Custom Crating vs. Standard Shipping Boxes

Custom crating and standard shipping boxes serve very different purposes in logistics. While boxes are designed for lightweight, uniform items, custom crates are engineered to protect heavy, oversized, or high-value goods. At Pakrite Express in New York, we help businesses and designers choose the right solution based on risk, value, and handling requirements.

What Is the Difference Between Custom Crating and Shipping Boxes?

Standard shipping boxes are mass-produced containers intended for general parcel shipping. Custom crates are purpose-built wooden enclosures designed around the exact dimensions, weight, and fragility of an item.

Choosing the wrong option can lead to damage, delays, or denied insurance claims.

When Standard Shipping Boxes Are Used

Shipping boxes work well for items that are lightweight, durable, and easily replaced. They are commonly used for retail goods and small parcels.

Typical Uses for Shipping Boxes

• Small, non-fragile products

• Items under standard carrier weight limits

• Uniform inventory shipped in high volume

• Short-distance parcel deliveries

Limitations of Shipping Boxes

• Limited structural strength

• Minimal protection against impact or vibration

• Not suitable for heavy or oversized items

• No internal bracing or load control

What Makes Custom Crating Different

Custom crates are designed to protect items that cannot be safely shipped in a box. Each crate is built to support weight, prevent movement, and withstand handling during freight transport.

Key Features of Custom Crating

• Built to exact item dimensions

• Reinforced bases for heavy loads

• Internal blocking and bracing

• Protection against impact and vibration

• Compliance with domestic and international shipping standards

Custom Crating vs. Shipping Boxes at a Glance

Feature	Custom Crating	Standard Shipping Boxes
Load capacity	High	Low to moderate
Protection level	Engineered and item-specific	Basic
Suitable for freight	Yes	Limited
Internal supports	Yes	No
Export compliance	Yes	No
Reusability	Often reusable	Typically single-use

When Custom Crating Is the Better Choice

Custom crating is recommended when shipping items that are valuable, heavy, or sensitive to movement.

Situations That Require Custom Crating

• Shipping machinery or industrial equipment

• Transporting designer furniture or artwork

• Moving fragile or irregularly shaped items

• Sending goods long-distance or internationally

• Protecting items with polished or finished surfaces

Why New York Businesses Choose Custom Crating

In New York, shipments often pass through multiple handling points and tight delivery schedules. Custom crating provides the structural protection needed to prevent damage during complex logistics routes.

At Pakrite Express, our in-house team designs and fabricates crates that meet carrier, insurance, and export requirements for businesses across NYC and beyond.

Why Pakrite Express Is Trusted for Custom Crating

Since 1982, Pakrite Express has supported manufacturers, designers, and production teams with precision-built crating solutions. Our New York facility allows us to control quality from design through delivery.

• Over 40 years of crating and logistics experience

• In-house design and fabrication

• ISPM-15 certified materials for export

• Custom solutions for heavy, fragile, or high-value items

• Local pickup and nationwide shipping coordination

Contact Pakrite Express for Custom Crating in New York

If you are deciding between a shipping box and a custom crate, Pakrite Express can help you choose the safest and most cost-effective option.

Contact our New York team today for a consultation or quote and protect your shipment with the right packaging solution.