid is unnecessary.
Bulk bin with discharge chuteCustom die-cutBody with a die-cut chute panel for gravity discharge.Flat or framePowder and pellet handling lines.
Layer pad / tier sheetFlat blankFlat board between product layers.n/aLoad stability and crush distribution inside the container.
Slotted divider setFEFCO 0900 seriesInterlocking slotted boards forming cells.n/aParts separation — from two to twenty-four cells.
Trim-to-height bodyCut from stockA taller stock body knife-cut down to a true score line.OriginalWhen the height you need is not the height the market has.
What a 48 × 40 × 36 inch container weighs when filled — by product
ProductBulk densityLoaded weightConstructionNotes
Mixed apparel, unbaled6 – 9 lb/ft³200 – 300 lbDouble wallVolume-limited. Buy tall, not strong.
Loose foam / film2 – 5 lb/ft³70 – 170 lbDouble wall44 inch bodies pay for themselves here.
Cardboard offcuts7 – 12 lb/ft³230 – 400 lbDouble wallKeep dry or the weight is water.
Plastic regrind flake20 – 30 lb/ft³660 – 1,000 lbDouble / tripleStatic — specify antistatic liner.
Resin pellets (PE, PP)32 – 38 lb/ft³1,050 – 1,250 lbTriple wallOctabin preferred above 1,200 lb.
PET flake22 – 28 lb/ft³730 – 930 lbDouble wallAbrasive — 5 mil liner minimum.
Apples / citrus30 – 35 lb/ft³1,000 – 1,150 lbTriple wallField heat and condensation; 40 inch is the produce default.
Potatoes / root crops38 – 45 lb/ft³1,250 – 1,500 lbTriple wallBottom-layer bruising — use a layer pad.
Frozen fruit / vegetable35 – 42 lb/ft³1,150 – 1,400 lbTriple wallManage the freezer-to-dock transition before stacking.
Grain / seed42 – 50 lb/ft³1,400 – 1,650 lbTriple wallOctabin or bin — hoop stress matters.
Mineral powder55 – 75 lb/ft³1,800 – 2,480 lbTriple / five wallAt the top of what fiber should carry. Check the pallet.
Glass cullet80 – 95 lb/ft³2,650 lb+Five wallFill to weight, not to height. Never fill to the top.
Metal stampings90 – 140 lb/ft³Fill by weightFive wall + V-boardSharp edges: burst strength and corner protection both matter.
Electronic returns, mixed10 – 16 lb/ft³330 – 530 lbDouble wallMixed-height pools work best here.
Books / paper records35 – 45 lb/ft³1,150 – 1,500 lbTriple wallDense and deceptive — people routinely overfill.
Nuts / dried goods28 – 34 lb/ft³930 – 1,120 lbTriple wallGusseted liner, plus eight inches of height.
Quick conversions for bulk packaging
MeasureImperialMetricNotes
Standard footprint48 × 40 in1,219 × 1,016 mmThe GMA pallet that standardised US distribution.
Triple wall thickness7/16 in11.1 mmTakes about 7/8 in off interior width across both walls.
Typical capacity2,200 lb998 kgTriple wall BCC, evenly distributed, matched pallet.
Container cube at 36"33.3 ft³0.943 m³Outside dimensions, before board thickness.
OCC bale1,000 – 1,400 lb454 – 635 kgTypical bale from a horizontal baler.
Trailer capacity, knocked down400 – 600 units—53-foot dry van; cube limited, never weight limited.
Moisture ceiling for OCC12%12%Above this you are selling water at a penalty.
Quality control

The twelve-point inspection, in order

What a careful supplier checks on every used unit, and what you can check at receiving. The cheapest rejection happens first, which is why odor and moisture come before anything cosmetic.

01

Odor

Thirty seconds in open air, nose at the opening.

Any persistent smell — instant rejection.
02

Moisture

Hand and meter at the bottom score line where it hides.

Staining above the bottom score, or any delamination.
03

Vertical corners

Thumb pressure at knee, waist and shoulder height.

Hollow give, shear, or crush longer than four inches.
04

Bottom flaps

Fold test on each flap; the score must hold.

