How to measure a box?

Choosing the right box entails more than just picking one off the shelf at your local store. You must consider the box dimensions of the item being shipped, as well as the weight and fragility of the contents. We'll show you how to measure the right size box for your needs in this article. Related product: Gift boxes.

Recognizing Box Dimensions

The first step in creating perfect packaging is learning how to accurately measure box dimensions. While this may appear to be elementary mathematics, properly measuring your dimensions requires some thought. So, what measurements are required? Boxes are measured in three ways: length, width, and depth. To begin, take the following measurements from the top opening of the box:

Length: The longest side of the box, when viewed from the top

Width: The shorter side of the box, when viewed from the top

Depth (Height): The perpendicular side to the length and width

A tall or upward-facing box's depth, rather than its length or width, is its largest dimension. In theory, square boxes ought to have equal sides, but in practice, this is less likely to be the case. Therefore, to ensure that your packaging is appropriate for your products, be sure to precisely measure each dimension. The size and shape of your product will dictate the kind of box you choose. The dimensions needed for production will be determined by length, width, and depth regardless of the kind of box.

Dimensions that are internal, external, and score-to-score

Internal dimensions, external dimensions, and score-to-score dimensions are the three main factors to take into account when determining the appropriate size box.

Internal Dimensions

When a box is put together, its interior measurements show how much usable space is present. The industry standard measurement for figuring out how well a product will fit inside is its interior dimensions. The measurements that are automatically displayed when placing a box order are for the interior dimensions. For instance, a box measuring 10" x 10" x 6" will have 6" of space from the bottom to the top and 10" of space from wall to wall.

When looking for a lay custom box to fit your product or creating a custom box from scratch, interior dimensions are essential. They're not the most exact set of dimensions to give your manufacturer, though, if you're trying to duplicate an existing box.

External Dimensions

When a corrugated box is assembled, the external dimensions reflect the full size of the box. These are useful for inventory and shipping. In terms of exterior dimensions, our 10" x 10" x 6" box from the previous example may measure 10 3/8" x 10 3/8" x 6 5/8" when fully assembled. External dimensions only provide us with the final size of the box and provide no information about the thickness of the material used to construct it. As a result, they aren't the most precise measurements to give your packaging partner.

Dimensions of Score-to-Score

If you want your packaging manufacturer to replicate your box, score-to-score dimensions are the most accurate way to measure it. The distance between your box's "scores" (where it folds) takes into account the thickness of the corrugated board, also known as material allowances. You'll notice that the score-to-score dimensions are somewhere between the interior and exterior dimensions of your box.

How to Measure the Size of a Box

There are two methods for determining the size of a box. The first step is to measure the box's length, width, and height with a ruler or measuring tape. The second option is to use the box's dimensions. You will need to know the length, width, and height of the box to do this.

The volume will make determining your shipping, warehousing, and distribution processes easier. It will also help you determine how well your product will fit into the packaging you prefer. In terms of material and cost optimization, as well as structural engineering, your packaging volume is critical! Please do not skip this step!

You can easily calculate the volume of your box now that you have your basic dimensions and know how to measure a box. Simply multiply the three dimensions to get the volume.

Volume = Length x Width x Depth