Packing and Crating Revenue Benchmarks
The average packing and crating business in the United States generates $2.0M in annual revenue, according to the U.S. Census Bureau Statistics of U.S. Businesses (SUSB 2021). There are 1,390 packing and crating businesses in the U.S., employing 19,817 workers with an average profit margin of 5.0%. The average employee in this industry earns $52K per year (Bureau of Labor Statistics QCEW 2023).
What Does a Packing and Crating Business Actually Do?
Specialty packing and crating for shipping fragile, oversized, or valuable items — machinery, art, electronics, medical.
Who buys: Manufacturers shipping equipment, art dealers, museums, corporate relocators.
Average Revenue
$2.0M
per year
Profit Margin
5.0%
industry average
Revenue / Employee
$141K
per year
Total Businesses
1,390
in the US
Est. Owner Income
$100K
small business avg
Labor Cost
35.0%
of revenue
Avg Employee Wage
$52K
per year (BLS)
Market Saturation
0.4
firms per 100K people
How Much Do Packing and Crating Charge?
Specialty packing and crating for shipping fragile, oversized, or valuable items.
| Service | Typical range |
|---|---|
Custom wood crate | $150–1,500 per crate |
Fine art packing | $200–3,000 per piece |
Machinery crating | $500–10,000+ |
Hourly labor rate | $65–120/hour |
Ranges based on industry rate surveys and typical published pricing. Actual quotes vary by city, business size, and job complexity.
Complete packing and crating business plan
A 12-section data-backed business plan for a packing and crating business — executive summary, market analysis, competitive landscape, revenue model, 3-year financial projections, operations, marketing, staffing, funding request. Pre-populated with real Census, IRS, and BLS data on this industry. Free to view.
Cost Structure — Where Every $100 in Revenue Goes
Approximate P&L breakdown for the packing and crating industry. Labor share and net profit are grounded in Census SUSB and IRS SOI data. Other lines are split using sector-typical ratios.
| Category | Per $100 revenue | Per typical business | What's in it |
|---|---|---|---|
Fuel & vehicle costs | $30 | $601K | Fuel is often the single biggest line — plus tires, maintenance, tolls. |
Wages & benefits | $35 | $701K | Payroll for all employees at the business (owner comp not included for small owner-operators). |
Rent & facilities | $6 | $120K | Rent or mortgage on business location plus utilities tied to the space. |
Marketing & advertising | $3 | $60K | Google/Meta ads, SEO, print, referral fees, event sponsorships. |
Other operating costs | $21 | $421K | Insurance (very high), truck payments, dispatching software, driver benefits. |
Net profit | $5 | $100K | What remains for the owner or shareholders after all business expenses. |
Directionally accurate for a typical business in the industry. Individual businesses vary widely — a franchise may run a very different cost mix from an independent, and older established businesses often have lower labor share than newer ones.
Average Revenue by Business Size
Industry Dynamics (Census BDS 2023)
New Business Rate
15.86%
openings/year
Closure Rate
12.04%
closings/year
Net Job Growth
-2.58%
annual
Businesses Closed
214
in 2023
Firm Count Trend
Should You Start a Packing and Crating Business?
Startup Cost
$50K – $250K
Break-Even
18 months
5-Year Survival Rate
50.0%
Related Industries
Frequently Asked Questions
- What does a packing and crating business do?
- Specialty packing and crating for shipping fragile, oversized, or valuable items — machinery, art, electronics, medical. Manufacturers shipping equipment, art dealers, museums, corporate relocators.
- How much do packing and crating charge?
- Specialty packing and crating for shipping fragile, oversized, or valuable items. See the pricing table above for typical rates by service type.
- How much does the average packing and crating make per year?
- The average packing and crating business generates $2.0M in annual revenue, based on U.S. Census Bureau data (SUSB 2021). After expenses, the estimated owner profit is $100K per year at a 5.0% profit margin.
- How many packing and crating businesses are there in the US?
- There are 1,390 packing and crating businesses operating in the United States, employing a total of 19,817 workers.
- How much does it cost to start a packing and crating business?
- Startup costs for a packing and crating business typically range from $50K to $250K, with a 5-year survival rate of 50.0%.
- What is the average salary in the packing and crating industry?
- The average employee in the packing and crating industry earns $52K per year, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data (QCEW 2023).
Industry Growth & Survival
The packing and crating industry is contracting — losing jobs at a net rate of 2.6% per year. More establishments are closing (12.0%) than opening (15.9%), suggesting market challenges.
Approximately 53% of packing and crating businesses survive their first 5 years. This is near the national average (~50%), with typical business risk. In 2023, 214 firms in this industry closed permanently.
Employment & Wages
The average employee in the packing and crating industry earns $51,870/year. This is near the national average of ~$65K. With 1,431 establishments employing 21,340 people, the typical business has about 15 employees.
Industry Trend (2000–2023)
The packing and crating industry has grown 86% since 2000 (from 1,021 to 1,903 firms).
See full historical statistics →Compare Packing and Crating revenue with other industries: