For office storage, an archive box is the right starting point for records you need to retrieve — Mega Office Supplies stocks a range of Marbig archive boxes. For a move, cartons need to match what's inside them: small for dense paper, double-wall for heavier items, large only for bulky, light contents. The right box is the one you can fill, close, lift and stack without straining its base.
- For cardboard boxes used in office storage, choose archive boxes for records you need to retrieve.
- Choose small cartons for dense paper and double-wall cartons for heavier items handled during a move.
- Use large cartons for bulky, light contents, not for reams of paper.
- Check the contents, lifting weight and storage location before choosing a box size.
Why this matters
Storage and moving are two different jobs. Storage means finding a box that sits well on a shelf and stays easy to identify and retrieve — that's what an archive box is built for. Moving means matching a box to what's inside it, since a carton full of stationery stays light while the same carton filled with paper becomes difficult to lift.
Start with your archive boxes: Mega Office Supplies stocks a range of Marbig archive boxes built for labelled, retrievable storage. For moving cartons — small, single-wall, double-wall or large — the guidance below is general advice on what to look for.
What makes a cardboard box suitable?
Use these checks before choosing cardboard boxes for an office move or storeroom:
- Contents: Separate paper, equipment, stationery and bulky items. Their shapes and packed weights are different.
- Wall construction: Single-wall board suits lighter contents. Double-wall board offers more resistance to crushing when a box is handled or stacked.
- Filled weight: Judge a carton when full, not when empty. If you cannot lift it comfortably, move some contents to another box.
- Closure: A lid makes regularly retrieved files easier to access. A taped carton suits contents that will stay packed until they reach their destination.
- Footprint: Boxes with matching footprints stack more neatly than a collection of unrelated sizes. Check the shelf or storage space before ordering.
- Condition: Reject damp, torn or creased cartons for anything you need to protect. Damage to the board reduces confidence in the base and corners.
Choose by contents first and carton size second. A large box is not an upgrade if filling it creates a load nobody can move safely.
Cardboard box types at a glance
| Box type | Best for | Useful feature | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Archive box | Records kept on shelves | Easy to identify and retrieve | Unsuitable for heavy, mixed contents |
| Small carton | Paper and books | Limits the size of a dense load | Does not fit bulky items |
| Single-wall carton | Light general contents | Simple everyday packing | Less resistant to crushing |
| Double-wall carton | Heavier office contents | More resistance to handling and stacking | Uses more board and storage space when flat |
| Large carton | Bulky, light contents | Holds awkward shapes | Becomes hard to lift if filled with dense items |
The table is a contents guide, not a claim that every box of a given type has the same strength. Check the dimensions and any stated load guidance on the carton you intend to use.
Archive box: best for records you will retrieve
Archive boxes suit paperwork that needs a labelled place on a shelf: closed project files, older reference material and documents retained under your organisation's recordkeeping rules. Keeping one subject or period in each box makes the contents easier to find without opening every carton in the storeroom.
Pros:
- Gives related files a dedicated, labelled storage unit.
- Works well when you need to take a box off a shelf and return it.
- Helps separate retained records from documents that can be cleared out.
Cons:
- An archive box is not the right place for heavy, unrelated equipment.
- A label loses its value if the contents change without being recorded.
Several Marbig archive boxes suit different filing setups, including the Marbig Strong Archive Box (carton of 20), the Marbig Enviro Standard Archive Box (carton of 20) and the Marbig Binder Archive Box (carton of 5). Before choosing one for a filing system, check that its dimensions suit the folders you use and the shelves where it will sit.
Best for: labelled records kept together for later retrieval. Recommendation: choose an archive box when access and organisation matter more than moving mixed contents.
Small carton: best for dense paper loads
Paper makes a carton heavy before it looks full. Use smaller boxes for reams, books and groups of binders so each load remains practical to carry. If you are packing A4 80 gsm copy paper, test the first filled carton before packing the rest to the same level.
Pros:
- Makes it easier to keep dense contents in a liftable load.
- Reduces the temptation to fill unused space with unrelated items.
- Fits compact items without leaving a large void around them.
Cons:
- Does not suit large or awkward office items.
- You will need more cartons than you would for the same volume of light contents.
Best for: books, reams of paper and compact stationery stock. Recommendation: use a small carton whenever the contents are heavy for their size. If the first box is uncomfortable to lift, pack it less densely rather than switching to a larger one.
Single-wall carton: best for light general contents
A single-wall carton has one layer of corrugated board. It suits lighter items such as desk accessories, packaged stationery and loose supplies that need to move together but do not put heavy pressure on the base. Pack gaps so the contents do not shift, and close the carton before deciding whether it belongs in a stack.
Pros:
- Useful for mixed, light office items.
- Folds flat when empty, so spare cartons are easier to put aside.
