RSC, FOL, or telescoping — picking the right box style for shipping fragile items.

RSC — Regular Slotted Carton

The default. One piece of corrugated, scored and slotted, flaps meeting at the centre. Cheapest to manufacture, most widely available, used for the majority of general shipping.

Use it for: standard parcel shipping, dry goods, retail product, anything 1–35 lb.

Avoid it for: items needing extra cushioning on the bottom face, very heavy single items (>50 lb), and irregular shapes that don't fill the corners.

HSC — Half-Slotted Carton

RSC without one set of flaps. Used with a separate lid or for open-top bins where overhead access matters.

FOL — Full Overlap Slotted Carton

All flaps are the same length — roughly equal to the box width. When closed, the outer flaps overlap to within 1 inch of full overlap, doubling the corrugated thickness on the bottom and top panels.

Use it for: heavy or fragile items where the bottom panel benefits from extra cushioning. Common in automotive shipping, industrial parts, and lay-on-side stacking patterns.

Pricing: ~10–15% more than equivalent RSC due to extra material.

Five-panel wrap and cut-out wrap

The corrugated blank wraps around the product instead of folding into a box. The wrap is glued or taped on the open seam.

Use it for: long or oddly shaped items where a standard box would be wasteful (rugs, framed art, long boards, rolled materials).

Telescoping (two-piece)

A bottom tray and a separate top cover that slides over it.

Use it for: heavy items needing top access without disturbing the bottom (electronics, instruments, premium retail). Also for products where the buyer wants a clean lift-off unboxing.

Pricing: ~30–50% more than equivalent RSC due to two-piece construction.

A decision tree

1. Item under 5 lb, simple shape, not fragile → RSC, ECT-32.
2. Item 5–35 lb, standard shape → RSC, ECT-32 (light) or ECT-44 (heavy).
3. Item over 35 lb OR pallet-stacked 4+ high → FOL or double-wall RSC.
4. Heavy fragile item, top-access preferred → telescoping.
5. Long or oddly shaped item → wrap-style (5-panel or cut-out).
6. Anything humid, refrigerated, or long-transit → step up one ECT grade or double-wall.

When the box style matters less than the inside

Box style is the structural shell. The cushioning is what saves the product on a drop. For high-value fragile items, the right answer is often an RSC plus a custom-cut foam insert — cheaper than a telescoping box and more protective.