Buyer's guide
Gaylord Box Sizes, Grades & Pricing
Use this guide to pick the right box for your material and understand what you are paying for. When in doubt, send us the material and weight per load and we will recommend a box.
Common sizes and styles
Dimensions are nominal outside measurements. Capacities assume evenly distributed dry loads.
Standard Gaylord Boxes
- Size
- 48" x 40" x 36"
- Walls
- 3–5 wall corrugated
- Capacity
- Up to 1,200 lbs
The most common pallet-footprint bulk box used in warehouses and manufacturing.
Octagon Gaylord Boxes
- Size
- 48" x 40" x 40"
- Walls
- 4–5 wall corrugated
- Capacity
- Up to 2,000 lbs
Eight-sided design resists bulging when holding heavy, loose materials such as plastic regrind or scrap metal.
Bulk Bins with Lids
- Size
- 48" x 40" x 30"
- Walls
- 3–4 wall corrugated
- Capacity
- Up to 1,000 lbs
Includes top caps for stacking, dust protection, and closed-loop shipping programs.
Half Gaylords / Watermelon Bins
- Size
- 48" x 40" x 24"
- Walls
- 2–3 wall corrugated
- Capacity
- Up to 800 lbs
Shorter bulk boxes used for produce, retail displays, and lighter product.
How used boxes are graded
Every box we buy or sell is sorted into one of these grades. Grade drives price in both directions.
| Grade | Condition | Best for | Typical price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grade A (Like New) | Used once, clean and dry, square corners, no tears, tape or labels removed. Ideal for shipping and display. | Shipping, e-commerce fulfillment, retail display | $18 – $45 per box |
| Grade B (Good) | Structurally sound with minor cosmetic wear such as scuffs, small labels, or light marks. Fully usable for bulk storage. | Warehouse storage, bulk material handling, internal moves | $10 – $25 per box |
| Grade C (Utility) | Heavier wear, patched corners, or missing flaps. Best for scrap collection, recycling bins, or one-way hauls. | Scrap collection, recycling staging, one-way transport | $4 – $12 per box |
| Scrap / OCC | Broken down or damaged boxes purchased by weight as old corrugated containers (OCC) for fiber recovery. | Baled recycling, fiber recovery | Market rate per ton |
Prices are typical ranges for used boxes before freight and vary by market, quantity, and wall count. Request a quote for exact pricing.
Choosing a wall count
Wall count is the number of corrugated layers in the sidewall. A 3-wall box handles light and medium loads such as textiles, packaging components, or molded parts up to roughly 800 lbs. A 4-wall box is the all-purpose choice for resin and heavier parts. A 5-wall box or an octagon is the right call for dense, loose material like regrind, castings, or scrap metal where bulging and stacking strength matter.
Pallets, bottom caps, and lids
Gaylord boxes are usually shipped flat on pallets and set up on a pallet at the point of use. Bottom caps add rigidity and keep the box square on the pallet; top caps or lids allow double-stacking and keep dust out. Ask for caps or lids when you request a quote and we will price them with the boxes.
What affects price
Grade, wall count, size, quantity, and distance from inventory to your dock. Truckload quantities of standard boxes are the cheapest per unit; small LTL orders of heavy-wall octagons are the most expensive. Standing programs reduce cost further by letting us plan freight in advance.
Ready to buy, sell, or recycle Gaylord boxes?
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