Learn

Guides for a circular box supply chain.

Everything we know about buying, selling, sizing and reusing boxes — written plainly, with the answer up front. No fluff, no phone tag, just the reference we wish we'd had.

Free · No obligation

Have a question we haven't covered?

Ask us anything about boxes, Gaylords, grades or freight — we reply by email, fast, and often turn good questions into new guides.

♻ Landfill-free
48-hr quotes
Nationwide freight

Explainers

Explainer

What Is a Gaylord Box? The Complete Bulk-Bin Guide

A Gaylord box is a large corrugated bulk container sized to sit on a standard 48×40-inch pallet. Named after the Gaylord Container Company that popularized it, it ships and stores loose or bulk goods — from produce to plastics — and is reusable for many cycles when reconditioned.

7 min readUpdated June 2026Read guide →

Guides

Guide

Box Grades Explained: A, B and C (and What They Mean for You)

Used box grades describe condition: Grade A is like-new with clean liners and square corners; Grade B has one to two prior uses and minor cosmetic wear; Grade C is economy stock for light or single-cycle use. Match the grade to how critical your load is.

5 min readUpdated April 2026Read guide →

Guide

How to Sell Surplus Boxes and Gaylords (and Get Paid)

To sell surplus boxes: count and photograph them, group by type and rough grade, request a valuation from a bulk buyer, and arrange pickup. Quality reusable loads earn payment; lower grades can still offset disposal through recycling pickup.

6 min readUpdated May 2026Read guide →

Guide

9 Ways to Cut Packaging Costs Without Cutting Quality

The fastest packaging savings come from buying used and reconditioned boxes, right-sizing cartons to reduce void fill, standardizing dimensions, backhauling freight and selling your surplus. Together these routinely cut packaging spend 20–50%.

7 min readUpdated April 2026Read guide →

Comparisons

Comparison

Used vs. New Gaylord Boxes: Which Should You Buy?

Choose used Gaylord boxes for most bulk storage and shipping — they cost 40–70% less and slash embodied carbon. Choose new only when you need certified ECT/burst ratings, food-contact liners, export compliance or consistent print.

6 min readUpdated May 2026Read guide →

Sustainabilitys

Sustainability

The Circular Economy of Packaging: Reuse Before Recycling

A circular packaging economy keeps boxes in use as long as possible — reuse and reconditioning first, recycling only when fiber is spent, and landfill never. Reuse avoids the energy of re-pulping, so it beats recycling on both cost and carbon.

8 min readUpdated June 2026Read guide →

Quick reference

Reference

Glossary

Plain-English definitions for Gaylord, OCC, ECT, flute, RSC and the rest of the box vocabulary.

Open glossary →

Reference

FAQ

Straight answers on pricing, minimums, coverage, buy-backs and how our landfill-free loop works.

Open FAQ →

Frequently asked questions

What will I find in these resources?

Field-tested guides, comparisons and explainers on Gaylord boxes, grading, wall types and circular packaging, written by the people who handle this material daily rather than by a content agency.

Where should I start if I am new to Gaylords?

Read the guide to what a Gaylord box is, then the grades explainer. Between them you will know the standard 40 by 48 footprint, the wall options and what Grade A, B and C actually mean for your load.

How do I choose between used and new boxes?

Match the grade to the job. Customer-facing shipping usually wants Grade A or new, while internal handling and storage run happily on Grade B at a lower price. The used versus new comparison guide walks through the tradeoffs.

Do these guides apply outside the box industry?

Most of them do. Grading, wall construction and freight economics are the same whether you are packing produce, plastics, textiles or scrap, though the grade you should buy will differ.

Can someone just tell me what to order?

Yes. Send the load weight, contents and dimensions and we will spec it for you, then quote it freight-included. Reading first is optional, not required.