E-Flute vs B-Flute Pizza Boxes

What is the difference between E-flute and B-flute?

Both are corrugated boards. Each has a wavy middle layer, called the flute, glued between two flat outer sheets. The difference is the height of that wave.

E-flute is the finer board, at about 1.5 mm thick. B-flute has a taller wave and comes out at about 3 mm.

Doubling the thickness changes how the box feels in the hand. E-flute folds crisply and feels close to a carton. B-flute feels springier, and its walls give slightly under your thumb before they bend.

Neither board wins in every case. Each suits a different pizza, a different journey and a different kitchen. Every standard size comes in either board, with a white or brown kraft face, so you can match the board to your menu one size at a time.

How sharp is print on each board?

Print sits on the outer sheet, and the flute underneath decides how flat that sheet stays.

On E-flute the waves are small and close together, so the lid surface is smooth. Fine lines, small text and full colour photos come out crisp and even.

On B-flute the taller waves can show through as faint ridges across the lid. Bold logos, solid blocks of colour and large lettering print well. Hairline detail and tiny type can look a little soft at the edges.

If your lid art is a detailed illustration or a photo of your pizza, E-flute gives the cleaner result. If it is a strong one-colour mark, either board carries it well. Matt or gloss varnish can be added on both.

You see the artwork on the lid and sides in a free design proof before anything is printed. Our guide to printing your logo on a pizza box covers files, colours and placement.

Heat, steam and the wall of the box

A fresh pizza fills its box with steam within moments of the lid closing. The board has to cope with that heat and moisture until the customer opens it.

With a thicker wall and more air trapped in its flutes, a B-flute box keeps the pizza warm a little longer than E-flute. It also stays firm for longer as steam works its way into the board.

E-flute is thinner, so warmth leaves sooner and the lid can soften earlier on a long run. For counter collection or a short drive, that difference rarely shows.

Thickness is only half of it. Side vents let steam escape, so the base stays crisp instead of turning soft. A box with no vents traps moisture whichever board you choose.

For more on balancing heat and crispness, read keeping pizza hot and crisp in delivery.

How do pizza boxes stack in a delivery bag?

A driver rarely carries a single pizza. Four or five boxes go into the bag, and the bottom box takes the load of every box above it.

B-flute walls carry that load better over a full journey. The lowest lid is less likely to dip onto the toppings, and the corners stay square when the bag tips on a corner.

E-flute stacks neatly too, and its slimmer walls fit more boxes into a tight bag. It works best for smaller pizzas and shorter trips.

• Put the largest box at the bottom and the smallest on top.
• Keep stacks below the top of the bag so the flap closes flat.
• Line up the side vents so steam can leave every box.
• Choose B-flute if drivers often stack four or more large boxes.
• Choose E-flute if most orders are single small pizzas or collections.

If cheese keeps sticking to the lid of the bottom box, the board is often too thin for the stack. A move to B-flute on your largest size usually fixes it.

Storage space beside the oven

Boxes arrive flat, and most kitchens keep a working stack within arm's reach of the oven. Space there is tight, so board thickness matters more than many owners expect.

A flat E-flute blank is about half the thickness of a B-flute one. The same shelf holds close to twice as many E-flute boxes, which means fewer trips to the storeroom on a busy Friday.

B-flute stacks take more room, but some staff find them quicker to fold. The thicker board springs into shape and holds its creases firmly as the tuck-in flaps lock.

Keep flat stacks away from the oven door, the dough sink and damp floors. Board that sits in steam can soften before it is folded. A dry shelf at waist height, next to the prep counter, keeps folding fast during a rush.

Which board suits each pizza size?

Size is the clearest guide. A small, light pizza does not need a thick wall, while a large base needs a stiffer box so it does not bow when lifted.

Treat these as starting points, not rules. Deeper boxes for deep pan are made to the size you send and usually suit B-flute.

Each box is a quarter inch wider than the pizza, so the base slides in without catching the crust. The full measurements are in our guide to pizza box sizes in inches and mm.

Should you choose a white or brown kraft face?

Both boards come with a white or a brown kraft outer face. The face changes how your print looks far more than the flute does.

White gives the brightest colour. Full colour art, pale shades and photos look close to your file, and a one-colour logo stands out sharply against it.

Brown kraft has a warm, natural look that suits wood-fired and rustic menus. Dark inks such as black, deep red and navy read clearly on it. Light colours and white text tend to sink into the brown.

A one-colour red on brown kraft prints a shade deeper and earthier than the same red on white. Your proof shows how it will sit before you approve it.

To compare the natural face with your artwork in mind, browse our brown kraft pizza boxes.

What mistakes do buyers make when choosing board?

The commonest mistake is picking one board for the whole menu. A 7 inch and a 16 inch pizza ask very different things of the box.

Another is choosing E-flute for every size to save shelf space, then finding the large lids sag in the bag. The reverse happens too. B-flute on the smallest boxes takes room you could use for more stock.

Some buyers put detailed photo artwork on brown kraft B-flute and are let down by soft edges and muted colour. Fine artwork belongs on a white E-flute face.

Finally, do not judge a box on board alone. Side vents, tight tuck-in flaps and the right inside size all shape how the pizza arrives.

How do I order the right board for my boxes?

Ordering is simple, and you can mix boards across sizes in a single order. Most shops end up with E-flute on the small sizes and B-flute on the large ones.

1. List the pizza sizes you sell and how each leaves the kitchen: collection, short delivery or longer delivery.
2. Pick E-flute or B-flute for each size using the table above.
3. Choose a white or brown kraft face, then plain, one colour, two colours or full colour print.
4. Send your artwork and sizes, and we reply with a quote by email within one working day.
5. Check your free design proof. Nothing is printed until you approve it.
6. Production takes 4 to 6 working days, then free tracked UK mainland delivery follows in 2 to 3 working days.

Not sure which board fits your menu? Request a quote for your boxes and tell us your sizes and how you deliver, and we will suggest a board for each.