Where to buy cheap shipping boxes (shipping included)
Plain cardboard boxes cost under a dollar each, then shipping can add half again. We priced 10 common sizes at 5 suppliers and got real shipping quotes, so you can see who is cheapest by the time the boxes reach your door.
By Supply Run · prices checked Nov 6, 2026 · shipping quotes for one Southern California ZIP
The short answer
- The Boxery has the lowest box price at 8 of the 10 sizes we checked, sold in bundles of 25.
- Shipping changes the order. For one bundle of 25 12 × 12 × 6" boxes, Uline came out cheapest delivered at $34.50, even though The Boxery had the cheaper boxes. The top three were within $2.12 of each other.
- Free shipping thresholds matter more than box price on small orders. Two bundles instead of one can cost less per box once you clear a supplier's minimum.
One bundle, delivered
We put 25 boxes (12 × 12 × 6", single wall, 32 ECT or 200 lb test) in each supplier's cart and asked for shipping to one ZIP in Southern California. Your numbers will be different, but the pattern holds: the box price is only part of the bill.
| Supplier | 25 boxes | Shipping quote | Delivered |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uline | $22.00 | $12.50 | $34.50 ($1.38 a box) |
| Zoro | $28.75 | $5.99 | $34.74 ($1.39 a box) |
| The Boxery | $21.25 | $15.37 | $36.62 ($1.46 a box) |
| Staples | $32.25 | $12.95 | $45.20 ($1.81 a box) |
| Global Industrial | $27.75 | $24.99 | $52.74 ($2.11 a box) |
Uline and Zoro both ship to us from warehouses nearby, which helps them here. Further from a warehouse, expect higher numbers and possibly a different winner.
How each supplier charges shipping
- Uline: Calculated at checkout by weight and ZIP; we were quoted $12.50 UPS Ground (1 day, from Ontario, CA) for 25 boxes (12 × 12 × 6) to Southern California. Reviewers often mention high shipping fees.
- Staples: Free shipping on orders of $35 or more; below that we were charged $12.95 on one bundle of 25 boxes (12 × 12 × 6) to Southern California. Store pickup is free.
- The Boxery: Ground shipping is calculated at checkout from the nearest of several US warehouses; we were quoted $15.37 for 25 boxes (12 × 12 × 6) to Southern California.
- Zoro: Signed in: free standard shipping from $50. As a guest: free from $100, and we were charged $5.99 on one bundle of 25 boxes (12 × 12 × 6) to Southern California.
- Global Industrial: Flat-rate parcel shipping: $24.99 on orders up to $100, $34.99 to $250, $44.99 to $500.
Read those as rules for when to buy. A supplier with a $50 or $35 free-shipping line is worth topping up to reach it. A flat rate makes small orders expensive and big ones cheap. Calculated shipping is usually fair on one bundle and climbs with weight.
Cheapest box at every size
Box price only, before shipping. Most of these suppliers charge the same per box from 25 to 500, so the 500 column mostly matches.
| Size | Cheapest at 25 | Runner-up | Cheapest at 500 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 × 6 × 6" | $0.36 The Boxery | $0.41 Uline | $0.36 The Boxery |
| 10 × 8 × 6" | $0.57 The Boxery | $0.64 Uline | $0.57 The Boxery |
| 8 × 8 × 8" | $0.55 The Boxery | $0.59 Uline | $0.55 The Boxery |
| 14 × 10 × 6" | $0.87 Uline | $0.92 Zoro | $0.87 Uline |
| 12 × 12 × 6" | $0.85 The Boxery | $0.88 Uline | $0.85 The Boxery |
| 12 × 10 × 8" | $0.84 The Boxery | $0.88 Uline | $0.84 The Boxery |
| 10 × 10 × 10" | $0.66 The Boxery | $0.71 Uline | $0.66 The Boxery |
| 13 × 13 × 10" | $1.29 Zoro | $1.77 The Boxery | $1.29 Zoro |
| 12 × 12 × 12" | $0.98 The Boxery | $1.00 Uline | $0.98 The Boxery |
| 16 × 12 × 10" | $1.23 The Boxery | $1.26 Uline | $1.23 The Boxery |
Getting the most out of a box order
- 32 ECT is enough for most products. It's the standard single-wall rating, good for boxes up to about 40 lb. Heavy-duty and double-wall boxes cost roughly 1.5 to 2.5 times as much.
- Pick one or two sizes and stick with them. Bundles come in 25s, and one size bought in volume beats five sizes bought a bundle at a time.
- Size down where you can. Carriers charge by dimensional weight, so a box an inch smaller on each side can save more on postage than the box cost.
- Check store pickup. Staples costs more per box but you can often collect a bundle the same day with no shipping at all.
Compare plain box prices at your size
All 10 sizes, 25 to 500 boxes, with each supplier's shipping rules.