Two or more dead scores sends the unit to cutting.
05

Squareness

Diagonal measurement across the open top.

Over 3/8 inch of rack drops the grade.
06

Interior cleanliness

Visual plus a wipe for residue and dust film.

Grease strike-through, product residue, staining.
07

Pest evidence

Corners, flutes and under the bottom flaps.

Frass, gnaw marks or webbing — rejected outright.
08

Wall thickness

Caliper at two points on a cut edge.

Mislabelled construction should be re-specified before it is quoted.
09

Print & labels

Check for conflicting brands and old spec marks.

Covered, or graded down if legibility matters.
10

Top edge

Fray, crush and compression over the perimeter.

Over a quarter of the perimeter → trim candidate.
11

Previous repair

Tape, V-board inserts, replaced flaps from another life.

Should be declared on the quote, not presented as original.
12

Origin lane

Where the unit came from and what was in it.

Industrial origins never enter the food-adjacent lane.
Diagnostics

Eight ways bulk packaging fails

Damage is evidence. Where it appears tells you whether the problem is the container, the pallet, the aisle or the weather.

Failure modes, causes and the fix
FailureWhat it looks likeCausePrevention
Strap cutCrushed line across a vertical corner, half an inch wide.Polyester strap tensioned over an unprotected edge.A V-board corner protector under every strap.
Forklift shearScuff outside, hollow feel inside over a six-inch band.Lateral contact delaminating liner from medium.Floor guides at pinch points; operator training.
Overhang crushFailure at the bottom score, two corners only.Container footprint larger than the pallet deck.Buy pallet and container on the same quote.
Humidity creepBulging walls, leaning stack after weeks of storage.Compression loss above 70% RH compounding under load.Reduce stack height; one construction up; shorter dwell.
Condensation cyclingSoft outer liner after a freezer-to-dock move.Surface below dew point for twenty minutes.No stacking for 24 hours after a temperature transition.
Liner bridgeUneven settle, container out of square after filling.Flat liner bridging the corners under free-flowing product.Gusseted liner sized to the footprint.
Dead scoreBottom flap will not hold its fold.Repeated knock-down and re-erection, or wrong fold line.Collapse along original scores only; train receiving.
Tine puncturePaired holes about four inches above the base.Tines entering at the wrong height on a stacked position.Position signage and double-stack rules.
FAQ

Common questions on this subject

Short answers to common questions. If yours is not covered, ask it on the form and a partner supplier in our network can answer it with your quote.

All 33 answers
What exactly is a gaylord box?
A bulk corrugated container sized to a pallet footprint, usually 48×40 inches, built from two to five layers of corrugated board and handled by forklift. The name comes from the Gaylord Container Company; it is now a generic industry term.
Can you match a competitor's price?
Pricing is set by the partner supplier who quotes your request. When comparing quotes, check that both are graded per unit, both include freight, and both are quoting the same wall count: those three differences explain most gaps.
How does selling empties work?
Send photographs and a count through the form. A partner supplier who buys used containers reviews them, makes an offer by grade and arranges collection if the numbers work. Small quantities may need to be combined with a nearby pickup.
Are used gaylord boxes strong enough?
For most applications, yes, provided they are graded properly. Corrugated loses much of its strength on its first compression cycle and much less on later trips. Ask the supplier to state wall count, flute and grade on the quote so you can check it against your load.
How much do used gaylords cost?
Pricing is set by the partner supplier who quotes your request. Grade, wall count, height, quantity and freight all move the number, and freight is usually the biggest variable, so ask for it as a separate line.
Can I sell my used boxes?
Often, yes. Send photographs and a count through the form. A partner supplier who buys used containers reviews them and, if the numbers work, makes an offer and arranges collection.
Can used containers be used for food?
It depends on your process and your requirements. With food, a liner is the contact surface, and container origin matters. Check current regulations and your customer's specification, and say what you need on the form.
What areas do you serve?
Gaylord Boxes takes requests from across the United States. Availability depends on partner suppliers near your dock, and freight distance affects the price.
Next step

Not sure which family fits?

Describe the product, the weight and the number of trips you need. A partner supplier in our network follows up with a specification and pricing.