Testliner vs Kraftliner vs Chipboard: Carton Board Explained
Short answer: testliner and kraftliner are both liners — the flat sheets on the outside and inside of corrugated board — while chipboard is a different material altogether, a solid board with no flute. Kraftliner is made mainly from virgin wood pulp and is the stronger liner; testliner is made mainly from recycled fibre and is the economical one; chipboard is for light retail packaging and backing, not for shipping cartons. If you are buying a box to move house or post a parcel, the number of walls matters far more than the liner’s name.
First, how a carton is built
A corrugated carton is a sandwich. In the middle is the fluting, a wavy sheet of paper. On each side of it is a flat liner. The flutes work like a row of small columns: they keep the two liners apart and resist crushing from above.
- Single wall (3-ply): one flute between two liners, about 3 mm thick.
- Double wall (5-ply): two flutes and three liners, about 5 mm thick.
Testliner and kraftliner are the two common names for the liner paper. Chipboard does not appear in this sandwich at all.
Kraftliner
Kraftliner is made predominantly from virgin wood pulp produced by the kraft process. Virgin fibres are long, and long fibres bond into a strong sheet. In practice that gives kraftliner:
- higher tear and burst resistance for the same paper weight;
- better tolerance of humidity, because the sheet keeps more of its strength when damp;
- a clean, even surface that prints well, usually in the familiar brown, sometimes with a white top layer.
It costs more than recycled liner. It is the usual choice for export cartons, heavy contents, cold-chain and anything that will spend a long time in a humid warehouse.
Testliner
Testliner is made mainly from recycled paper and board. Every time paper is recycled its fibres get shorter, so a testliner sheet is generally weaker than a kraftliner sheet of the same weight, and it takes up moisture more readily. Manufacturers compensate by using a heavier sheet or by adding surface treatment.
Testliner is cheaper, and it is perfectly adequate for most domestic packaging: cartons for groceries, household goods, online orders and house moves. Much of the corrugated board made for everyday use has testliner on at least one face.
One point that is often stated wrongly: kraftliner is not a recycled-paper grade. A sheet can contain some recycled fibre and still be sold as kraftliner, but its defining feature is the virgin kraft pulp. Testliner is the recycled grade.
Chipboard
Chipboard — also sold as greyboard or paperboard — is a solid sheet pressed from recycled paper, with no fluted layer. It is stiff for its thickness and cheap, but it has little crush resistance and no cushioning.
You meet it as shoe boxes, cereal and tissue boxes, the backing of a writing pad, book covers, dividers and layer sheets. It is the right material for light retail packaging and the wrong one for a shipping carton.
Side by side
| Property | Kraftliner | Testliner | Chipboard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main raw material | Virgin wood pulp | Recycled fibre | Recycled fibre |
| Form | Liner on corrugated board | Liner on corrugated board | Solid sheet, no flute |
| Relative strength | Highest of the three | Moderate | Low crush resistance |
| Behaviour when damp | Keeps more strength | Loses strength sooner | Softens quickly |
| Relative cost | Highest | Lower | Lowest |
| Typical use | Export, heavy goods, long storage | Everyday cartons, e-commerce | Retail boxes, backing, dividers |
| Recyclable | Yes | Yes | Yes |
What this means when you buy a box in Malaysia
Most buyers never need to ask for a liner by name. These three questions decide more:
- How many walls? Double wall for books, crockery, tools and anything at the bottom of a stack; single wall for clothes and light goods. See 3-ply vs 5-ply carton boxes.
- Is the box dry and rigid? In our humidity, a damp box of the best board is weaker than a dry box of ordinary board. Store cartons flat, off the floor and away from external walls — details in why cardboard goes soft in Malaysian humidity.
- Does the surface matter? If you want your own printing on the box, or a clean plain face for a customer, buy new. If the box is for moving or storage, the previous owner’s printing on a once-used carton makes no difference to how it carries a load.
Ask about the liner when the job is demanding: export, months under a stack, or a damp environment. Otherwise choose by wall, size and condition.
What we stock
Quinocycle sells finished boxes and board rather than liner paper:
- Once-used Grade A cartons, used once and checked by hand — rigid, dry, clean and odour-free — with the wall type shown on every listing.
- New cartons, from the mini XS to jumbo cargo boxes.
- Corrugated layer pads, edge protectors and honeycomb board for pallets, dividers and surface protection.
FAQ
What is the difference between testliner and kraftliner?
Both are liners, the flat outer and inner sheets of corrugated board. Kraftliner is made mainly from virgin wood pulp, so its fibres are longer and it is stronger and more moisture-tolerant. Testliner is made mainly from recycled fibre and costs less.
Is chipboard the same as corrugated cardboard?
No. Chipboard, also called greyboard or paperboard, is a solid sheet with no fluted layer. It is used for shoe boxes, cereal boxes and backing boards. Corrugated board has a wavy flute between liners, which is what makes a shipping carton rigid.
Which board is best for a shipping box?
For shipping, the wall construction matters more than the liner name. Choose double wall for heavy or stacked loads and single wall for light ones, and ask the supplier about the liner only when the box faces long storage, damp conditions or export.
Can testliner, kraftliner and chipboard all be recycled?
Yes. All three are paper products and go into the ordinary paper and cardboard recycling stream, as long as they are dry and free of food, oil, wax or plastic lamination.
Talk to us
Quinocycle Sdn Bhd, No.13, Jalan Taming P/1, Taming Jaya, 43300 Balakong, Selangor. WhatsApp +6016-891 6381, office 03-8962 6381, or email sales@quinocycle.com with what you need to pack. We are open Monday to Friday 8.30am–5pm and Saturday 8.30am–1pm, and closed on Sundays and public holidays.