Paperboard grade names describe fibre composition and construction, but terminology varies by market. Buyers should connect the family name to a mill’s technical data rather than assume every board within a category has identical stiffness, shade or print surface.
Common families
Solid bleached board uses bleached chemical pulp throughout and provides a clean surface and light-coloured reverse. Folding boxboard commonly combines chemical-pulp outer layers with a bulkier middle, balancing stiffness and weight. Solid unbleached board prioritises strength and usually retains a kraft shade. Recycled board uses recovered fibre and can include coated surfaces for print.
Each family spans different coatings, backs, bulk levels and food-contact positions. Recycled content alone does not predict cleanliness or final appearance.
Build a complete specification
State caliper, basis weight, stiffness direction, surface, shade, moisture and converting needs. Include scoring, embossing, foil, windowing and packing-line demands. For packaging reduction projects, compare board by the finished structure’s performance: a bulkier grade may achieve required stiffness at a lower basis weight, but it still needs trials for print, folding and distribution.
