Resin is usually quoted by the packaging unit, not by the pound. If you’re new to buying it, or moving from bags to boxes to bulk, here is what each unit means, roughly how much material it holds, and when it makes sense.
What is a gaylord?
A gaylord is a large corrugated box on a pallet, usually about 40 × 48 inches at the base and 36–48 inches tall, with a plastic liner bag inside. A gaylord of pellets typically holds roughly 1,000 to 1,600 lb. The exact weight depends on the resin’s bulk density: the same box holds less polypropylene or polyethylene than polycarbonate or glass-filled nylon. Always check the net weight on the quote.
Typical order sizes at a glance
| Unit | Typical net weight | Usually best for |
|---|---|---|
| 25 kg / 55 lb bags | 55 lb each, often 40–55 bags per pallet | Specialty and high-cost resins, small runs |
| Gaylord box | ~1,000–1,600 lb | First orders, engineering grades, most molders |
| Bulk bag (super sack) | ~1,000–2,200 lb | Plants with bag unloaders |
| LTL (less than truckload) | 1 to roughly 10 gaylords | Steady monthly use below a full truck |
| Full truckload (53 ft van) | ~40,000–44,000 lb (roughly 22–26 gaylords) | High-volume grades, best freight per pound |
| Bulk truck (pneumatic) | ~40,000–45,000 lb | Plants with silos |
| Railcar (covered hopper) | ~180,000–200,000 lb | Very high-volume silo users |
Weights are typical ranges and vary by resin, packaging and carrier limits.
How order size affects your price
Two things change as volume goes up. The resin price per pound usually drops, and freight per pound drops even faster. A single gaylord shipped LTL carries far more freight per pound than the same resin in a full truck, so two quotes with the same resin price can land at very different delivered prices. Compare delivered cost per pound, and check whether pallet or handling charges are included.
Which should you buy?
- Qualifying a new grade: start with a sample, then one gaylord for a production trial.
- Running it every month, but less than a truck: a few gaylords at a time, shipped LTL.
- 40,000 lb or more a month: full truckloads.
- You have silos: bulk trucks or railcars.
How ResinBridge handles it
Orders start at one gaylord, and we ship LTL, truckload and railcar quantities across the U.S. and Canada. If you’re qualifying a grade first, ~50 lb samples are available upon credit approval. Tell us the grade you run and how much you use →