# Corrugated Flute Types Chart: A, B, C, E and F Flute Reference > Source: https://netray.co/tools/corrugated-flute-profile-reference-a-b-c-e-f > Publisher: Netray (netray.co), AI and integration engineering for ERP and manufacturing systems. > Section: Free Tools ## Short answer Look up nominal flute height, flutes per foot and take-up factor for common corrugated flutes. ## Category industry-templates ## Industry Packaging and Printing ## Audience - Packaging engineer - Corrugated plant manager - Buyer ## Tool **Kind:** worksheet **Mode:** reference **Columns:** #### Flute **Key:** flute **Type:** text #### Construction **Key:** walls **Type:** text #### Flutes per foot (nominal) **Key:** flutes_ft **Type:** text #### Flute height (in) **Key:** height_in **Type:** text #### Flute height (mm) **Key:** height_mm **Type:** text #### Take-up factor (nominal) **Key:** takeup **Type:** text #### Typical use **Key:** use **Type:** text **Rows:** **Flute:** A **Walls:** Single wall **Flutes ft:** 33 **Height in:** 0.187 **Height mm:** 4.7 **Takeup:** 1.54 **Use:** Cushioning, fragile goods, high stacking **Flute:** C **Walls:** Single wall **Flutes ft:** 39 **Height in:** 0.142 **Height mm:** 3.6 **Takeup:** 1.43 **Use:** General shipping cartons, most common in North America **Flute:** B **Walls:** Single wall **Flutes ft:** 47 **Height in:** 0.097 **Height mm:** 2.5 **Takeup:** 1.32 **Use:** Canned goods, die cut displays, good print surface **Flute:** E **Walls:** Single wall **Flutes ft:** 90 **Height in:** 0.062 **Height mm:** 1.6 **Takeup:** 1.27 **Use:** Retail folding cartons, mailers, fine print **Flute:** F **Walls:** Single wall **Flutes ft:** 128 **Height in:** 0.045 **Height mm:** 1.1 **Takeup:** 1.25 **Use:** Small retail cartons, high quality graphics **Flute:** BC **Walls:** Double wall **Flutes ft:** 47 + 39 **Height in:** about 0.239 **Height mm:** about 6.1 **Takeup:** Per flute **Use:** Heavy machinery, export cartons, high compression **Flute:** EB **Walls:** Double wall **Flutes ft:** 90 + 47 **Height in:** about 0.159 **Height mm:** about 4.1 **Takeup:** Per flute **Use:** Premium retail shipper with good print **Flute:** AA / AC **Walls:** Double wall **Flutes ft:** 33 + 33 / 33 + 39 **Height in:** about 0.374 / 0.329 **Height mm:** about 9.5 / 8.4 **Takeup:** Per flute **Use:** Very heavy goods (less common) **Flute:** BAC **Walls:** Triple wall **Flutes ft:** 47 + 33 + 39 **Height in:** about 0.426 **Height mm:** about 10.8 **Takeup:** Per flute **Use:** Bulk bins, pallet-size containers **Notes:** Values are nominal industry figures. Actual flute height, flutes per foot and take-up vary by corrugator, rolls and medium, so confirm with your board supplier. Double and triple wall heights are the sum of the individual flute heights and ignore liner thickness. ## Content **Intro:** Flute choice decides stacking strength, print quality and board cost. This reference lists the common corrugated flutes with nominal height, flutes per foot and take-up factor so you can compare them quickly. **Sections:** #### How to use the flute chart **Body:** Search by flute letter or by use. Start from the job: if the carton is a retail shelf pack with fine graphics, E or F flute is typical. If it is a general shipper that must stack in a warehouse, C flute is the common default in North America and B flute is common elsewhere. Heavy or export loads move to double wall such as BC. Export the table to Excel to attach it to a packaging specification or a supplier quote request. **Bullets:** - Finer flutes print better - Taller flutes usually stack and cushion better - Double wall adds compression and puncture strength - Always confirm values with your board mill #### What take-up factor means **Body:** Take-up factor is the ratio of medium length to liner length. A flute with a take-up of 1.43 needs about 1.43 metres of medium paper for every metre of finished board. That ratio drives medium consumption, board cost and board weight, so it matters when you cost a new spec or compare two flutes with the same liners. #### Reading the numbers **Body:** Fewer, taller flutes (A) give more cushioning but crush more easily on the corrugator and in printing. More, shorter flutes (E, F) give a flatter surface for flexo and litho lamination. Double wall boards combine two flutes, so the total thickness is roughly the sum of both flute heights plus three liners. Use this table with a box compression estimate, not instead of one. #### Common mistakes **Body:** Specifying a flute by name only and ignoring liner grade, then expecting compression performance. Mixing metric and inch values in the same costing sheet. Assuming every mill uses the same take-up. Ask for the supplier's board spec sheet and store flute, liner and medium weights as separate attributes in your ERP item master. **Cta:** Netray can help store board specifications as structured attributes in your ERP so costing and purchasing use the same flute and liner data. **Faq:** #### Which flute is most common? **Answer:** In North America C flute is the most common general shipping carton flute. B flute is common for printed and die cut packs and E flute for retail cartons. Regions differ, so check what your corrugator actually runs before standardising a spec. #### Is a taller flute always stronger? **Answer:** No. Taller flutes usually give better vertical stacking and cushioning, but the result also depends on liner and medium weight, moisture and box design. A well made C flute box can outperform a poorly made A flute box. #### What is the difference between BC and EB double wall? **Answer:** BC combines B and C flutes for heavy duty strength. EB combines E and B flutes to give a smoother printable surface with extra strength, often used for premium retail shipping cartons. #### Are these values exact? **Answer:** They are nominal industry values. Each corrugator and roll set produces slightly different flute height and take-up. Treat the table as a planning reference and confirm with your supplier's board specification. ## Search terms corrugated flute types chart, a flute b flute c flute e flute, flute profile thickness, corrugated take-up factor, flute height mm, double wall corrugated BC flute, corrugated board flute comparison, flutes per foot corrugated --- Talk to an engineer: https://netray.co/contact?intent=erp_ai | Machine catalog: https://netray.co/agent/catalog.json