12 x 12 x 12 in corrugated boxes

What fits in a 12 x 12 x 12 box

A cubic foot takes a small appliance with its own retail carton, a dozen 16 oz jars in a partition, a bundle of folded textiles, a case of small bottles, or a stack of files. It is big enough to need a proper tape pattern on the flaps and small enough to carry with one hand.

Shippers who ship heavier goods in this size should weigh a packed box before choosing the board. A cubic foot of paper weighs far more than a cubic foot of pillows, and that difference decides the grade.

Movers use the same dimensions for book boxes, but our quotes are for business shippers buying by the bundle and pallet, not single cartons for a move.

The board it needs

For loads up to 65 lb packed, 32 ECT single wall or its burst-rated twin, 200# test, is the everyday choice; both carry a 65 lb maximum on the box maker's certificate. If the box will sit at the bottom of a tall pallet stack for weeks, or carries close to that limit, step up to 44 ECT single wall or to 48 ECT double wall, which is rated to 100 lb.

Packing notes

The 12 inch cube is the most common size in many warehouses because so much fits it: a pair of boots, kitchen sets, toys, folded linens, a small printer, a gallon jug with padding. Movers use it for books and heavy kitchen items. Its popularity means it is easy to source and easy to reorder; if your product only half fills it, though, a smaller or flatter box saves on freight.

Sizes close to this one

Close alternatives are the 12 x 12 x 8, which suits shallower goods, and 14 x 10 x 10 for longer items. Rounding down to 11 3/4 in inside changes how many fit on a pallet, as shown below.

On a 48 x 40 pallet

With the outside taken as 12 1/4 in square, three fit across 48 in and three across 40 in, so nine packed boxes per layer. Three across 40 in leaves about 3 in. Drop the inside size to 11 3/4 in, so the outside is 12 in, and four fit along the 48 in side: 12 per layer instead of nine. When a shipper fills whole pallets, that quarter inch is worth asking about.

Worked from an outside size of the inside dimension plus 0.25 in on length and width, a working allowance for single wall; double wall adds a little more. Ask us to confirm before you plan a load.