For small ecommerce retailers, big online sellers and resellers, getting products delivered safely to the customer is paramount.

The packaging industry is innovating at rocket’s speed. However, the question still remains: how to ship products easily, safely and without any added overheads?

While many online retailers associate boxes with shipping, not all orders need to be packed in bulky cartoons. Today, many ecommerce owners are opting for poly courier bags as they cushion the products at lower costs compared to cardboard boxes.

So, what is better – corrugated boxes or courier bags?

Stay with us as we explore the pros and cons of using boxes vs. poly mailers for shipping. The comprehensive comparison will help you choose the right packaging for your product.

Let’s get the ball rolling:

Table of Content:

Corrugated Boxes or Poly Courier Bags – Which are the Best?
What is a Corrugated Box?
What is a Poly Courier Bag?
Corrugated Boxes Vs. Poly Courier Bags – A Comprehensive Comparison
Which One Should You Choose
Takeaway

Corrugated Boxes or Poly Courier Bags – Which are the Best?

Short answer: It depends on what you are shipping.

When it comes to shipping, picking up the right packaging is the key. It impacts everything right from your product integrity to shipping costs and overall user experience.

While there are multiple options available, two of most commonly used packaging materials are corrugated boxes and poly mailers.

Though they both serve the same purpose – keeping the products during transits – they have distinct advantages.

To know which might be a better choice, let’s see:

What is a Corrugated Box?

A corrugated box is made from thick, multi-layered cardboard and designed for bulky, mostly fragile and heavy shipments. These durable packaging materials are capable of withstanding the rough transit conditions including transport and weather.

Let’s check what are the key features of these boxes:

Key Features of Corrugated Boxes:

They need a strong adhesive agent like high-powered tapes, so it’s sealed properly. Unlike poly courier bags, these don’t come with an in-built locking mechanism.
They are durable and stronger, making them ideal for heavy or fragile products like electronics.
Offers little rooms for branding. Since they are bulky and plain, adding branding elements can be difficult. However, it can be customized if required.
These boxes are available in different strengths. Whether you want a single walled box for something lighter or triple-wall for fragile items – you can have it.

Use Cases for Shipping Boxes:

Wholesale shipments
Shipping fragile or heavy items such as electronics or glassware
Industrial and warehouse packaging

What is a Poly Courier Bag?
A poly courier bag is an innovative packaging material made from high-density polyethylene plastic (HDPE). These self-adhesive poly mailers offer utmost protection to the products while being lightweight and budget-friendly.

Here’s a quick snippet of some of the key characteristics of poly bags:

Key Features of Poly Courier Bags:

The self-adhesive sealing mechanism makes it secure and tamper-proof. You need any extra glue or tape to seal the parcel.
Made from lightweight and durable HDPE, poly bags protect the product without adding extra weight and cost.
Immense room for customization. These are excellent for branding purposes – for example, you can get your logo printed.

Best Use Cases for Poly Courier Bags:

Apparels
Documents
Books
Subscription boxes
Gift packaging
Small cosmetics, jewelry, and accessories

Corrugated Boxes Vs. Poly Courier Bags: A Comprehensive Comparison

Aspect
Corrugated Boxes
Poly Courier Bags
Material
Multi-layered cardboard with fluted core
Single/multi-layer polyethylene (LDPE/HDPE)
Strength & Protection
Durable and rigid. They’re excellent at impact resistance and prevent the product from breaking.
Flexible. Provides protection against scratches, dust, and water. Cannot withstand impact or rough handling
Suitable Product Types
Fragile, heavy or premium such as electronics or glassware
Soft, non-fragile, lightweight products such as apparel, documents, books, accessories.
Security / Tamper Evidence
Requires adhesive tape. Tampering is possible.
Self-adhesive peel-and-seal flap with tamper-evident closure. Once opened, can’t be resealed
Storage Efficiency
Bulky even when flat-packed. Requires warehouse space.
Extremely space-efficient. Just roll and stack them – easy peasy!
Branding Options
More surface area, but limited scope for branding.
Less surface area, but better branding scope. For example: get poly bags printed in your brand colours or design.
Cost (Packaging + Shipping)
Higher material and shipping costs due weight and size.
Lower cost for both packaging and shipping as they are made from lightweight material.
Storage & Warehouse Logistics
Takes more space in transport & storage; stacking possible
Saves storage space but stacking products inside not possible
Industry Preference
Electronics, appliances, glassware, pharma, FMCG, subscription boxes, gifting
E-commerce (fashion, books, accessories), courier services, retail returns

Which One Should You Choose?

The choice between a poly courier bag and a corrugate box depends on what you are shipping and how you want people to perceive your brand.

Opt for a poly bag if:

Your product is lightweight and non-fragile like books.
You want to create a sleek unboxing experience.
The product fits snugly in a self-locking bag.

Opt for a corrugated box when:

You are shipping heavy, fragile products that require extra care.
Shipments don’t require additional and tamper-proof packaging.

Takeaway

Corrugated boxes and poly courier bags both come with their advantages. Choosing one totally depends on your shipments and its requirements.

If you are looking for high quality and tamper-proof poly courier bags, contact ARK Packaging today.