How Much Does a Carton Erector Cost in 2026?

• Semi-automatic, about $5,000 to $16,000. The operator opens the box. The machine squares it and seals the bottom. Good for under 15 cases a minute with one operator.
• Automatic, standard speed, about $19,000 to $46,000. Loads flat blanks from a magazine and forms 10 to 20 cases a minute with no operator.
• Automatic, high speed, about $49,000 to $80,000. 25 cases a minute and up, for lines that run all shift.
• Automatic, random size, about $52,000 to $117,000. Changes over between box sizes on its own. Built for high-mix operations.

Used machines often sell for 40% to 60% below new. Ask for the service history and whether parts are still made.

• Speed. Cases per minute is the biggest cost factor.
• Box size range. A machine that runs every box you use costs more than one built around your top sizes.
• Changeover. Tool-free or automatic size changes add cost and save downtime.
• Sealing method. Tape is standard. Hot melt glue adds a glue system.

A person takes about 20 seconds to form and tape a box by hand. A low-speed erector takes about 7.

1. Count the boxes you form per day.
2. Multiply by 20 seconds, then divide by 3,600 for daily hours.
3. Multiply by your loaded hourly rate and working days.

At 1,000 boxes a day, that is 5.6 hours of forming labor daily. At $25 an hour over 250 days, you spend about $34,700 a year making boxes. A $30,000 erector pays back in under a year, and that person moves to packing.

Square boxes stack better and hold more weight in the trailer, which cuts damage too.

• Will the erector run every box size I use today, and the ones planned?
• Are my boxes machine-ready, with correct scoring and flap cuts?
• How long does a size changeover take?
• What air supply and power does the machine need?
• How many hours a day is the machine rated to run?

An erector is only as good as the box you feed it. We supply custom and stock corrugated boxes built to run on your machine, and we check your floor space and air flow before installing. We service every machine we sell, with next-day tech dispatch. Send us your daily box count and sizes, and we’ll run the payback with your numbers.

S&S Incorporated · Packaging made easy since 1965 21300 St. Clair Avenue, Cleveland, OH 44117 216-383-1880 · info@sspkg.com · www.sspackaging.com Monday–Friday, 7:00 AM–3:30 PM