NAICS 322211

Overview

NAICS 322211 covers establishments primarily engaged in laminating purchased paper or paperboard to produce corrugated or solid fiber boxes and related products (such as sheets, pads, partitions, pallets, and corrugated paper). The code excludes folding and setup paperboard boxes, and paperboard mills that both make and convert paperboard. Federal statistical programs (e.g., the Economic Census) publish industry data on this activity under the 2022 NAICS structure, with official cross‑references to closely related box‑manufacturing industries for clarity and consistency across product types and processes. ²

See also on G2X:

• G2X — NAICS 322211
• G2X — NAICS 322212
• G2X — NAICS 322213

What this NAICS covers

• Laminating purchased paper or paperboard to produce corrugated or solid fiber boxes. ²
• Manufacturing related corrugated products such as sheets, pads, partitions, and pallets (non‑wood). ²
• Producing corrugated paper and components used in shipping containers without manufacturing paperboard. ²
• Converting paperboard into shipping‑oriented containers via corrugating, cutting, and shaping operations. ²
• Making protective packaging inserts and dividers integrated into corrugated or solid fiber boxes. ²
• Delivering box products primarily intended for transport and shipment rather than retail display packaging. ²

Related NAICS and PSC codes

Type	Code	Descriptor
NAICS	322212	Folding Paperboard Box Manufacturing (non‑corrugated; separate from laminated solid fiber). 2
NAICS	322213	Setup Paperboard Box Manufacturing (rigid‑sided boxes not shipped flat). 2
NAICS	322130	Paperboard Mills (when mills make and convert paperboard into boxes). 2
PSC	8115	Boxes, Cartons, and Crates (product category used in federal procurement). 5

Key cross-references and exclusions

• Folding paperboard boxes (not corrugated or laminated solid fiber) are classified under 322212. ²
• Setup paperboard boxes (rigid boxes not shipped flat) fall under 322213. ²
• Operations that manufacture paperboard and convert it into boxes are classified in 322130. ²
• Similar items made from plastics materials are classified in Industry Group 3261 (Plastics Product Manufacturing). ²
• Egg cartons, food trays, and other food containers from molded pulp are classified in 322299. ²
• Manufacturing of paper bags is classified under 32222. ²

Frequently asked questions

• What activities define NAICS 322211?

  Establishments laminate purchased paper or paperboard to make corrugated or solid fiber boxes and related items (sheets, pads, partitions, pallets, corrugated paper). It excludes folding and setup paperboard boxes, and mills that both make and convert paperboard. ²

• How does 322211 differ from 322212 and 322213?

  322211 covers corrugated and laminated solid fiber boxes; 322212 covers folding paperboard boxes; 322213 covers setup (rigid) boxes. Each is distinct per official cross‑references. ²

• If a firm makes paperboard and then converts it into boxes, is it still 322211?

  No. Establishments that manufacture paperboard and then convert it into boxes are classified in 322130 (Paperboard Mills), not 322211. ²

• Are plastic corrugated boxes or molded pulp trays included in 322211?

  No. Plastics container products align to Industry Group 3261. Molded‑pulp containers (e.g., egg cartons, trays) align to 322299. ²

• Does 322211 specify whether printing or graphics on boxes are included?

  Not specified by official sources ²

Useful resources

• U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS main page and introduction. ¹
• U.S. Census Bureau — Official 2022 definition for NAICS 322211. ²
• U.S. Census Bureau — Implementation of the 2022 NAICS and transition timeline. ³
• U.S. Census Bureau — Understanding NAICS structure and usage. ⁴
• Acquisition.gov — Product and Service Code (PSC) Manual (for PSC 8115 and related packaging classes). ⁵

References

1. U.S. Census Bureau — North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) main page. https://www.census.gov/naics/
2. U.S. Census Bureau — NAICS 2022 definition for 322211 (Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing). https://www.census.gov/naics/?input=322211&year=2022&details=322211
3. U.S. Census Bureau — Implementation of the 2022 NAICS: timeline and program adoption. https://www.census.gov/library/reference/code-lists/naics/2022/implementation-timeline.html
4. U.S. Census Bureau — Understanding NAICS (Economic Census technical documentation). https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/economic-census/technical-documentation/methodology/understanding-naics.html
5. Acquisition.gov — Product and Service Code Manual. https://www.acquisition.gov/psc-manual