Types of Paper & Cardboard for Packaging
Your Guide to Packaging Success.
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Beginner Summary
This short box explains the most common materials used for packaging: Practical packaging insights for beginners and small businesses – learn about materials and solutions to make your products shine.
Quick Comparison
| Material | Main Use | Print Quality | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Art Board | Retail boxes, cosmetics | Excellent | Medium |
| Craft Board | Bags, eco boxes | Medium | Low |
| Corrugated | Shipping, ecommerce | Fair | Medium |
| Ivory Board | Luxury packaging | Excellent | High |
| Grey Board | Rigid gift boxes | Wrapped Paper | Medium–High |
| Box Board | Low-cost packaging, notebook covers | Medium | Low |
| SBS Board | Luxury packaging, high-end prints | Excellent | High |
| FBB Board | Pharma, cosmetics | Excellent | Medium–High |
| MG Brown Paper | Food wraps, bags | Medium | Low–Medium |
| Newsprint Paper | Newspapers, flyers | Low | Very Low |
Material Details
🟨 Art Board (Coated)
| Overview | Smooth coated board for high-quality printing and finishes. |
|---|---|
| Printing | Offset, Digital, UV, Foil, Spot-UV |
| Typical Weights | 230–400 gsm |
| Cost | Medium |
| Practical Notes | Use for small to medium retail boxes where appearance matters. |
| Usable Products | Cosmetic boxes, folding cartons, small electronics boxes |
| Ideal Product Weight | 50g – 500g |
| Box Size Ratio | Small–medium (up to ~8 in) |
| Basic Notes | Great color reproduction; not water-resistant without lamination. |
🟫 Box Board / Bristol Board
| Overview | Stiff, smooth surface used for rigid packaging, card, and more. |
|---|---|
| Printing | Offset, Flexo, UV |
| Typical Weights | 200–400 gsm |
| Cost | Medium |
| Practical Notes | Good for high-quality printing, often used for greeting cards, postcards, and premium packaging. |
| Usable Products | Greeting cards, rigid packaging, promotional items. |
| Ideal Product Weight | 100g – 400g |
| Special Notes | Great for high-end packaging; not ideal for large or heavy boxes due to rigidity. |
⬜ Ivory Board
| Overview | Premium white board, used for high-quality packaging and prints. |
|---|---|
| Printing | Offset, Foil, UV |
| Typical Weights | 250–450 gsm |
| Cost | High |
| Practical Notes | Used for luxury packaging, often in cosmetics and high-end retail products. |
| Usable Products | Perfume boxes, premium gift packaging, pharmaceutical boxes. |
| Ideal Product Weight | 50g – 800g |
| Special Notes | Best for luxury packaging and premium products; expensive with finishes. |
🟫 Kraft Board
| Overview | Natural paper used for eco-friendly packaging, strong and durable. |
|---|---|
| Printing | Screen, Flexo, Offset |
| Typical Weights | 150–350 gsm |
| Cost | Low–Medium |
| Practical Notes | Common in eco-friendly products and sustainable packaging. |
| Usable Products | Shipping boxes, gift bags, grocery bags. |
| Ideal Product Weight | 100g – 1kg |
| Special Notes | Good for sustainable packaging; limited print quality. |
🟨 Duplex Board
| Overview | White front and grey back, used for lower-cost packaging. |
|---|---|
| Printing | Offset, Flexo |
| Typical Weights | 200–400 gsm |
| Cost | Low |
| Practical Notes | Good for mass-produced boxes, less premium quality. |
| Usable Products | Food cartons, toothpaste boxes, retail packaging. |
| Ideal Product Weight | 50g – 400g |
| Special Notes | Cost-effective for high-volume, non-luxury packaging. |
📦 Corrugated Board
| Overview | Fluted core board used for heavy-duty packaging and shipping. |
|---|---|
| Printing | Flexo, Screen Print |
| Typical Weights | 3-ply, 5-ply, 7-ply |
| Cost | Medium |
| Practical Notes | Excellent for protection, good for heavy items. |
| Usable Products | Appliance packaging, shipping boxes, fragile items. |
| Ideal Product Weight | 5kg – 25kg+ |
| Special Notes | Different flutes for varying levels of protection. |
🟫 Grey Board / Chipboard
| Overview | Rigid board, often used as the structural core in premium packaging. |
|---|---|
| Printing | Wrap/laminate print, structural only |
| Typical Weights | 600–2000 gsm |
| Cost | Medium–High |
| Practical Notes | Heavy to ship, gives a premium feel and durability. |
| Usable Products | Luxury gift boxes, rigid packaging |
| Ideal Product Weight | Up to 5kg |
| Special Notes | Used for high-quality, rigid packaging and premium products. |
⬜ SBS Board (Solid Bleached Sulphate)
| Overview | Premium white virgin fiber board with excellent smoothness and brightness; used for luxury packaging. |
|---|---|
| Printing | High-end printing, embossing, foil, UV finishes. |
| Typical Weights | 200gsm – 400gsm |
| Cost | High |
| Practical Notes | Ideal for cosmetics, pharmaceuticals; strong surface but less rigid than grey board. |
| Usable Products | Cream boxes, perfume boxes, premium FMCG. |
| Ideal Product Weight | 50g – 400g items |
| Special Notes | Known for whiteness; best for brands requiring premium shelf appearance. |
📘 FBB Board (Folding Box Board)
| Overview | Multi-layer board with a coated top layer; strong yet lightweight; widely used for cartons. |
|---|---|
| Printing | Excellent printability—offset, UV, foil, emboss available. |
| Typical Weights | 200gsm – 350gsm |
| Cost | Medium – High |
| Practical Notes | Widely used for pharma, cosmetics, cereal boxes; good stiffness. |
| Usable Products | Face cream boxes, soap boxes, small retail packaging. |
| Ideal Product Weight | Up to 300g |
| Special Notes | Whiteness is lower than SBS but stronger structurally. |
🟨 MG (Machine Glazed) Kraft Paper
| Overview | Smooth glossy front, rough back; used for food wraps and paper bags. |
|---|---|
| Printing | Screen print, flexo, simple offset prints. |
| Typical Weights | 40gsm – 120gsm |
| Cost | Low – Medium |
| Practical Notes | Good grease resistance; very lightweight; perfect for bakery packaging. |
| Usable Products | Bags, bakery wraps, envelope-type pouches. |
| Ideal Product Weight | 10g – 300g |
| Special Notes | MG = shiny finish on one side; looks clean for food retail. |
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