How much a gaylord weighs, and what it carries

Ratings, attributed

Uline rates its triple-wall 48 x 40 x 36 at 1,500 lb and its 36 x 36 x 36 at 1,200 lb. A 46 x 38 x 36 octagon is listed at 2,200 lb with 1,300 lb test. These are new-box ratings from makers and sellers, not guarantees.

What the box itself weighs

One octagon weighs 29 lb in one maker's listing, and a similar octagon-bottom box about 22.9 lb in another. Weight depends on board.

Why used is lower

Creasing, moisture and trips all take strength. Corrugated can lose roughly 50 percent of its compression strength when humidity rises from 50 to 90 percent, and storage under load in humid conditions can cost nearly 45 percent over 90 days. Cold makes board stiffer and more brittle, per AICC. Pallet overhang also reduces effective strength.

Read how much a gaylord holds and wall count; the grades guide explains how we describe condition.

Using a rating well

A rating is a ceiling set under test conditions, not a promise for every load. The sensible way to use it is to compare the weight of a full box with the rating and leave a margin. A load that weighs close to the rating is a load for a new box with a full flap bottom, not a used one. A load that weighs a third of it is comfortable in almost any sound box.

What to measure

Weigh a full box once, on a scale, before you decide. Estimates from product density are often off, because boxes are rarely filled to the same level twice. Write the figure in your request along with the footprint and wall count, and the reply can say whether the box you have in mind is the right one.

What the table does not say

The ratings above come from makers and distributors, and they apply to new boxes tested in particular conditions. They are not a guarantee for a used box, and they are not a limit on how much a forklift can lift. A 1,500 lb rating does not mean a box can be filled with 1,500 lb of anything. A load that concentrates its weight in one corner, or a stack with an uneven pallet underneath, can fail a box well below its rating.

A sensible habit

Treat the rating as the ceiling for a new box, and plan to use no more than about two thirds of it for a used one unless a maker says otherwise. That is a conservative habit, not a rule, but it tends to keep the load in the box.