Guide / Box & packaging styles / Chapter 2.21
Pick bin boxes.
An organised warehouse packs faster and makes fewer mistakes. Here's how cardboard pick bin boxes work, how to choose sizes, and when they're a better choice than plastic bins.
The short answer
A pick bin box is an open-fronted storage box for shelving, used to hold small parts or stock so it can be picked quickly. The low front lets you reach in and see what's inside, while the higher back keeps stock on the shelf. Our cardboard pick bins are one-piece, self-locking corrugated boxes, supplied flat and folded without glue or tape, with stackable styles, styles with partitions and heavier-duty options in C flute board.
How pick bins work
Each bin is cut from one sheet of corrugated board and folds into a box with a cut-down front. Self-locking tabs hold it together, so a whole shelf of bins can be set up quickly. The bins sit side by side on shelving, with a label on the front so pickers can find each item at a glance.
Stackable pick bins are designed to sit on top of each other, which makes better use of shelf height. Bins with partitions divide one bin into sections for very small parts.
Why use cardboard pick bins
- Quick to set up. Supplied flat and folded in seconds, with no tools or tape.
- Space-saving storage. Spare bins store flat until you need them.
- Easy to label. Write on them or add a label directly to the front.
- Corrugated cardboard. Our corrugated cardboard contains at least 60% recycled content.
Cardboard or plastic bins?
| Cardboard pick bins | Plastic bins | |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase cost | Usually lower | Usually higher |
| Assembly | Folds together in seconds | Arrives ready to use |
| Service life | Good for dry indoor storage; replace when worn | Longer, and better for wet or heavy use |
| Storage when not in use | Flat | Bulky |
| End of life | Recyclable with cardboard | Depends on local recycling |
Choosing sizes
Measure your shelf depth and height first, then the products going in each bin. Choose a bin depth that fills the shelf without overhanging, and a width that suits how much stock you keep of each item. Small, fast-moving items need small bins at waist height; bulky, slow-moving stock can go in larger bins higher or lower.
What it means for you
The same question, answered for where your business is today.
Choose your stage at the top of the page to open the advice for you.
Start-up · under 100 units
A few pick bins on a home or garage shelf turn a pile of stock into a system. Start with one size and label every bin.
Put your best sellers in the most reachable bins.
Growing · 100 to 2,499 units
As your range grows, pick bins help new staff find stock quickly and reduce picking errors. Mix two or three sizes to suit your products.
Try this: lay out your shelving so the most-picked products are closest to your packing bench.
Enterprise · 2,500 units and more
For a full warehouse, standardise bin sizes by shelf type and label them with location codes. Keep spare bins flat for quick changes.
Review bin sizes as your range changes, so you aren't storing air.
Common mistakes
- 1Bins deeper than the shelf. Overhanging bins catch and tip. Measure the shelf first.
- 2Overloading. Heavy parts can bow a bin. Choose heavier-duty styles for heavier stock.
- 3No labels. A bin without a label slows every pick. Label the front of every bin.
- 4Damp storage. Cardboard bins suit dry, indoor storage. Keep them away from moisture.
Pick bin questions
What is a pick bin box?
Do cardboard pick bins need tape or glue?
Can pick bins be stacked?
Do you have pick bins with dividers?
Are cardboard pick bins strong enough?
From our customers
STAPLE CoRecycled cardboard stacking pick bin boxes to organise and store their inventory efficiently.
Read their story →Keep reading
Shop storage
Setting up your shelves?
Tell us your shelf sizes and what you store. Our Melbourne team will recommend the right bins, usually within 1 business day.