Wholesale guides
How to Sell by the Box, Case, and Pallet Online
Set pack sizes, pricing, and freight rules so buyers can order the right unit without email back and forth.
When to use box, case, and pallet ordering
If you sell packaged food, beverage, or other shelf-ready goods, the unit you show online shapes the order you receive. A box is useful for small trial buys, a case works for most retail replenishment, and a pallet fits larger replenishment or warehouse receiving. Your job is to make the unit obvious before the buyer adds it to cart.
Buyers do not want to decode your offer after the fact. They want to know what one order line means, how many sellable units are inside the pack, and whether freight or dock delivery applies. If you sell by the case online, the product page should answer that in plain language, with the pack count, inner count, and ship method close together.
Pallet ordering adds another layer because the buyer may think in truckload terms, while your warehouse thinks in case packs and stack patterns. Put the pallet count, case count, and any pallet fee where the buyer can see it before checkout. That reduces back and forth and gives operations a cleaner pick list.
Set up your ordering flow
Define each selling unit
Start by writing down the units you want to offer: box, case, and pallet. Give each unit a clear label and keep the meaning consistent across product pages, invoices, and pick lists. If one product can be ordered in multiple units, show the base unit first and then the alternate units below it. That keeps the buyer from guessing which quantity is tied to which freight and handling rules.
Map product data to the unit
For each item, record how many sellable units sit inside a box, how many boxes sit in a case, and how many cases sit on a pallet. If the product has mixed pack configurations, choose one ordering structure and stick to it for that listing. Clear pack math helps the buyer place a correct order and helps your team avoid short picks, split cases, and manual corrections.
Write the page so a buyer can order
Use one product page per SKU or pack configuration, then make the ordering choice visible near the price and add-to-cart area. Name the unit in the product title if needed, such as a case pack or pallet pack. Include a short note on whether the buyer is ordering by the each, box, case, or pallet, and state if the order must meet a minimum to ship. If you allow pallet ordering, show the pallet count in the same field the buyer uses to set quantity.
Set pricing by unit and protect margin
Price each unit in a way that matches your cost structure and handling cost. A case may carry different labor and freight assumptions from a box, and a pallet may need a separate delivery charge or freight rule. If you do not separate those costs, the online price can look simple while the order loses margin after pick, pack, and shipping. Make the rule visible on the page, not in a follow-up message.
Set shipping and fulfillment rules
Tell the buyer when an order ships parcel, LTL, or by freight appointment. Add clear rules for pallet build, liftgate needs, and any accessorial charges that apply to larger orders. If the warehouse has a cutoff time for same-day processing, state it in plain language. The more the buyer knows before checkout, the fewer exceptions your team has to fix later.
Connect the listing to your operations
Your online ordering page should match the way the warehouse actually ships. If the pick team builds cases from master cartons, the order screen should reflect that. If the warehouse only ships full pallets for some items, mark that before the buyer reaches checkout. A clean workflow here helps sales, operations, and billing use the same terms.
Simple unit setup
| Unit | What the buyer sees | Operational note |
|---|---|---|
| Box | One sellable pack on the page | Use when a buyer wants a small order or a trial run |
| Case | Multiple sellable units grouped for retail | Use when the buyer replenishes stores or back rooms |
| Pallet | Multiple cases built for freight shipping | Use when the order is large enough for pallet ordering |
Questions sellers ask
Should you sell by the case online or only by the each?
Sell the unit that matches how your customers receive and store the product. If retailers reorder in case packs, make the case page easy to find. If a smaller buyer needs a trial order, keep a box option available as well. The goal is to make the order fit the receiving process, not force the buyer to translate your catalog.
How do you handle pallet ordering on the web?
Show pallet orders as a separate unit with the pallet count, freight method, and any delivery notes close to the quantity field. If pallet orders require a dock or appointment, say so before checkout. Buyers should know whether the order is full pallet, mixed pallet, or a special freight request before they submit payment or a purchase order.
What details reduce order errors the most?
Pack count, unit label, minimum order rules, and freight method do the most work. Put those details where the buyer chooses quantity. If the product ships only in cases or only in full pallets, do not bury that in the terms page. Make the rule part of the listing so it is visible when the decision is made.
How does BoxNCase fit this workflow?
BoxNCase gives you a place to list products, show shared or custom storefronts, and manage store limits, SKU limits, and support levels by plan. The Free plan costs $0 per month and includes up to 1 store and up to 200 SKUs.[4] Starter costs $79 per month and includes up to 3 stores and up to 2,000 SKUs.[5][6] Brand and Enterprise add more capacity and custom domain options.
Start with a clean wholesale setup
Use one listing system for box, case, and pallet orders, then keep the operational rules visible on the page.
Related wholesale guides
Sources
- [1]BoxNCase Free plan costs $0 per month. BoxNCase pricing (captured 2026-09-25)
- [2]BoxNCase Free plan includes up to 200 SKUs. BoxNCase pricing (captured 2026-09-25)
- [3]BoxNCase Starter plan includes up to 2,000 SKUs. BoxNCase pricing (captured 2026-09-25)
- [4]BoxNCase Free plan features: 1 store; Up to 200 SKUs; BoxNCase marketplace listing; Shared storefront (yourname.myboxncase.com); Stripe Connect payouts. Marketplace listing included; shared partners stack; no custom domain; shared storefront (yourname.myboxncase.com). BoxNCase pricing (captured 2026-09-25)
- [5]BoxNCase Starter plan features: Up to 3 stores; Up to 2,000 SKUs; BoxNCase marketplace listing; Shared storefront; Email support. Marketplace listing included; shared partners stack; no custom domain; shared storefront (yourname.myboxncase.com). BoxNCase pricing (captured 2026-09-25)
- [6]BoxNCase Starter plan costs $79 per month ($768 per year billed annually). BoxNCase pricing (captured 2026-09-25)
Last reviewed 2026-09-25.