Q: Why are moving boxes so expensive
Moving boxes are an extremely important part of the whole moving process. They are essential for sorting, organizing, and carrying a multitude of items safely to their destination.
As such they need to be sturdy, reliable, and fairly protective of the items stored inside. Either for remaining undamaged during transportation, or for use as long term storage solution.
These required traits are just a few of the many that form part of making a reliable moving box for long term use.
1) Moving Boxes Need to Withstand Stacking Forces
For storage purposes, while in transportation, or simply for general space saving needs, storage boxes need to be able to stand up to stacking forces of other full loaded moving boxes.
Each box has a rating system that’s proof of meeting a minimum standard gained via testing that the box is capable of standing up to a certain amount of force on its sidewalls.
This is know as the edge crush test (ECT). More expensive boxes will typically have a better ECT rating. Essentially allowing you to stack heavier objects on top of them without collapsing.
| ECT Rating | Maximum Weight Capacity | Number of Corrugated Walls |
|---|---|---|
| ECT-32 | 65lbs | Single |
| ECT-44 | 95lbs | Single |
| ECT-48 | 100lbs | Double |
| ECT-51 | 120lbs | Double |
| ECT-90 | 280lbs | Triple |
| ECT-155 | 300lbs | Triple |
2) Tight Tolerances for Better Quality and Protection
Moving boxes must meet certain metrics and requirements for shipping standards. This ties into the ECT rating scores listed above. Additionally they need to be robust to last a long time. Most importantly the tolerances need to be tight in order to ensure that the box fits together well. Additional features such as extra thick walls and smooth cut out handles add to the overall quality. This includes the seams which need to be a good accurate fit in order to seal the box correctly. Most importantly the underside flaps which greatly contribute in preventing the complete collapse caused by the weight of the loaded items.
3) Material Costs and Performance Properties
Material costs make up the largest percentage of the moving boxes final price. Boxes are made up of pieces of board with fluting material between that make up the corrugated board. Glues are use to hold these pieces together. Manufacturers need to use quality materials for boxes to be reliably used in all conditions. Changing the height of the fluting can improve certain desirable performance properties. These improved materials will come at extra costs that generally improves the long term use life of the moving boxes. Different brands will put more or less emphasis on the kind and quality of materials used. Therefore this will ultimately reflect in their final list price. The manufacturing of moving boxes is a multi step process involving heavy and expensive machinery. Running costs, materials, and labour all have an effect of pricing.
Overall the cost of paper (the material that moving boxes are made from) has been rising. The knock on effect of this is that the cost of moving boxes unfortunately increase too in order to absorb the increase in raw material cost to the manufacturer.
4) Recycled Materials Cost
As stated above, materials are the largest percentage cost of the moving boxes production costs. Recycled materials on average make up around 30 – 45% of the materials. Increasing the recycled content in boxes beyond this range typically means more materials will need to be brought in, which effectively increases manufacturing costs. This increased cost will then be passed onto customers by an increased final listing price. There is a greater pressure than ever before for on manufacturers to use materials more sustainably.
In addition, for manufacturers to produce boxes requires them to have the required packaging certifications. In short, these materials need to meet specific qualifications around their source and quality. The factory must pay more for the use and acquisition of these materials.
5) Printed Graphic Details
Ink costs, coatings, colour, number of colours, and more details designs all add into the additional manufacturing costs required. Metallic and neon inks will drive these cost up even further. Manufacturers typically use a process called plate based printing to add graphic designs to boxes during the creation process. To keep costs down budget moving boxes will often have zero or minimal graphics on them completely avoiding the printing cost typically required in the manufacturing process.
Summary – Why Are Moving Boxes so Expensive
Moving boxes are an essential part of the moving process and as such need to be reliable.
This reliability is produced as a result of the quality of materials used, the manufacturing process, and tight tolerances.
All these things factor into the final cost of the product.
To sum up the main reasons for expensive moving boxes are:
-
Moving Boxes Need to Withstand Stacking Forces
-
Tight Tolerances for Better Quality and Protection
-
Material Costs and Performance Properties
-
Recycled Materials Cost
-
Printed Graphics Details
Here’s something else you may be interested in:
How to Pick the Best Moving Box and Packing Boxes – Full Guide – All Packing Boxes