Every wholesale order is packed into containers, boxes for Courier orders, pallets for Freight orders, inside the Wholesale Packing Layout. Containers can be added, duplicated, moved, or unpacked individually or in bulk, and support nested inner boxes, case and pallet UOMs, and manual quantity edits.
For step-by-step packing instructions, see How to Pack a Courier Wholesale Order or How to Pack a Freight Wholesale Order.
Table of Contents
- Wholesale Order Container Types
- Wholesale LPN Label Types
- Wholesale Container Dimensions and Weights
- Available Wholesale Container Actions
- Available Wholesale Bulk Container Actions
- Configuring Inner Boxes and Adding SKUs to a Wholesale Container
- Editing the Quantity of an SKU in a Wholesale Container
- Packing a Case or Pallet UOM as a Wholesale Container
Wholesale Order Container Types
The order type determines the container used throughout the packing process.
| Order Type | Container | Starting Action |
|---|---|---|
| Courier | All inventory must be packed into Box containers. Supports inner boxes nested inside outer boxes (maximum 2 levels). | Create a box button appears in the Packing Layout. |
| Freight | All inventory must be packed onto Pallet containers. Boxes can be nested inside pallets, or products can be packed directly onto the pallet. | Create a pallet button appears in the Packing Layout. |
Wholesale LPN Label Types
Every container gets an ID and an LPN (License Plate Number) — the barcode ShipHero assigns to track the container through packing, shipping, and receiving — as soon as it's created. Print the LPN and apply it to the physical container so it scans correctly at every step.
Two label formats are available:
| Label Type | What It Prints | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Simple LPN label | Only the LPN barcode. | Fast scanning when downstream systems only need to identify the LPN. |
| Detailed LPN label | The LPN barcode plus a breakdown of the items and quantities inside. | Receivers or warehouse staff who need to verify contents without scanning first. |
| Simple LPN Label | Detailed LPN Label |
|---|---|
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Wholesale Container Dimensions and Weights
- Container dimensions and weight update automatically based on the selected package type dimensions plus the weight of products inside. These values must be set on both the products and boxes for calculations to be accurate.
- Editing dimensions manually changes the package type to Custom.
- Container weight is recalculated every time a product or box is added. Always verify final weights before completing the order.
Available Wholesale Container Actions
| Action | Description |
|---|---|
| Add Container | Select Add container at the top right of the Packing Layout. Courier orders add a box; Freight orders add a pallet. |
| Delete Container | Empty containers (boxes and pallets) can be deleted. If the container has packed products, Delete is replaced by Unpack. |
| Unpack Container | Removes products from the container and returns them to the staging location. After confirming, instructions appear showing where to take the unpacked inventory. |
| Duplicate Container | Specify the number of copies to create. The system shows the maximum duplicates possible based on available unpacked inventory and prevents exceeding that limit. |
| Move Container | Boxes can be moved to another box or to another pallet. The maximum nesting depth is 2 levels (Outer Box → Inner Box). |
| Lot-Controlled SKUs | Different lots of the same product cannot be combined in the same container. Split them across inner boxes (Courier) or separate boxes on the pallet (Freight). |
| Delete — Empty Container | Unpack — Container with Items |
|---|---|
| Select Duplicate | Confirm Quantity to Duplicate |
|---|---|
Available Wholesale Bulk Container Actions
Bulk actions available: Move, Unpack, Delete, Print LPNs, Change weight, Change dimensions, and Change package.
- Select the containers to update by checking the box next to each.
- Choose the action to apply.
The system only shows actions compatible with the selected containers. If incompatible container types are selected (e.g., boxes and pallets mixed, or empty and packed containers), incompatible actions are greyed out with a tooltip explaining why.
Configuring Inner Boxes and Adding SKUs to a Wholesale Container
To configure a box within a box, or to add additional SKUs to an existing container, use the (+) icon next to the container. Three options appear:
- One SKU per container: Nests a new box into the selected container. See Option 1: One SKU per Container.
- Multiple SKUs per container: Nests a new box with multiple SKUs into the selected container. See Option 2: Multiple SKUs in the Same Container.
- In the current package: Packs the product directly into the selected container without creating a nested box. See Packing Directly onto a Pallet.
Important
Only 2 levels of box nesting are allowed (Outer Box with Inner Boxes). When the limit is reached, the system automatically defaults to the In the current container option.
Editing the Quantity of an SKU in a Wholesale Container
Hover over the quantity of an SKU in a container and increase or decrease it directly from the Packing Layout. Reducing quantity triggers an Unpack action; increasing triggers a Pack action. Instructions appear for either action to guide correct execution.
| Reducing SKU Quantity | Increasing SKU Quantity |
|---|---|
Packing a Case or Pallet UOM as a Wholesale Container
If products were picked in Case or Pallet UOMs, they are treated as closed boxes in the packing layout. If you want to use a picked UOM (Case or Pallet) as the outer container sent directly to the carrier or retailer, indicate this when adding a new container.
Select the number of UOM units to add as containers, then follow the instructions to identify the products correctly. Once added as UOM containers, other products cannot be added to them — the only available action is Unpack.
| UOM as Container | Select SKUs |
|---|---|
| Move from Staging Instructions | UOM Containers in Packing Layout |
|---|---|