No one is going to dispute that packing is a stressful, time consuming and often strenuous activity. Chances are you’ll have given yourself less time than you need, and the nerves can quickly get pushed to their limit. Thankfully, some clever folks have made packing a lot easier by creating some speciality boxes that are specifically designed to accommodate items that are unusual shapes and sizes.
Whether you’re packing up house, or simply looking to ship a specific item safely by post, there are specialty boxes designed for every occasion. Here are twelve different types of specialty boxes and their respective functions:
1. Straight tuck end boxes
The straight tuck end type is the most common type of folding boxes and can be used for packing a wide assortment of items. With these types of specialty boxes, both top and bottom enclosures “tuck” from the front portion to the rear portion of the box, preventing any raw edge exposure.
2. Reverse tuck end boxes
Similar to the straight end tuck box, the difference here is the top enclosure of the folding cardboard box covers or “tucks” from rear part to the front part of the box. The bottom enclosure, meanwhile, seals or “tucks” from the front part to the rear part of the box.
3. Snap lock bottom boxes
Different from the first two options, snap lock bottom boxes are locked into shape and enclosed manually by hands. The enclosure on the bottom has different sizes of locking panels and therefore the large piece should go first and be followed by the two dust flaps and the smaller piece to finally seal the bottom part of the folding box. Snap lock bottom boxes are good for items that are heavier and require additional security.
4. Dishpack boxes
These are specialty boxes specifically designed to accommodate different kinds of kitchenware. Dishpack boxes will come with cell dividers so you can easily transport your bowls, stemware, and other dishes.
Dishes are fragile and may break during transport. You may want to equip your dish boxes with bubble wrap materials. This a lightweight, inexpensive way to cushion your dishware and provide them with impact protection throughout the shipping process.
5. Mattress boxes
Mattress boxes are specialty boxes designed to protect your mattress from damage and keep in clean while in transport or storage. They come in a variety of sizes, including crib, twin, standard, double and queen/king.
6. Mirror boxes
Mirror boxes are important because cracked mirrors are one of the most common accidents that happen during moves or shipping. Mirror boxes help avoid this situation and, in addition to mirrors, can be used for glass tabletops and large pictures.
When packaging mirrors, you can take some extra precautions to ensure that your belongings arrive safely. Shock mount packaging is a great option for items that are extremely fragile. This type of packaging contains built-in shock absorption, protecting the contents from shock and vibration as well as humidity, dust, and moisture. This heavy-duty type of packaging is typically used for fragile electronic equipment.
7. Custom crates
Although not necessary during most standard moves, custom crates can definitely come in handy if you need to move antiques, chandeliers, artwork, or anything large, bulky or delicate. They can be made exactly to specification and ensure that your items arrive safely.
8. Wardrobe boxes
These are large specialty boxes that stand upright and come outfitted with a bar intended for hanging clothing, curtains and draperies. These can be a great option if you’re hoping to prevent your belongings from becoming wrinkled while in transit.
9. Lay down wardrobe boxes
Rather than hanging these boxes are simply intended to help you pack and transport a large amount of clothing. The large rectangular shape makes packing much easier, as you don’t have to keep reaching into a big square box. You’ll also have better access to your items once you’ve arrives at your destination.
10. Gun and utility boxes
Used for much more than just firearms, gun boxes can come in handy even if you’re not transporting a rifle. They are great for packing everything from fishing rods, to golf clubs, to rolled up carpets.
11. Telescopic household utility boxes
These specialty boxes come in two pieces and are perfect for packing brooms, shovels, sports equipment and other irregularly-shapes items. Their telescopic quality means that the height is adjustable, and they also tend to have a high weight capacity for their size.
12. TV moving boxes
Similar to mirror boxes, TV boxes tend to be a bit bigger and also have the telescopic option in order to accommodate different sizes. They can handle a lot of weight and are perfect for ensuring that your flat screen TV arrives at its final destination safely and securely.
