Packing Supplies, Inserts and Dividers

What are packing supplies for?

A box keeps goods together. Supplies stop them moving, rubbing or breaking inside it. They also seal the box, mark it and make the opening feel considered.

This range covers three jobs: holding items in place, protecting edges and surfaces, and sealing or decorating the parcel. Most items are cut to the box they go in, so give us the inside size of that box when you ask for a price.

Ordering supplies from the same place as your boxes has one clear benefit. We can check that the insert, divider or sheet matches the box before anything is cut.

For bottles, jars and anything that needs its own cell, start with our corrugated box dividers cut to your box.

The full supplies range at a glance

Every item in this range is listed below. The key detail column shows what makes each one different from the item above or below it.

Dividers or inserts: which holds goods better?

Dividers are slotted strips that interlock into a grid. Each item sits in its own cell, upright and apart from its neighbours. They suit rows of similar items, such as bottles or jars.

Inserts are die cut trays with pockets or cut-outs shaped to each product. They suit kits where every item is a different size. A serum, a cream jar and a brush can each have a pocket of their own.

For small, light items, thin board saves space. Our chipboard dividers for vials and samples fit more cells into a box than corrugated partitions.

Protecting edges, corners and flat goods

Corners take the hardest knocks. Edge protectors are stiff L-shaped strips that sit along an edge so straps cannot cut in and bumps cannot crush the board.

Cardboard sheets do a related job on flat surfaces. Laid between tiers in a carton or on a pallet, they spread weight and stop one row marking the next. They also stiffen prints and documents in the post.

For pallet loads, framed art and flat-pack furniture, our edge protectors for pallets and panels are cut to the length of each edge.

Sheets come in the same flutes as our boxes. E flute at about 1.5 mm makes a slim backing board, while BC double wall at about 7 mm makes a firm pallet layer pad.

Tubes for rolled prints and posters

Some goods should never be folded. Posters, art prints, plans and fabric samples travel best rolled in a tube with a cap at each end.

Choose a tube diameter that lets the roll slide in without force, usually 10 to 20 mm wider than the rolled item. Length should be at least 20 mm longer than the paper so the caps do not crush the ends. See our kraft paper tubes for posters and prints for more on sizing.

A rolled print up to A2 width, which is 420 mm on its short side, needs a tube a little longer than that, so around 450 mm inside. Put a sheet of tissue around the print before rolling to stop the surface scuffing on the tube wall.

Moulded pulp for fragile goods

Moulded pulp is paper fibre formed into a shape while wet, then dried. The result is a tray or box that follows the outline of the product and cradles it.

It suits items that are awkward to hold with flat board, such as glass, ceramics and electronics. Our moulded pulp boxes for fragile items are made to the shape of your goods.

Because the mould is made for one product, pulp works best for items you will send in quantity over a long period.

Pulp is also easy for the customer to deal with afterwards. It is paper-based and has no film or foam layer to separate, which suits brands trying to keep plastic out of their parcels.

Sizing supplies to your box

Inserts and dividers must match the inside of the box exactly. We need the three inside measurements of the box and the size of each item to be held.

For dividers, tell us how many cells you need across and down. A 3 × 4 grid holds twelve items, and a 4 × 6 grid holds twenty-four. Give the diameter and height of a bottle rather than its label size.

For sheets and edge protectors, give the finished length and width. If you are ordering new boxes too, our corrugated inserts made for your box can be quoted alongside, and we check both parts together on a single proof.

Mistakes when choosing packing supplies

Cells that are too tight are the most common fault. Bottles with a wide shoulder or a label wrap need extra room. Allow 2 to 3 mm around each item.

Another mistake is using loose fill where an insert would do better. Loose fill settles in transit, and heavy items sink to the bottom of the box.

It also pays to test a sample. Pack one box with the real products, shake it and tip it on each side. If anything rattles, the cells or pockets need adjusting before the full run.

Last, do not pick a thick board just to be safe. Heavier dividers and sheets add weight to every parcel. Thin folding board is enough for many light retail goods, and our folding carton inserts for cosmetics show how little board is needed.

Printing on inserts and supplies

Inserts, dividers, sheets and tape can all be printed. A short message on an insert, a logo on a divider or a pattern on the tape turns plain packing into part of the brand.

Folding carton inserts take full colour print sharply because the board is smooth. Corrugated items print well in one or two colours. Unit prices begin at £0.25. We fix the exact figure in writing once we know the size, board and print.

Inside messages work best when they are short. A thank-you line, a care tip or a web address printed on an insert gets read, while long paragraphs tend to be skipped.