Sleeve-and-tray gaylords

How it goes together

The tray is a shallow box that forms the base. The sleeve is an open-ended corrugated wrap that drops over the tray and makes the side walls. Add a lid and you have a closed container. Take the sleeve off and the pieces store flat, which is the point: a sleeve-and-tray set takes less floor than a set-up box and ships back without hauling air.

Where the design helps

Programs that return boxes get the most out of it. Plants that fill gaylords at the end of a line, ship them to a customer and take them back find that the two-piece build survives more trips than a one-piece box with flaps, because there are no bottom flaps to tear. It also helps where floor space is tight. The tray and the sleeve each stack on their own.

Where it falls short

A sleeve-and-tray box is not the answer for every load. The sleeve has to be fitted properly, and a very heavy or sharp load can push the sleeve off its tray if the set is moved carelessly. Loose small pieces are not a good fit for the seam between the pieces. Ask for a full flap bottom when pieces can slip through.

What to say in the request

Tell us the footprint, the height you need, whether the box will be returned, and what goes inside. The form's bottom style choice includes sleeve and tray, so choose it and list the sleeve height in the message.

Related reading

The bottom guide compares all three styles. The folding and storing guide covers how to knock down and keep sleeves and trays dry, which is what decides whether they can go out again.

How it compares

Questions from the dock

Is a sleeve-and-tray box a gaylord?

Yes. It is a pallet-size corrugated bulk box built in two pieces instead of one.

Can I buy only the sleeve or only the tray?

Ask for the piece you need in the request message and we will say what we can match.

Does it hold as much as a flap-bottom box?

It depends on the maker and the build. Use the rating for the set you are offered, not a general figure.