While all corrugated packaging materials are made up of a combination of both flutes and liners, the exact combination varies. There are four different board types with different combinations of flutes and liners to consider:

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Corrugated packaging doesn’t have to be the plain and boring brown cardboard that you see everywhere. In fact, you can print directly onto the cardboard. This is the perfect branding opportunity as it allows you to show off your logo and products. When it comes to printing onto corrugated material, there are a few different options, including flexographic, lithographic, and digital.

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One of these components is known as a “flute.” Not a musical instrument, this component is vital to the structure and composition of corrugated packaging.

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Corrugated flutes are designed to provide corrugated packaging with extra layers of insulation and protection. They also help make the packaging crush-proof and puncture-proof. Finally, corrugated flutes help provide structure to corrugated boxes, so they support heavier items without folding or breaking.

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The B flute is ideal for inner packaging components as it is crush- and puncture-resistant. This flute is also ideal for printing words, graphics, and logos directly onto the corrugated cardboard.

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The C is the second-thickest corrugated flute available, measuring about 3.2 millimeters or 11/64 inches in thickness. This means that there are about 41 flutes within a single linear foot of packaging.

At first glance, a cardboard box looks like one of the most straightforward items around. However, upon further investigation, cardboard boxes are more complicated than you’d think, thanks to various design and structural components, plus their usefulness in promoting your brand.

While you may think that corrugated cardboard only comes in the form of your basic square box, this actually isn’t the case. Instead, corrugated flutes and liners can be incorporated into countless different box styles.

These flutes range in size from 5 millimeters thick to 0.8 millimeters thick. And while it may seem that the flutes are named in order according to size, they are actually named according to when they were invented — with A being the first flute invented and F being the last flute invented.

The B flute falls in the mid-range, measuring at about 3.2 millimeters or ⅛ inch in thickness. This means that there are about 49 flutes within a single linear foot of packaging.

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An A flute is ideal for fragile items that need extra protection, thanks to extra-thick fluting. This flute is also ideal for heavier items that require a strong packaging structure.

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The E flute is the second-thinnest corrugated flute, measuring about 1.6 millimeters or 1/16 inch in thickness. This means that there are about 90 flutes within a single linear foot of packaging.

The F flute is the thinnest corrugated flute available, measuring at about 0.8 millimeters or 1/32 inch in thickness. This means that there are about 128 flutes within a single linear foot of packaging.

A C flute is ideal for shipping boxes as it is also crust-resistant and is not easily compressible. Like B flute, it also provides a good printing surface for branded and marketing materials.

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A flute is the thickest corrugated flute available, measuring at about 5 millimeters or ¼ inch in thickness. This means that there are about 36 flutes within a single linear foot of packaging.

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Corrugated flutes refer to the layers of corrugated material that are arranged in wave-like patterns between layers of the liner. So while you may not be able to see corrugated flutes at first glance, they play an important role in corrugated packaging to make it one of the best shipping methods available.

An E flute is ideal for reducing storage space and costs since it is quite thin. This flute is also commonly used for the packaging of consumer goods.

Lithographic printing is ideal for bulk printing jobs as customized plates need to be designed in order to guide the printing process. Flexographic printing is the most commonly-used printing type as it is quick, easy, and cost-efficient. Finally, digital printing is ideal for small-scale printing jobs since there’s no need for customized plates.

Now that you have a better understanding of corrugated flutes, you’re able to make informed packaging decisions. However, if you have any additional questions about packaging, feel free to reach out to the experts at Box Genie.

In addition to corrugated flutes, there are other factors you need to consider when choosing your corrugated packaging, specifically board type, box style, and printing type. Here’s what you need to know about each of these factors so that you can choose the best-corrugated packaging for your specific products and overall brand: