Width on a paper edge protector means the leg length, measured from the fold to the outer edge. Legs run from 25 mm to 100 mm and can be unequal. Width is the variable that controls surface pressure, so it is the first thing to change when a pack is marked rather than cut.
Leg width data
| Leg width | Use | Notes |
|---|
| 25-30 mm | Narrow frame profiles, small cartons | Rotation risk on soft packs |
| 40 mm | General cartons and panels | Most common size |
| 50-60 mm | Banded panels, appliances | Good spread without extra wall |
| 70-80 mm | Heavy panels, steel bundles | Pair with 4-5 mm wall |
| 100 mm | Wide faces, out of gauge | Needs 5 mm wall minimum |
Width turns force into pressure
The same band tension acting on a 25 mm leg produces four times the pressure of the same tension on a 100 mm leg. That is the entire argument for wider legs, and it explains why two buyers with the same band and the same carton can need different profiles.
Width also affects stability. A profile with a 25 mm leg on a soft carton will rotate under band tension because there is not enough leg to resist the moment. Below about 40 mm, rotation becomes a practical problem on anything but a rigid pack.
Equal against unequal legs
Equal legs are general purpose and are what most buyers stock. Unequal legs are used where one face is the working face: for example, 80 mm on the panel face and 40 mm on the edge, so the board protects the face that gets banded without wasting material on the edge.
Unequal legs also solve the frame and window problem, where a 25-40 mm leg has to sit on a narrow profile face without reaching the glass or the seal.
Width and the fold
A wide leg on a thin wall folds flat and can crease along the leg rather than at the corner. This is why very wide profiles are quoted with a heavier wall: 100 mm legs on a 2.5 mm wall are not a sensible combination.
Where a leg has to reach 100 mm and the wall has to stay light, the answer is often a different part, such as a rim board laid flat rather than a wide L profile.
Questions buyers ask before ordering
Can the two legs be different lengths?
Yes. Unequal legs are a standard option, for example 80 mm by 40 mm.
What is the widest leg you make?
100 mm per leg, and 260 mm total opened width across three faces.
Does a wider leg cost much more?
It uses more board per meter, so it costs more, but it is usually the cheapest way to stop a surface mark.
How do I measure leg width?
From the fold line to the outer edge, on the flat face, not along the diagonal.
Is width or thickness more important?
Width for marks and stability, thickness for cutting and compression. Specify both against the failure you see.
To compare profiles, send a photo of a packed pallet and the band tension you use to mona@hengnicepacking.com.
