Wooden boxes are a good alternative to pallets if you want a more secure shipping solution. These boxes fully encase and protect your items.

If your shipment won't fit in a standard box size, then you might need to order custom-built boxes. Before you place an order, ask yourself the following questions.

1. How Big Is Your Shipment?

If your shipment is too big or too small for an off-the-shelf wooden box, then you need to have one made to fit. Fit matters here.

Ideally, you want to pack your goods so that they fit snugly in their container. You don't want to have to cram them into a box that is too tight a fit. You also don't want them to rattle around in a box that is too big.

In both these cases, your shipment could get damaged in transit. So, to get started, work out the size of your order. This gives you an approximate size for the box.

2. How Heavy Is Your Shipment?

The weight of your shipment also affects the type of box you buy. If you're loading light items, then standard wood will typically work well for you.

However, if your items are heavier, then you might need to use stronger wood. Or, you might need to reinforce the box to make sure it can hold your contents without breaking.

3. How Will You Ship Your Box?

While you need a box that is sturdy enough to carry your shipment, weight can also affect your transport costs. If you pay shipping charges based on weight, then you don't want to make the box unnecessarily heavy.

For example, air freight can be an expensive shipping solution. You can reduce your costs by using lightweight woods here. If this is doable based on the weight of your items, then try to lighten the load by choosing your materials carefully.

4. Are Your Contents Fragile?

While a snug custom wooden box will hold your items securely, you need to take extra care if you're shipping fragile goods. If the box falls or gets a knock in transit, then fragile items might break.

It might pay to install some protective inserts in the box to cushion its contents and hold them in place. Some custom box manufacturers can do this for you when they put your order together.

Once you have the answers to these questions, you have a better idea of what kind of box you need. To find out more about your options, contact suppliers that make custom wooden boxes.

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