E-flute corrugated
E-flute corrugated is fine-fluted board about 1/16 inch (0.06 inch) thick, with around 90 flutes per foot, so it prints almost like a carton while still protecting a product in the mail. Tria mailers run it at 32 ECT, with a kraft, white or black outer liner and optional full color print inside. It is the board for boxes that ship on their own.
E-flute corrugated at a glance
| Thickness | About 1/16 in (0.06 in) |
|---|---|
| Flute count | Around 90 flutes per foot |
| Strength | 32 ECT on most mailers; under carrier rules a 32 ECT single wall box is rated for up to 65 pounds |
| Liners | Natural kraft, white top or black outer liner; white or kraft inside |
| One color flexo with water-based ink, or full color outside and inside | |
| Finishes | Matte aqueous on printed mailers; soft-touch on mailers that ship inside an outer |
| Heavier option | B-flute or C-flute, 32 or 44 ECT, on shipping boxes and bottle shippers |
| Ships | Flat, folded by hand when you pack |
When to choose it, and when not to
Choose E-flute for anything that arrives on a doorstep: subscription boxes, apparel mailers, cosmetics sets, candles in a cradle. It is thin enough for crisp print and tight folds, light enough to keep dimensional weight down, and strong enough for most direct-to-consumer products under a few pounds.
Skip it for luxury presentation, where the flute line shows on the cut edge; a rigid box on 1200 gsm grayboard reads better and can ship inside an E-flute outer. Skip it for shelf cartons, where 18pt SBS prints finer, and for heavy or bulk loads, where a B-flute or C-flute shipping box is the safer call.
Read nextProducts made with E-flute corrugated
These are the products whose pages list E-flute corrugated as a material that suits them. Across these products, minimums run from 200 to 300 units, with lead times of 10 to 14 business days after proof approval. Each product page states its own.
Also offered in E-flute corrugated: candle shipper box, book mailer box, literature mailer box, eco kraft mailer box, corrugated insert, wine and spirits carrier, plant shipping box, suitcase box, counter display carton, coffee sleeve and cup carrier.
Questions about E-flute corrugated
How thick is E-flute corrugated?
About 1/16 inch, or 0.06 inch. B-flute is about 1/8 inch and C-flute about 5/32 inch, which is why E-flute is the one used for printed mailers.
What does 32 ECT mean on a mailer?
ECT is the edge crush test, a measure of how much stacking load the board carries. Under the carrier rules a 32 ECT single wall box is rated for up to 65 pounds, far more than a typical mailer holds.
Can E-flute be printed inside and out?
Yes. Mailers print full color outside and, if you want, a second full color print on the inside liner, so the box opens onto a pattern or a message.
E-flute or B-flute for my shipper?
E-flute for printed mailers and light to medium products. B-flute or C-flute for heavy items, bottles and bulk shipments, where the thicker flute adds crush strength and cushioning.
Hold it before you choose
The Swatch Book is a free set of board, wrap and finish samples, so you can feel E-flute corrugated next to the alternatives before you decide. Name the materials you are weighing in the request. When you are ready, send the size and quantity for a quote and a dieline, usually within one business day, with a complimentary digital proof on every order.