A cardboard thickness guide is useful only when the unit matches the material family. A point is a paperboard thickness label. GSM, or grams per square meter, describes basis weight. A corrugated flute describes the shaped layer inside a wall. Those terms answer different questions, so a paperboard carton and a shipping carton should not be compared by number alone.
How do point and GSM differ on a cardboard thickness chart?
Point tells you about paperboard caliper, while GSM tells you how much a square meter of that board weighs. A thicker board can feel firmer, but GSM is not a direct substitute for point because mills and board constructions differ. Start with the box style, product dimensions, and print coverage, then check the listed stock.
| Material family | CPL listed option | Typical use | Check before proof approval |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paperboard | 11 pt (230 GSM), 12 pt (250 GSM), 13 pt (270 GSM) | Light to medium folding cartons | Scores, folds, print coverage |
| Paperboard | 14 pt (300 GSM), 18 pt (350 GSM), 24 pt (460 GSM) | Heavier folding or presentation cartons | Closure, panel scoring, finish |
| Heavy stock | 800 GSM, 1000 GSM, 1200 GSM, 1400 GSM, 1600 GSM | Dense or rigid-stock direction | Wrapping, assembly, edge finish |
| Corrugated | E-flute, 1.5mm | Compact structure with a finer print face | Liner, seams, insert fit |
| Corrugated | B-flute, 3mm | Deeper wall for shipping-oriented planning | Stacking route, product weight |
CPL lists 11 pt (230 GSM), 12 pt (250 GSM), 13 pt (270 GSM), 14 pt (300 GSM), 18 pt (350 GSM), and 24 pt (460 GSM) paperboard options. It also lists 800 GSM, 1000 GSM, 1200 GSM, 1400 GSM, and 1600 GSM heavy-stock options. The heavier list belongs to a dense or rigid-stock direction, not automatically a corrugated shipper.
What box wall thickness fits a folding carton?
Choose the paperboard option by how the carton folds, closes, and holds the product, not by thickness in isolation. A folding carton needs scores and glue tabs that behave cleanly after printing and finishing. A lid, drawer, or tray can need a different stock decision from a tuck box with the same product dimensions.
A dieline is the flat cutting template for the box. Product dimensions become panels, scores, glue tabs, and bleed areas on that template. Type set too close to a score can crack or read poorly after folding; low-resolution art and missing bleed are prepress problems caught at the digital proof stage. CPL provides free design support, draws the dieline, and sends a digital proof before anything prints.
Is E-flute or B-flute better for a corrugated box?
E-flute fits a compact printed carton, while B-flute fits a deeper corrugated wall when the shipping plan calls for it. CPL lists E-flute at 1.5mm and B-flute at 3mm. Neither flute answers the whole brief. Liner selection, product weight, insert fit, seam placement, and stacking route still need a check.
How do board thickness and finish work together?
Finish changes surface feel and appearance, not the board family. Matte and gloss lamination cover the printed surface; aqueous coating dries as a water-based surface coat; soft touch changes hand feel; spot UV adds a localized glossy area; foil stamping, embossing, and debossing change selected areas. Type, scores, folds, glue tabs, and handling points need a check with the finish because a surface treatment can behave differently at a fold than on a flat panel.
Ink coverage matters too. A dark full-panel print can show scuffing more readily than a lighter print, while kraft board changes the base color under the ink. Ask for the actual board, print, and finish combination in the quote, then inspect the proof at the size of the finished panels.
Which cardboard box styles should I compare?
Use kraft cardboard boxes when you want to compare a natural paperboard direction. For a compact presentation, compare custom cardboard jewelry boxes. Custom cardboard gift boxes frame a lid, closure, or finish discussion, while custom cardboard drawer boxes show how moving parts and wrap structure affect the stock choice. Use cardboard tube packaging when the package needs a round structural form rather than a flat box.
What should I send for a cardboard weight guide quote?
Send the product dimensions, assembled orientation, box style, filled weight, shipping or display role, preferred board family, artwork, finish, quantity, and destination. That information keeps the dieline and stock choice tied to the finished box. Production timing starts after proof approval, not when a request first arrives. MOQ is 100 units. Pricing is from $0.49 per unit at volume, quoted to spec. Production is typically 8 to 10 business days after proof approval, plus delivery.
For artwork and dieline help, use custom packaging design. To handle the board before a proof, order the $19.99 sample kit. The sample kit is credited toward the first order. Free US shipping and free design support are available.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does a higher GSM always mean a thicker cardboard box?
No. GSM is the weight of one square meter of board, while point describes paperboard caliper, so the two labels are related but not interchangeable. A box quote should name the material family, structure, and selected stock. CPL lists paperboard options from 11 pt (230 GSM) through 24 pt (460 GSM).
What paperboard thicknesses does CPL list?
CPL lists paperboard at 11 pt (230 GSM), 12 pt (250 GSM), 13 pt (270 GSM), 14 pt (300 GSM), 18 pt (350 GSM), and 24 pt (460 GSM). The right choice depends on the folding structure, scores, closure, print coverage, finish, and product fit. Confirm the selected stock in the quote.
What are E-flute and B-flute used for?
E-flute and B-flute are corrugated flute options, meaning shaped layers inside a corrugated wall. CPL lists E-flute at 1.5mm and B-flute at 3mm. E-flute fits a compact printed carton; B-flute fits a deeper wall for shipping-oriented planning. Liner, seam, insert, weight, and stacking still need a check.
Can a finish change how a cardboard box feels?
A finish changes the surface, not the underlying board thickness. Matte or gloss lamination covers the printed surface, aqueous coating adds a water-based coat, and spot UV creates a localized glossy area. Foil, embossing, and debossing affect selected areas. Check scores, folds, glue tabs, and handling points with the chosen finish.
What are the starting terms for a custom cardboard box order?
Custom cardboard box projects use a 100-unit MOQ. Pricing is from $0.49 per unit at volume, quoted to spec. Production is typically 8 to 10 business days after proof approval, plus delivery. Free US shipping and free design support are available. The $19.99 sample kit is credited toward the first order.
