How Much Does a Paper Cushioning Machine Cost in 2026?

• Tabletop crumpler, about $1,700 to $2,800. Foot pedal or button operated, manual tear. Good for one or two pack stations filling empty space in the box.
• Industrial converter, about $2,800 to $4,500. Faster output, some up to 70 meters of paper a minute, with automatic cut and adjustable pad length.
• Placed machine, $0. The supplier owns the machine. You agree to buy their paper. Most placed machines run only the maker’s paper.

These do different jobs. Pick by what your product needs.

• Crumpled void fill stops a product from shifting inside the box. Light protection, fast to dispense.
• Dense pads block, brace, and cushion heavy or fragile items. Multi-ply paper costs more per foot and protects more per foot.

• Paper is recyclable at the curb, and many of your customers prefer it. It handles heavy and sharp-edged products better.
• Air pillows weigh less, so parcel freight costs less. Film takes less storage space per cubic foot of fill.

1. Count boxes packed per day and the paper used per box.
2. Get the cost per foot of paper under a placed-machine agreement.
3. Get the cost per foot if you buy the machine and shop paper.
4. Add damage: track returns and claims for one month before and after the change.
5. Add freight weight, if you ship parcel.

The cheapest paper per foot loses if your packers use twice as much per box. Time a packer and weigh the fill in one box before you sign anything.

• Do I need void fill, cushioning pads, or both?
• What is the paper minimum under a placed machine?
• Does the machine run only one brand of paper?
• How much floor or bench space does it need?
• Who services it, and how fast?

We supply paper cushioning, air pillows, bubble wrap, foam, and kraft paper, so we compare them against your product, not against what we have to move. We check floor space and air flow before installing, service every machine we sell, and dispatch a tech the next day. Send us a box you ship today, and we’ll show you the cost per box for each option.

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