How to Measure Box Dimensions for Your Packaging
Written by UPrinting ● Updated on November 2, 2023
Have you experienced shipping boxes that are too large or too small for your items? Do customers complain about busted edges or sloppy interiors? Perhaps you were going about measuring the package incorrectly. The accurate measurement of your box dimensions ensures the safety of the delivered items. However, it's not as simple as busting out measuring tape from each end. Dimensions also depend on the box type and how much room you need for other packaging components like bubble wrap. Single packaged items will need the smallest allowance for movement to protect them from damage. Having the correct measurements also saves your company time and money. If the allowance is too much, you end up spending extra on the shipping costs.
With so many factors to consider, it’s important for business owners and packaging specialists to know how to measure box dimensions properly. Here what you need to know
How to Properly Measure Boxes for Products
1. Knowing the dimensions of your box.
There are 3 standard box dimensions. You need to measure the following based on how you see each side from the top of the box:
Note that the length, width, and depth depend on the box type. As indicated above, it’s best to approximate from the top of the box. You may also refer to the illustrations below for each box type. We recommend the product for soap box dimensions. Either the mailer or product type would fit general food box dimensions.
Mailer Box Dimensions
Shipping Box Dimensions
Product Box Dimensions
Note that the measurements above may be different for measuring pizza box dimensions.
2. Measuring exterior vs. interior dimensions.
Box measurements usually refer to the interior dimensions. Inputting the inner box measurements ensures that your package fits snugly and does not have too many allowances. It’s not advisable to measure based on the exterior as this would include the material’s thickness. There would be additional space that could cause damage to the item or several products sealed inside the box. Interior dimension measurements are crucial to corrugated cardboard mailer and shipper boxes, as these are thicker than cardstock-made product boxes.
3. Learning how to measure the package size.
You’ll also need to supply UPS with the package size based on the box dimensions. The measurement rules vary if it’s a regular or irregular package.
How to Measure a Regular Package
a. After measuring the length, width, and depth, you need to find out its girth. Girth is computed by measuring the width of the package and rounding it to the nearest inch. Multiply this first number by 2. Do the same for the height.
b. Add the two products from the height and width together to get the girth.
c. To compute for the package measurement, add the girth and the length.
To measure an irregularly shaped package, measure the dimensions based on the box to be used for the product. The illustration below shows how to estimate each side based on the irregular shape.
4. Understanding the importance of dimensional weight.
The accurate measurements provide the correct dimensional weight or how much space your package will occupy in transit. This weight will determine the shipping price. You can compute dimensional weight using the formula below. Cubic Size* = L x W x H
*Cubic size is the volume of your package or the space inside the box.
To find the dimensional weight:
Dimensional weight = Cubic Size/166*
*166 is the divisor for shipments being delivered to the US and Puerto Rico. If your business does international shipments, divide the cubic size by 139.
Note that the USPS does not subject e-commerce packages less than 1 cubic foot to dimensional weight pricing.
Choose & Create the Best Box for Your Business
Have the accurate interior measurements and dimensional weight for your box? You can input the specs easily on our online calculator and preview its appearance with our 3D design tool. If you want to start with a sample, order 1 box and it’ll be shipped in 3 to 5 business days. No minimum quantity is required to make a custom box transaction.
