I have been working with several companies - trying to nail down a box size and type for my organic tea business. Chris Martin was the ONLY rep in all of the companies I reached out to who was responsive, helpful, and walked me through the entire process. It was an absolute pleasure to give my small business dollars to Plus Printers! I will provide another review after I receive my custom product!
The top wholesale materials for custom mailer box inserts are corrugated cardboard, moulded pulp, kraft paper, foam and biodegradable alternatives. Both options are designed to find a tradeoff between protection, cost and sustainability. Corrugated and paperboard give structure. Molded pulp offers green cushioning. Kraft paper and paperboard are good for lightweight or branded inserts.
Foam affords high-impact protection for fragile items. Biodegradable and recycled options reduce your environmental footprint while addressing a variety of shipping and branding requirements. The best options combine protection, cost management and brand fit. The decision on which insert material to select starts with a good picture of the product and the shipping route.
Fragile items need firm support. Paperboard or kraft of less weight may be utilized for flat or flexible articles. Sustainability targets nudge buyers in the direction of molded pulp or recycled paperboard. Budget and production volume determine what is feasible at scale. The correct insert drives down returns and increases the unboxing experience all while keeping shipping costs predictable. Suppliers and packagers provide both standard and custom formats which scale for wholesale runs.
How to Choose These Inserts?
The right choice depends on product fragility, branding requirements and cost efficiency at scale. You can start by establishing your protection objectives, product presentation for branding and cost for the unit.
Take into account the exposure to drop height and whether a product must be separated from other components. Printed Board/Custom Kraft Brand-led openings The printed paperboard or custom kraft can elevate perceived value. Foam or molded pulp cushions delicate items. Always perform a sample with the full pack-and-ship cycle.

Assess Product Fragility
Match insert rigidity and cushioning to the product. If products can crack or break, inserts will need to be more rigid; otherwise, basic support may work fine. Testing helps validate the correct decision.
Evaluate Brand Presentation
Select materials that are in line with your brand personality. Kraft, paperboard for a natural mean and smooth board supports elegant print. Presentation and texture are both factors affecting perceptions.
Run Cost-Per-Unit Testing
Always figure on “cost per unit” at wholesale rates. Also compare materials from low to high quantities. The perfect fusion of cost and performance, it results in long-term savings.
Why is the Material Important for Mailer Inserts Packaging?
Material selection is important because it impacts protection, cost and customer perception. Selecting good material will be better to reduce daring and return. It further offers weight and cost point, as well as branding presence. When making wholesale packaging determinations, products require the protection and resilience that materials can provide.
Product Protection And Durability
Sturdy inserts keep products in place on the go. These hindrances prevent items from shifting, crushing or breaking and decreasing returns while increasing customer satisfaction.
Brand Presentation And Customer Experience
Well-engineered inserts make for a better unboxing experience. Order now and customers appreciate a wide smile on your face because of the neat looks of packaging.
Sustainability And Cost-Effectiveness
Environmentally friendly offerings, like molded pulp or recycled board, are popular with customers. Lighter alternatives reduce freight costs and contribute to sustainability goals.
Top Materials for Mailer Box Inserts
Corrugated, molded pulp, kraft, foam, paperboard, nearly all requirements are covered at both ends of the price scale.
Each material offers distinct benefits. Cardboard and paperboard are cost-efficient. Kraft paper supports branding. Cushioning, sustainability and presentation all in one! Foam delivers premium protection. Corrugated for larger products, but work well for heavier items.
Cardboard Inserts
Cardboard inserts are easy and inexpensive. They separate things nicely and they fit general sizes well. They are ready to be die-cut into shape for wholesale orders.
Kraft Paper Inserts
Natural Kraft inserts offer some support. Available loose packed, folded, gusseted or in sheets Telebraid’s folds, bends easily to fit products making it the ideal product for mid range orders.
Molded Pulp Inserts
Molded pulp inserts hold products in place. They are biodegradable and considered effective for green industries.
Corrugated Inserts
Corrugated inserts are thicker and stronger than regular boards. They are ideal for heavy items, which would require multiple wrapping layers before shipping.
Foam Inserts
Foam inserts reduce shock and prevent the glasses from breaking. They are particularly useful for electronics, glassware, luxury items where ‘snap’ fitting is required.
Paperboard Inserts
Paperboard inserts are thin but strong. They keep content secure and allow for pristine, high-quality printing for branding applications.

Wholesale Product Packaging Inserts Value Comparison
What do packaging inserts cost? Pricing for packaging inserts Wholesale depends on the material, complexity and volume of your order.
