Packaging Reference Library · Technical Reference
Solid Fiberboard, Chipboard and Paperboard
Solid fiberboard, chipboard and paperboard are flat, non-fluted boards. This sheet explains how they differ, how thickness is measured in points and where each is used, including folding cartons.
Draft, open for review. Check every value against the governing standard and the manufacturer’s data before use.
What it is
Paperboard is a heavy paper, thicker than ordinary paper, used for folding cartons, tablet backs and retail packaging. Chipboard is a paperboard made mostly from recycled fiber, usually gray or brown. Solid fiberboard is made by laminating several plies of paperboard into a thick, solid sheet, used where corrugated is not stiff or dense enough, such as slip sheets and heavy partitions. None of these has flutes. ASTM D4727 covers solid fiberboard together with corrugated board stock.
How to read thickness
Paperboard thickness (caliper) is given in points. One point = 0.001 in, so 24 pt = 0.024 in. To convert to millimeters, multiply points by 0.0254. Some boards are also sold by basis weight. Caliper and basis weight are not the same, so state which one you mean.
Board types
| Board | Made from | Look | Typical uses |
|---|---|---|---|
| Solid bleached sulfate (SBS) | Bleached virgin pulp | White through the whole sheet | Premium folding cartons, food, pharmaceutical, cosmetics |
| Coated unbleached kraft (CUK or CNK) | Unbleached virgin kraft with white coating | White coated face, brown back | Beverage carriers, frozen food cartons |
| Coated recycled board (CRB) | Recycled fiber with white coating | White coated face, gray back | Cereal and dry food cartons, retail boxes |
| Uncoated recycled board (URB) | Recycled fiber | Gray or brown both sides | Tubes, cores, set-up boxes, backs |
| Chipboard | Recycled fiber | Gray or brown | Pad backs, partitions, inserts, tablet backs |
| Solid fiberboard | Laminated plies of paperboard | Thick, solid, often brown | Slip sheets, heavy partitions, some returnable containers |
Folding cartons
A folding carton is cut and creased from paperboard, printed, then glued and shipped flat. Common styles are straight tuck end, reverse tuck end and auto-lock bottom. The printer chooses the caliper for the product weight, the carton size and how it will be packed. Folding cartons usually travel inside a corrugated shipper.
Key points
- Paperboard is not a substitute for corrugated in shipping. It lacks the crush resistance of a fluted board.
- Food contact boards must meet the converter's food-safety requirements. Ask for the documentation.
- Recycled boards may contain small specks and vary more in color.
- Moisture causes curl and loss of stiffness. Store flat and dry.
Common mistakes
- Calling corrugated boxes "cardboard" and chipboard "corrugated."
- Ordering by "points" when the supplier quotes basis weight, or the other way round.
- Using uncoated board for high-quality printing.
- Using a folding carton as the shipping box for parcel delivery.
Governing standards: ASTM D4727 (corrugated and solid fiberboard sheet stock); converter and printer specifications.
Reference only. Verify against the current governing code or standard, the manufacturer's data and the project documents before use. Apps for Distributors disclaims liability arising from reliance on this reference.
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