The grade hub
Gaylord grades and what each can carry
Five grades, from New to recycle-only. Each one stands a different number of boxes high, and the number changes with the place the stack sits.
A grade says what is left of a gaylord's strength and what it is good for. The table below is the grade table from the front page, expanded: what the box looks like, and how many high a 3‑wall box carrying 450 lb stands for 30 days in three places.
| Grade | What it looks like | Heated warehouse | Unheated dock | Cooler |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| New | Never filled; flat-packed or assembled from the maker; full rated strength | Two high | Two high | Do not stack |
| Grade A | Used once, clean and dry, flaps and bottom intact; close to new | Two high | Two high | Do not stack |
| Grade B | Visible wear, minor creasing or scuffs, old labels; no structural weakness | Two high | Do not stack | Do not stack |
| Grade C | Heavier creasing, some taped repairs, fewer trips left | Do not stack | Do not stack | Do not stack |
| Recycle only | Wet, torn, crushed or missing a bottom | Do not reuse | Do not reuse | Do not reuse |
Stack Check, conservative estimates for 3‑wall boxes at 450 lb a box, 30 days under load. Not load ratings.
How we derate a grade
| Grade | Share of strength planned |
|---|---|
| New | 100% |
| Grade A | 90% |
| Grade B | 75% |
| Grade C | 50% |
| Recycle only | 0% |
These shares are our own planning figures, set to be conservative. They sit on top of published derating: about half the strength lost at 90% relative humidity, and nearly 45% lost after 90 days under load in humid conditions. The box compression guide shows where the numbers come from.
| Page | What it covers |
|---|---|
| New | New gaylord boxes: full rated strength, no history, the longest stand. What they carry, who buys new, and when used is the better buy. |
| Grade A | Grade A gaylords: used once, clean and dry, close to new. What they carry, the stack heights we plan, and who buys them. |
| Grade B | Grade B gaylords: visible wear, no weakness. What they carry, how high they stack and why most used-box buyers choose them. |
| Grade C | Grade C gaylords: heavier wear, fewer trips left. What they carry, why they do not stack, and when they are the right and cheapest box. |
| Recycle-only | Recycle-only gaylords: wet, torn or crushed boxes that cannot carry a load again. What counts, how to prepare them and where they go. |
How to choose a grade for a job
Start from the load, not the box. A light load in a heated room can sit in a Grade C box for a month without trouble. A heavy load on an unheated dock may be too much for a Grade A box if the stack is more than one high. The table above shows the combinations; Stack Check lets you change the numbers. When in doubt, move one grade up or lower the stack by one box.
One more way to read the table
Read each row left to right: the same box loses height as the place gets harder. Read each column top to bottom: the same place loses height as the grade drops. The cell where both changes meet is the one to plan around, and it is often lower than you would guess by eye.
Questions, answered
What does Grade A mean?
Used once, clean and dry, with flaps and bottom intact and the full strength rating. It is close to new.
Is Grade B safe to stack?
Yes within limits. Plan about three quarters of the strength and check where it will sit. Stack Check does the sum.
Sources and last reviewed
Facts on this page were last reviewed 2026-11-11.
- PaperIndex Academy: humidity and corrugated strength: How corrugated board loses compression strength as relative humidity climbs from 50% to 90%.
- AICC: strengthening corrugated against cold weather: Industry guidance on cold weather, condensation between temperature zones, and strength lost over 90 days under load.