10 Common Types of Packaging Used by Logistics Companies
(and When to Use Them)
For business owners, the choice of packaging may feel overwhelming. With large volumes, small changes in sizing and price add up and can impact the business financials. Additionally, packaging can reflect the brand and its values. From eco-friendly options to color choices, your customer experience begins the moment they see the package on their doorstep.
Packaging plays a critical role in the logistics and fulfillment process. It protects products in transit, reinforces brand presentation, and helps manage shipping costs. Whether you’re shipping a small cosmetic item or large industrial equipment, choosing the right type of packaging ensures products arrive safely and efficiently.
Utilize this guide to help determine which packaging option fits your business and products. Read more to learn about 10 common types of packaging used by logistics companies and when each is most effective.
1. Corrugated Boxes (Cardboard Cartons)
Corrugated boxes are one of the most widely used packaging types in logistics. These sturdy boxes come in various thicknesses and sizes, offering excellent protection during shipping.
Best for: Most general-purpose shipments, including fragile items, bulk orders, or multi-item kits.
Why use them: Corrugated boxes offer strong cushioning and stackability. They’re also recyclable and customizable for branded experiences.
2. Padded Mailers & Bubble Mailers
These are envelopes lined with bubble wrap or foam padding, used to protect items during shipment without the need for a full box.
Best for: Small, flat, or semi-fragile items like cosmetics, supplements, books, or jewelry.
Why use them: They reduce shipping costs by minimizing dimensional weight while still offering impact protection.
3. Poly Mailers
Lightweight and waterproof, poly mailers are ideal for non-fragile shipments.
Best for: Apparel, textiles, soft goods, and durable accessories.
Why use them: They’re inexpensive, space-saving, and provide a tamper-evident seal. Many brands use branded poly mailers for eCommerce orders.
4. Shrink Wrap & Stretch Film
These plastic wraps secure items or bundles during transit or storage.
Best for: Palletized goods, bulk inventory, or grouped items within a warehouse.
Why use them: Stretch film keeps items stable on pallets, while shrink wrap adds a protective barrier against dust, dirt, or moisture.
5. Temperature-Controlled Packaging
This specialized packaging keeps contents within a specific temperature range during transit.
Best for: Perishables, supplements, pharmaceuticals, or beauty products with shelf-life sensitivities.
Why use them: These solutions—including insulated liners, gel packs, and thermal wraps—protect product integrity in hot or cold climates.
6. Branded & Custom Packaging
Custom packaging is tailored to reinforce a brand’s identity and create a memorable unboxing experience.
Best for: Subscription boxes, personal care brands, boutique products, and launches.
Why use them: Unboxing is part of the customer journey. Branded tissue paper, boxes, inserts, and stickers elevate perceived product value.
7. Void & Fill Protective Materials
Used inside packages to cushion products and prevent movement or damage.
Best for: Fragile, irregularly shaped, or multi-component products.
Why use them: Options like kraft paper, air pillows, foam, and molded inserts keep products secure and minimize returns.
8. Labeling & Inserts
Although not packaging in the traditional sense, labels and inserts are essential components of order fulfillment.
Best for: Compliance, marketing, and communication.
Why use them: Labels or lot codes are required by platforms like Amazon. Inserts include invoices, thank-you cards, or usage guides.
9. Return-Ready Packaging
This packaging is designed to be reused if a customer initiates a return.
Best for: Apparel, shoes, and items with high return rates.
Why use them: Resealable mailers or tear-strip boxes simplify the returns process and improve customer satisfaction.
10. Pallets & Crates
These are large-format shipping containers used for bulk or industrial shipments.
Best for: B2B wholesale, oversized items, or large-scale distribution.
Why use them: Pallets allow forklifts to move large loads efficiently. Crates protect valuable or delicate items during freight shipping.
Bonus: Eco-Friendly & Biodegradable Packaging
As sustainability becomes a priority, many logistics providers are embracing eco-conscious packaging alternatives.
Best for: Brands with environmental commitments or eco-friendly product lines.
Why use them: Recyclable paper mailers, compostable poly mailers, biodegradable bubble wrap, and soy-based inks reduce environmental impact. These materials offer performance while aligning with consumer values.
At Custom BackOffice Solutions, we support businesses seeking eco-friendly fulfillment. We offer recyclable, biodegradable, and custom-branded packaging options tailored to your product type and brand identity.
Evaluating Your Packaging Options
Choosing the right packaging impacts more than product safety—it shapes customer experience, brand perception, and shipping costs. Whether you’re fulfilling 50 orders a month or 5,000, aligning your packaging strategy with your product type and fulfillment goals is essential.
Utilize this guide to test different packaging options—and don’t be afraid to pivot! Sometimes, packaging needs evolve over time, especially as your brand and your business grow.
Working with a logistics partner like Custom BackOffice Solutions gives you access to a wide range of packaging types, carrier options, and value-added services that scale with your brand. Make packaging a strategic advantage, not an afterthought.
Consult Our Packaging Partner - Tucson Tape & Supply
Tucson Tape & Supply is our trusted packaging partner, bringing decades of expertise in providing high-quality, cost-effective packaging options.
The team at Tucson Tape understands the nuances of optimal packaging—whether for protection, efficiency, or branding—and offers customized materials to meet the unique needs of every product. From eco-friendly options to specialty tape and custom boxes, Tucson Tape & Supply helps us deliver consistent, professional results for every shipment.
