Carton edge protectors are the short paper L pieces fitted to the corners and edges of individual boxes, usually 300-600 mm long, to stop the corner from crushing in the parcel network. They are a different product from pallet boards: shorter, lighter, and bought by the thousand rather than by the meter.
Specification at a glance
| Carton | Piece length | Wall | Fit |
|---|
| Parcel to 600 mm | 300 mm | 2.5-3 mm | Four vertical corners |
| Printed retail carton | 400 mm, white top | 3 mm | Corners facing the wrap |
| Palletised carton | 200 mm | 3 mm | Only the exposed lower edge |
| Double-stacked load | 400-500 mm | 4 mm | Corners plus top rim |
What actually damages a carton in transit
Not the drop, in most cases. The damage comes from the corner landing first, which transfers the whole impact into one point and buckles the vertical flute. Once the flute is buckled the box loses stack strength and the next box up starts to lean.
A short corner piece spreads that impact over 100-200 mm of edge. It does not need to run the full height of the carton; it needs to be where the corner is exposed, which is the two ends and any edge that protrudes beyond the pallet footprint.
Length and wall for parcel versus pallet
For a parcel up to 600 mm, a 300 mm piece at each of the four vertical corners with a 2.5-3 mm wall covers most of the exposed edge. For a carton that is itself palletised, the piece only needs to protect the section between the pallet deck and the first layer of the load.
Where the pieces are worth fitting
Fit them on cartons with a printed face, because a crushed corner ruins the print and the buyer sees it first. Fit them where the carton overhangs the pallet, because that corner takes every impact in the container. Skip them on internal cartons that are never seen and never stacked at the edge.
For a mixed consignment, standardising on one 400 mm piece for all cartons is usually cheaper than stocking three lengths, even if some cartons get more protection than they need.
Questions buyers ask before ordering
Can these be used on individual parcels, not pallets?
Yes. That is the main use for the 300-400 mm lengths. They are packed in bundles for the packing bench.
What is the smallest length you cut?
300 mm. Shorter pieces are possible but the cutting cost per piece rises and they are awkward to bundle.
How many pieces per carton?
Four for the vertical corners. Add two rim pieces if the carton is stacked more than two high.
Can they be printed with a handling instruction?
Yes, one or two colours. Many buyers print the carton code so the packer cannot mix sizes.
Are they delivered flat or formed?
Flat, nested in bundles. The packer folds them by hand, which takes less than a second per corner.
Send leg width, wall thickness, cut length and monthly volume to mona@hengnicepacking.com and we will quote the profile that matches your load.
