A shipment is only as strong as its packaging. When goods travel thousands of kilometers via air or road freight, they endure vibrations, stacking pressure, and temperature changes. Choosing the correct transport box is not just about fitting the item inside; it is about engineering a survival capsule for your product. At ParcelParcel, we see thousands of shipments daily. The number one cause of damage is not courier mishandling, but insufficient packaging. Here is how to navigate the different types of boxes to ensure your cargo arrives intact.
Chantal has been writing about logistics topics for almost two decades and has worked for major international carriers.
In logistics, we don't just use "cardboard"; we use corrugated fiberboard. The strength of a transport box is determined by its "flutes" (the wavy inner layer) and walls.
This is your standard consumer box. It consists of two flat liners and one fluted layer sandwiched in between.
Best for: Domestic shipments, lightweight items (clothing, documents), and goods that are not fragile.
Risk: It crushes easily under stacking pressure. Avoid using this for international air freight.
For B2B export, the double-wall transport box is the minimum requirement. It features two layers of fluting, offering significantly higher resistance to crushing and punctures.
Best for: International parcels up to 30kg, electronics, and books.
Why use it: It provides a buffer zone; if the outer layer is pierced, the inner layer often protects the product.
The tank of the packaging world. These boxes can often hold up to 100kg+ and are comparable to wooden crates in strength but lighter in weight.
Best for: Heavy automotive parts, industrial equipment, or fragile items requiring maximum shock absorption.
Beyond the standard square box, specific logistics scenarios require specialized shapes.
A pallet transport box is designed to fit perfectly on a standard Euro Pallet (120x80cm) or Block Pallet (120x100cm).
Function: It turns loose items into a single, stackable unit.
Usage: Ideal for consolidating many smaller boxes or shipping bulk granular materials. They often come with a "loading flap" for easy access.
These consist of a separate lid and base that slide over each other.
Usage: Perfect for long or flat items (like screens, artwork, or pipes) where the height needs to be adjustable to fit the product snugly.
Technical Note: In Europe, box styles are often referred to by their FEFCO code (European Federation of Corrugated Board Manufacturers). For example, a standard box is FEFCO 0201. You can learn more about these standards on the official FEFCO website.
Many shippers are unaware that using a weak transport box can void your transport insurance. If a claim is inspected and the box is found to be single-wall for a 20kg international shipment, it may be classified as "insufficient packaging." Always ensure your box is rated for the weight it carries. You can verify this by checking the "Box Maker’s Certificate" stamp usually found on the bottom flap.
Read more about our Packaging Guidelines and how to properly insure your shipment.
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Always measure the internal dimensions (Length x Width x Height). This ensures your product will fit. For calculating shipping costs, however, carriers use the external dimensions to determine the volumetric weight.
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We strongly advise against it for international shipments. A box loses up to 50% of its structural integrity after its first trip. If you must reuse one, ensure it is a double-wall box, remove old labels, and check for any structural weaknesses or water damage.
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In logistics terms, a "carton" often refers to the retail packaging (the box the iPhone comes in), while the transport box is the outer shipping container that protects the retail carton. Never ship a product just in its retail carton; always use an outer transport box.
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You can instantly check the shipping costs through our rate calculator. Enter the weight, dimensions, and destination country of your shipment, and you will see all available shipping options along with their respective delivery times. The calculator can be used to compare shipping rates for both export and import shipments.
If you need help calculating a shipping rate, watch the video below. Click on the 
button to play the video and the 
icon to view the video in fullscreen.
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Shipping costs are calculated based on dimensions (LxWxH in cm), weight (in kg), and the destination country. Both the actual weight (as shown on the scale) and the volumetric weight are considered.
The volumetric weight is the weight calculated based on the space your shipment occupies in the plane. The higher of the two weights (volumetric or actual weight) is used to calculate the shipping rate. You don't need to calculate this yourself; our calculator does it for you.
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You can use the discount code PP10 for 10% discount on the transportation costs of your first shipment. You can apply the discount code during the checkout process (instructions).
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Whether additional costs apply depends on whether your shipment stays within the European Union or is sent to/from a country outside the European Union. Below, you can see the additional costs for each situation.
Within the European Union
If, for example, you send a shipment from the Netherlands to Italy (within the EU), there will be an additional 21% VAT on the shipping costs.
Furthermore, if your shipment stays within the European Union, you won't have to deal with any import duties or customs clearance fees because your shipment doesn't go through customs. Please note that the European Union is not the same as Europe.
View here all the countries that are part of the European Union. For example, Switzerland is part of Europe but not part of the European Union.
Outside the European Union
If, for example, you send a shipment from the Netherlands to the United States, there will be no VAT (0%) applied to the displayed shipping rates.
However, there might be import duties levied by customs in the destination country if you send a shipment to/from a country outside the European Union. Typically, customs costs are charged to the recipient. This is known as Delivered At Place (DAP) in logistics terminology.
Customs is a government agency that levies import duties in certain cases to protect the local market. As a company, you can also ship using Delivered Duty Paid (DDP), which means any customs costs will be charged to you as the sender.
If you have any questions about this topic, feel free to contact us. Additionally, you can read everything about import duties, VAT, and the customs clearance process in this blog.
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A customs invoice is a form where all the goods you want to ship are specified. This invoice includes an English description of the goods, along with their corresponding value and weight.
The contents of your shipment must be specified per type of product you're sending to avoid delays at customs. A customs invoice is always prepared in quadruplicate in accordance with customs guidelines.
When is a customs invoice required?
A customs invoice is only required for shipments to/from countries outside the European Union (e.g., Netherlands - United States). If your shipment stays within the European Union (e.g., Netherlands - Italy), your shipment will not go through customs, and therefore, a customs invoice is not required.
Additionally, document shipments are not subject to customs, so if you're sending a document to a country within/outside the European Union, no customs invoice is needed.
Please note that not all goods can be shipped to every country. You can find a list of goods that cannot be sent via ParcelParcel on this page.
Do I need to create a customs invoice myself?
If you're sending a shipment to/from a country outside the European Union, it's mandatory to include a customs invoice with the shipment. We provide free support in creating a customs invoice.
You can easily generate a customs invoice through our shipping platform. The customs invoice will be automatically generated based on the content you specified during your booking.
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You can import just as easily as export via ParcelParcel.
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You can find a list of goods that cannot be shipped via ParcelParcel on this page.
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