Shipping box sizes
A box size is three numbers: inside length, width and depth, in that order, in inches. These are the sizes buyers ask us for most, each with what it holds, the board it usually needs and how it lays out on a pallet. Any other size is quoted the same way.
| Inside size | Volume | Usual board | Typical contents |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 x 6 x 6 in | 216 cu in | Single wall 32 ECT or 200# | 216 cubic inches for small parts, samples and single jars |
| 8 x 8 x 8 in | 512 cu in | Single wall 32 ECT or 200# | mugs, small electronics, spare parts |
| 10 x 10 x 10 in | 1,000 cu in | Single wall 32 ECT or 200# | a workhorse for parcels and parts |
| 12 x 12 x 12 in | 1,728 cu in | Single wall 32 ECT or 200# | |
| 14 x 14 x 14 in | 2,744 cu in | Single wall 32 ECT or 200# | |
| 16 x 16 x 16 in | 4,096 cu in | Single wall 32 ECT or 200# | kits, linens, light bulky parts |
| 18 x 18 x 18 in | 5,832 cu in | Single wall 32 ECT or 200# | |
| 20 x 20 x 20 in | 8,000 cu in | Single wall; double wall if heavy | |
| 24 x 24 x 24 in | 13,824 cu in | Single wall; double wall if heavy | |
| 48 x 40 pallet-size | 69,120 cu in | Double or triple wall | depths, wall grades, telescope and bin builds, one per pallet, quoted to your ZIP |
Stock size or your own
A stock cube is quick to quote and easy to reorder, and many products fit one well enough. If yours rattles in the nearest cube, or you pay dimensional weight on air, a box cut to your inside size usually earns back its difference. Measure the product with its protection, round up to the next quarter inch, and send the three numbers.
Cubes are popular because they are easy to stock, but most products are not cubes. A flatter box, such as 12 x 10 x 6 for clothing, or a long one, such as 24 x 6 x 6 for rolled posters or tubes, often fits better and ships cheaper. Parcel carriers bill by dimensional weight once a box passes a certain size, so trimming an inch or two from each side can make a real difference across thousands of shipments.
Major catalogues list well over a thousand stock sizes, so most rectangles exist somewhere. What changes the price is the board and the count, not whether the size is on a list.
Ask for a price on any size
Inside length, width and depth, the count and your ZIP are enough to start.
- Inside size
- length x width x depth, in inches
- Style
- RSC, full overlap, telescope, die-cut or bulk
- Wall and grade
- read it off the stamp on your current box
- Count
- boxes per order, and how often you reorder
- Packed weight
- box plus contents
- ZIP
- where the boxes are delivered
After you send it
- We reply by email, usually with questions first if anything is unclear
- You confirm the specification, and a sample or drawing if it is a new design
- We send the price, the delivery window and the count tolerance
- On approval the order is scheduled and shipped to your dock