How to measure for box sizing.

There are a couple of main ways to measure and find the correct size of a box for your needs. There are also a few other things to consider that I will bring to your attention

So, you have a product to ship. You want it to get to a final destination in one piece, you're going to need to know the size of the box that you need. There are multiple ways to measure and find the size you are looking for. You will also want to consider how you plan on shipping your product, whether in bulk, on a pallet, or a parcel at a time via UPS, FedEx, USPS or some other carrier. Finally, you will want to consider how heavy your product is to determine the board grade and style of the box you will want.

All of these items together will help you come to the perfect size and box style for you to ship your product in.

Easiest way to measure a box

The simplest way to measure for a box is to simply measure the product itself. If you measure the outside of your item and give those measurements in the form of length x width x depth it should give you an accurate size of what the inside of your box should be. All measurements should be given as inside dimensions and in the form of Length x width x depth. This is how boxes are measured unless told otherwise.

Measuring a current box

Let's say you are new to the job and have a box but just don't know what the size is. Fold up the box and measure across the bottom both directions. Length is being measured in the picture below. Then measure from the bottom up as in the picture above to find the depth. Again, write down all of your sizes as Length x width x depth.

How heavy is it

It is important for you to know how heavy that your product is. This is so that you can be matched up with a material that is suitable to hold your item. There are many different combinations of board grade that make up different strength materials. They are measured in both ECT (Edge crush Test) and Mullen. ECT is very sturdy for stacking purposes which makes it ideal for shipping many products on pallets. Mullen has a greater bursting strength on the side walls which makes it good, especially for heavier items, for shipping out one at a time.

Box styles

While I am not going to go in-depth about styles at this time, most items will require a simple Regular slotted carton (RSC). If you have an item that is very heavy or maybe fragile you may opt for something that overlaps adding extra protection or support. There are many different box styles to choose from and depending on your needs there is something out there for your product. Ask us and we will try to guide you to what you need.

Now go find your packaging

Now that you know the basics, go out and find the packaging for your next project. If you have any comments, please leave them below. If you have any questions, please reach out to us here at Sterling Box Company. In the future you will see information on both box styles and board grade to help you make more informed decisions.