PaperFluteBasics

What is corrugated board?

A layered paper structure combining flat liners and a fluted medium to deliver strength at low weight.

Basic Knowledge
6 minbeginner·Updated 2026-06-20

Overview

Corrugated board is engineered from renewable paper: two flat sheets called liners are glued to a wavy sheet called the medium. The waves — flutes — create air columns that resist crushing and cushion the product inside. It is the dominant transport packaging worldwide because it is light, recyclable and highly customizable.

Classification

Single face
1 liner + 1 medium. Wrapping and interleaving.
Single wall
2 liners + 1 medium. Most e-commerce boxes.
Double wall
3 liners + 2 mediums. Heavy or fragile goods.
Triple wall
4 liners + 3 mediums. Industrial and export.

Advantages

  • High strength-to-weight ratio
  • Recyclable and renewable
  • Fully customizable by size and print

Disadvantages

  • Loses strength when wet
  • Sensitive to humidity storage

Applications

  • Shipping cartons for e-commerce
  • Retail display packaging
  • Industrial and export packaging
AI Summary

Corrugated board = 2+ liners glued to a fluted medium. Common builds are single-wall, double-wall and triple-wall. Choice depends on load, stacking, transport mode and humidity.