Agree on the box before comparing its price
Record the internal length, width and height, the box style and the supplier reference for its drawing. External dimensions and internal dimensions describe different boundaries; a numerical match alone does not establish that the packed product fits. Keep the dimension convention visible in both offers.
Record board grade, flute construction and the required performance evidence. A weight estimate from area and GSM is a material-planning calculation, not a box strength certification. Do not infer equivalent stacking performance from equal mass or a similar grade description. Ask suppliers to confirm the intended use and test requirement.
Separate the commercial basis and first-order charges
A quotation per thousand boxes is divided by 1,000 to find its base unit price. A quotation per sheet additionally needs the confirmed yield of finished boxes per purchased sheet. Confirm whether printing, cutting and conversion are already included before adding any per-box charge.
Suppose Supplier A quotes EUR 120 per thousand, requires 12,000 boxes, charges EUR 180 freight and EUR 300 tooling. For a need of 10,000 boxes with no assumed loss, the buyer purchases 12,000. Material costs EUR 1,440 and the first-order total is EUR 1,920. A repeat order without another tooling charge costs EUR 1,620 under the same transport assumption.
Distinguish lower unit price from lower cash requirement
Supplier B quotes EUR 110 per thousand but requires 15,000 boxes, with EUR 250 freight and EUR 500 tooling. The first-order total is EUR 2,400, although its base unit price is lower. A leaves 2,000 surplus boxes; B leaves 5,000. Surplus is inventory, not automatically scrap or an immediate saving.
The common-demand allocation is EUR 0.192 per required box for A and EUR 0.240 for B. That allocation answers how much cash this purchase ties to the present need. The cost per purchased box uses a different denominator and must be shown separately. Confirm the price remains applicable at the pack-rounded quantity.
Make the comparison usable by colleagues
Use the corrugated comparison tool to keep the board and print checklist next to the cost table. Leave unavailable charges blank instead of silently substituting zero. Export the CSV or print the result with its assumptions before a purchasing review.
A final decision can also depend on delivery timing, tooling ownership, storage space and verified performance. These are review questions; the arithmetic does not select a technically suitable supplier.
Common questions
Is a cheaper price per thousand always a cheaper order?
No. MOQ, order size, freight and first-order tooling can reverse the difference in cash requirement.
Does matching GSM prove equal box strength?
No. Board construction, geometry and verified performance requirements need a separate review.