- Gives each desk or work area its own clearly labelled load.
Cons:
- A poor match for dense paper or heavy equipment.
- Damage at the corners or base matters more when boxes are stacked.
Best for: light contents packed by desk, cupboard or room. Recommendation: choose single-wall cartons for manageable loads, not as the default for everything in an office.
Double-wall carton: best for heavier handling
Double-wall corrugated board has an additional layer compared with single-wall board. That makes it the more suitable starting point for heavier contents or cartons handled repeatedly. Board construction alone does not make a box suitable for every item: check its size, condition and any load guidance before packing equipment.
Pros:
- Better suited to weight and stacking pressure than a comparable single-wall carton.
- Useful when a carton will be lifted and set down repeatedly.
- Provides a firmer outer box for separately wrapped contents.
Cons:
- Still needs careful packing; an unprotected monitor is not safe simply because its carton has thicker walls.
- A larger double-wall box can become too heavy when filled with files.
Best for: heavier contents that fit securely and must be handled during a move. Recommendation: start with double-wall construction when a light-duty carton does not match the load, then confirm the individual box is suitable.
Large carton: best for bulky, light contents
Some office items occupy space without adding much weight. A larger carton helps gather soft or awkward contents that would otherwise spread across several small boxes. It does not belong at the bottom of a heavy stack unless the box and its contents can support what sits above it.
Pros:
- Accommodates light items that do not fit into compact cartons.
- Keeps related bulky contents together.
- Makes loose items easier to identify and move as one load.
Cons:
- Easy to overload with paper because there is room left to fill.
- Awkward to carry through doorways and around furniture when fully packed.
Best for: lightweight display materials, soft items and other bulky contents. Recommendation: choose a large carton only after checking that a full box will still be easy to carry.
Pack and label each box before stacking it
Make a contents list before taping the first carton. Group items by destination and weight: paperwork with paperwork, light desk items with light desk items. Keep anything needed immediately after the move out of long-term storage boxes. That way, unpacking starts with the right cartons rather than a search through the entire stack.
For taped moving cartons, secure the base, add the contents and close the top before testing the lift. A tape built for moving, such as Scotch Tough Grip Moving Tape, holds a taped base and seams better than a light-duty office tape. If the bottom flexes or the box feels awkward, remove items and reassess it. Do not rely on extra tape to compensate for a damaged carton or an unsuitable load.
Label at least one outward-facing side with the destination and a short contents description. Avery trim labels are sized for a room name and a readable contents line, or you can write directly on a suitable label. What matters is that the information stays visible after the carton is stacked.
Keep a simple box list for records you expect to retrieve. Record what is inside and where the box will sit. When a file moves between boxes, update the list rather than relying on a label written before the move.
How to choose your mix of boxes
Walk through the office once with the table in mind. Count storage records separately from items being moved for immediate use. Then identify dense loads, heavier equipment, light desk contents and bulky items. This gives you a useful starting mix without assuming that every desk needs the same number of cartons.
Test one packed box from each group before preparing the rest. Can you lift it comfortably? Does it close without bulging? Will it fit its destination shelf or storage area? Change the box size or reduce the contents when the answer is no.
For most mixed office jobs, archive boxes and smaller cartons solve the paperwork problem; single-wall and double-wall cartons cover different moving loads. Add large cartons only when you have bulky, light contents to put in them. This is a packing decision, not a universal ranking of products.
FAQ
Which cardboard boxes are best for office storage?
Archive boxes suit labelled records you expect to retrieve from shelves. Use smaller cartons for dense paper and check that each box fits the shelving and its contents.
Should I use single-wall or double-wall cardboard boxes for moving?
Use single-wall cartons for lighter office contents and consider double-wall cartons for heavier loads or repeated handling. Check the individual carton's condition and load guidance before packing.
Why should paper go in small boxes?
Paper creates a dense load that becomes difficult to lift in a large carton. A smaller box helps you limit the load without leaving tempting space to overfill.
Can I use an archive box as a moving box?
An archive box can hold files during a move if its construction and packed weight suit the handling involved. Keep heavy or mixed equipment in a carton selected for that task instead.
What should I write on a moving-box label?
Write the destination and a short description of the contents. Add a box reference if you are keeping a separate list of stored records.
Can cardboard boxes be reused for office storage?
Reuse a carton only if its base, corners and sides remain sound and dry. Replace a box that is torn, damp or visibly weakened before stacking or moving it.
How many cardboard boxes does an office move need?
The number depends on the amount and type of contents, so count by category rather than using a fixed number per desk. Pack a sample carton from each category, then estimate the remaining boxes from what is left.
One last thing
Decide where a box will go before you fill it. The same carton can be a sensible choice for a short move across a room and a poor choice for a tall storeroom stack. Check the destination, label the contents and make sure someone can lift the packed box without struggling.