Bulk rates vary by material, die cut complexity and quantity. Cheap inserts mean money saved on the front end but premium options result in less breakage and fewer returns, making up for cost in most cases.
| Material | Typical wholesale price range (per unit) | Notes |
| Cardboard / Paperboard | $0.05 – $0.45 | Low-cost for flat die-cuts; printed options add cost. |
| Kraft paper inserts | $0.06 – $0.50 | Great for branding; lamination increases costs. |
| Molded pulp inserts | $0.80 – $4.00 | Suited for bottles and fragile items; eco-friendly. |
| Corrugated inserts | $0.10 – $1.00 | Stronger support for bulkier products. |
| Foam inserts | $0.30 – $5.00+ | Highest cushioning; pricing varies with precision. |
How to Choose the Right Insert Material for Wholesale Orders?
When looking for wholesale mailer inserts packaging, prioritize quantity order requirements, product delicacy and eco-friendly aspirations. Smaller runs help to make premium options accessible. Consider sustainability goals, customization needs and long-term costs before selecting.
Order Quantity and Bulk Packaging
More runs, lower cost per unit. Big production also makes it possible to amortize custom tooling costs over many units, which reduces costs.
Product Fragility and Shipping Requirements
Fragile goods demand cushioning materials. Shipping trials determine whether corrugated, pulp or foam provides the greatest protection.
Sustainability Goals and Eco-Friendly Options
Green goals prompt others to opt for inserts that can be recycled or are biodegradable. Brands who put the planet first are being appreciated more and more by customers.
Brand Identity and Customization Needs
Printed, embossed or formed inserts facilitate powerful branding. Opt for material that can work in print or emboss to maintain consistency.
Other Factors to Consider for Mailer Box Inserts
Outside of materials and cost, companies should also account for testing, certifications, and customization. Dropping and transit tests help add durability verification. Certifications are evidence that recycling or composting standards have been met.
Printing, embossing and finishing enrich the brand experience. Sampling programs are placed so that companies can test materials before placing large orders.
Wholesale Mailer Box Inserts
When it comes to wholesale or custom solutions, business owners usually turn to their trusted packaging suppliers with sample and bulk pricing comparisons. Plus Printers is one of the top most companies providing custom wholesale solutions.
MOQ for Mailer Box Insert of Wholesale Orders
MOQ typically falls somewhere in the 100-1,000 unit range, depending on supplier and customization. The minimum order quantity is the number of units that the supplier required per purchase to set up production. Usually for bulk inserts lower MOQs are available, but custom shapes need larger quantities. USA suppliers may have more flexible MOQ, but higher cost per unit for lower quantity orders.
Conclusion
Which is the right choice is a balancing game between product safety, branding and cost. Insert selection should also be based on fragility, branding and sustainability analysis by the business. Molded pulp and foam protect delicate parts; kraft and cardboard meet low-budget, high-volume requirements. Orders with trial and testing diminish risk.
Optimizing between cheap and expensive materials across different SKUs is likely the best approach for many. Teaming up with packaging makers can help them work out more cost effective solutions and enforce quality control.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are inserts used for?
Inserts also serve to arrange and fasten products within a mailer box. They keep things from being damaged in transit and also give more of that unboxing feel to the presentation.
How many types of inserts are there?
They come in a range of styles such as corrugated, paperboard, molded pulp, foam and kraft. Both sound and vibration are available to meet varying protection and branding requirements.
Which insert gives the best protection?
Foam and moulded pulp provide the most protection. They protect delicate items and ensure they stay in place during transit.
What is the cheapest insert material in bulk?
Flat cardboard or paperboard tends to be the least expensive. Prices fall more when wholesale quantities are increased.
See what reviewers are saying
Chris Martin was so helpful and responsive! We needed custom folders made and looked at various different companies, but Plus Printers ended up offering the best quality and price. This was our first time ordering, but Chris guided us through every step and even sent us videos of sample folders and mockups of our final product so we could proceed with confidence. Thank you Chris and Plus Printers, we will definitely re-order when we run out of this batch.
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We are very pleased with our packaging design! It was great working with Steven, I almost didn't work with Plus Printers because of their pricing but Steven went out of his way to try and negotiate prices with the sales department to fit our budget and offered us more budget-friendly packaging options as alternatives. Very responsive to my emails and made sure that our designs were how we wanted them! I look forward to working with them again soon!
wonderful service from a company that went beyond expectation to help my project get up and running smoothly. My sales rep, Paul, and the design team at Plus Printers made sure to have every detail in place and gave me a quote other companies could not touch! Lead times were accurate and updates for shipping were by far the most stellar i have yet to see. Thanks a milion!
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