Single-Wall vs Double-Wall Boxes What’s the Difference?

Choosing the right corrugated box is one of the most important decisions when shipping or storing products. The strength of your box directly affects protection, cost, and customer satisfaction.

This guide explains the difference between single-wall and double-wall corrugated boxes, along with when to choose each one.

Magnified side profile of corrugated board layers: single-wall on top, double-wall below.

What Is a Single-Wall Box?

A single-wall box is the most commonly used corrugated box. It has one layer of fluting sandwiched between two linerboards. This structure makes it lightweight, economical, and suitable for most everyday packaging needs.

Benefits of single-wall boxes:

• Lightweight and affordable

• Ideal for general use

• Easy to store

• Available in many standard sizes

• Perfect for non-fragile products

Best uses for single-wall:

• Clothing

• Beauty and cosmetic products

• Small electronics

• Office supplies

• Dry foods

• Retail and e-commerce packages

Single-wall is the simplest option when your products don’t need extra protection.

What Is a Double-Wall Box?

A double-wall box contains two layers of fluting and three linerboards. This provides significantly higher strength, compression resistance, and protection during shipping.

Benefits of double-wall boxes:

• Very high durability

• Excellent stacking strength

• Resists crushing and impact

• Suitable for long-distance shipping

• Protects heavy and fragile items

Best uses for double-wall:

• Tools and hardware

• Automotive parts

• Heavy equipment

• Ceramics, glass, fragile items

• Bulk shipments

• Industrial products

Double-wall is the right choice when your shipment demands maximum safety.

Single-Wall vs Double-Wall: Key Differences

Feature	Single-Wall	Double-Wall
Strength	Medium	High
Weight	Light	Heavier
Cost	Lower	Higher
Stacking Strength	Moderate	Excellent
Best For	Light/medium items	Heavy/fragile items
Ideal Shipping	Local/short distance	Long-distance/industrial

Which One Should You Choose?

Choose single-wall if:

• Your products are lightweight

• You want a cost-effective option

• Your items are not fragile

• You ship mostly short distance

• You sell retail or e-commerce items

Choose double-wall if:

• Your products are heavy or fragile

• You need extra strength

• You ship long distance across Canada

• Your boxes are stacked on pallets

• You want maximum protection for industrial items

Choosing the right structure reduces damage, returns, and extra packaging costs.

Need Help Choosing?

If you're unsure whether your products need single-wall or double-wall boxes, we can help you choose based on weight, fragility, distance, and packaging requirements. The right box type saves money and protects your shipments.

Get a Quote

Looking for high-quality corrugated boxes?Prairie Packaging offers both single-wall and double-wall options with fast local pickup and custom sizing.Contact us today to check availability or request pricing.