Abstract In packaging, the structural integrity of paperboard under complex stresses is essential. This study examines the delamination behavior of paperboard under normal and shear loading modes, which are the base for developing mixed-mode models. Four commercial paperboard grades, sourced from fibers across three geographical regions, are investigated using Double Cantilever Beam (DCB) and Split Double Cantilever Beam (SDCB) tests, which are used to calibrate a cohesive zone model from the literature. This model introduces a shape parameter that governs the cohesive traction-separation relationship, consistent across both normal and shear modes. Experimental findings support this approach, demonstrating that, while the shape parameter remains mode-independent, its numerical value varies uniquely for each paperboard quality.