When most people think of corrugated cardboard – more properly known as corrugated fibreboard – they think of a top and bottom layer of board with a zig-zag piece in between. However, that’s just one type of corrugated sheet that can be used in packaging.

A single piece of linerboard with corrugations on top. This isn’t usually used to make cartons themselves but is great for providing extra cushioning. It can be used for sleeves that wrap around bottles, for example.

The standard board we all know and love, with the corrugated medium sandwiched between the top and bottom sheets of the linerboard. It’s incredibly versatile and can be used to make all manner of cartons and other packaging.

This has two layers of corrugations for extra strength. It’s great if you need to stack boxes on top of each other or for packaging heavy industrial items.

Three layers of corrugations mean this is a heavy-duty type of board. A carton made from this can be used as an alternative to a wooden crate. The high strength-to-weight ratio means you can save on shipping costs compared with heavier materials.

The corrugations or flutes that make up the wavy part of a corrugated board act in a similar way to an arch, providing strength while keeping weight to a minimum. The dimensions of the flutes can be varied to change the properties of the board, and there are several standard sizes which are given letter names such as B, C, E, F and R.

B-flute is the most common type. Large flutes give the board better cushioning properties, whereas narrower flutes make the board more rigid and easier to print on.

With double and triple wall boards, you can even combine different flute types into one material.

When ordering corrugated boxes, bear in mind that you’ll need to give the internal dimensions.