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Corrugated Flute Types Chart: A, B, C, E and F Flute Reference

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.

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Flute	Construction	Flutes per foot (nominal)	Flute height (in)	Flute height (mm)	Take-up factor (nominal)	Typical use
A	Single wall	33	0.187	4.7	1.54	Cushioning, fragile goods, high stacking
C	Single wall	39	0.142	3.6	1.43	General shipping cartons, most common in North America
B	Single wall	47	0.097	2.5	1.32	Canned goods, die cut displays, good print surface
E	Single wall	90	0.062	1.6	1.27	Retail folding cartons, mailers, fine print
F	Single wall	128	0.045	1.1	1.25	Small retail cartons, high quality graphics
BC	Double wall	47 + 39	about 0.239	about 6.1	Per flute	Heavy machinery, export cartons, high compression
EB	Double wall	90 + 47	about 0.159	about 4.1	Per flute	Premium retail shipper with good print
AA / AC	Double wall	33 + 33 / 33 + 39	about 0.374 / 0.329	about 9.5 / 8.4	Per flute	Very heavy goods (less common)
BAC	Triple wall	47 + 33 + 39	about 0.426	about 10.8	Per flute	Bulk bins, pallet-size containers

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.

Structured board specs in your ERP

Optional review of how flute, liner and medium attributes are stored in your item master.

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How to use the flute chart

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.

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

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

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

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which flute is most common?

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?

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?

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?

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.

Netray can help store board specifications as structured attributes in your ERP so costing and purchasing use the same flute and liner data.

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