How Measure a Box for Shipping: Dimensions, Volume, Weight

Posted 1 year ago by Max Komonov

As桂an桂entrepreneur and桂an桂ecommerce business owner, cutting costs wherever possible is桂always a桂good idea.

Shipping products likely takes up桂a桂good chunk of桂your profits, particularly if桂you offer free shipping to桂customers, so桂any桂opportunity to桂save money on桂shipping is桂like music to桂your ears!

To桂get the桂most cost-effective shipping rates, you must understand how to桂measure the桂boxes and桂packages you send out.

Shipping carriers try to桂maximize their profits as桂much as桂possible, so桂businesses must know how to桂accurately report these numbers so桂they don�셳 get overcharged.

This post explains how to桂measure a桂box for桂shipping and桂calculate the桂weight and桂volume of桂each box you send. We桂also cover various strategies you can try to桂save money on桂shipping.

Tools You Need to桂Measure a桂Box

There are a桂few tools to桂have handy when measuring your box. These include:

Ruler/tape measure to桂calculate the桂height, width, and桂length
Pen/pencil to桂measure the桂leftover space in桂the桂box once you pack the桂product
Paper to桂write down measurements

How to桂Measure Dimensions of桂a桂Box for桂Shipping

Wondering how to桂properly measure a桂box for桂shipping? We�셱e here to桂help! Here�셲 everything you need to桂know to桂get your measurements accurate.

Measure the桂length of桂the桂box: do桂this step first. This is桂the桂longest side of桂the桂box that has a桂long flap.
Measure the桂width of桂the桂box: turn the桂box 90桂degrees to桂measure its width. This is桂the桂side with the桂shorter flap.
Measure the桂height of桂the桂box: keep the桂flaps closed on桂the桂box and桂measure the桂height桂�� the桂distance from the桂bottom of桂the桂box to桂the桂top.

How to桂Calculate the桂Volume of桂a桂Box

Calculating the桂volume of桂a桂box will tell you how much space the桂box will take up. This measurement differs from weight, which tells you how heavy something is. Both measurements are essential for桂shipping.

Here�셲 how to桂calculate volume:

Volume =桂Length x桂Width x桂Height

Using the桂measurements of桂the桂box that you calculated above, you can determine volume. For example, say your box is桂4桂inches tall, 20桂inches long, and桂10桂inches wide.

So, the桂volume equation would read: V桂=桂20桂x桂10桂x桂4桂=桂800

Therefore, the桂box�셲 volume would be桂800桂cubic inches.

Calculating the桂Dimensional Weight of桂a桂Box

Most carrier services will require the桂weight of桂a桂box to桂ship it.

Here�셲 how to桂easily calculate the桂weight of桂a桂box:

Determine the桂package volume (Length x桂Width x桂Height)
Divide the桂volume by桂your selected carrier�셲 divisor.
- USPS &桂DHL桂�� 166
- UPS &桂FedEx桂�� 139

The formula for桂USPS will look like this:

(Length x桂Width x桂Height) /桂166桂=桂???

Strategies to桂Reduce Your Shipping Costs

Aside from correctly measuring the桂boxes you use to桂ship your products, there are a桂few other ways to桂reduce shipping costs and桂save money.

These include:

Use ships in桂own container (SIOC) packaging

Rather than purchasing new boxes, use the桂product�셲 existing packaging to桂ship your items. You can attach the桂shipping labels to桂the桂product rather than pop it桂in桂a桂box.

Reuse old boxes

Reduce, reuse, and桂recycle is桂the桂motto of桂many small businesses looking to桂cut costs. Utilize the桂boxes you receive your product in桂to桂ship orders to桂customers or桂ask for桂box donations from local restaurants, shops, and桂other organizations that are willing to桂offload their supplies.

Use the桂boxes provided by桂your carrier

Major shipping carriers like USPS, UPS, FedEx, and桂DHL all provide free shipping supplies, including boxes, to桂their customers.

If桂you ship regularly with one of桂these carriers, you should qualify for桂their supplies at桂no桂cost.

Lean on桂your ecommerce platform

Many ecommerce platforms, like 붚죕쳔, offer their customers shipping options that help them save on桂shipping costs.

래낌령쓩삣�셲 discounted shipping labels allow our users to桂find the桂lowest possible shipping cost right in桂their control panel. It桂saves time and桂money with automated shipping labels that are convenient and桂easy to桂use.

Measuring Boxes FAQ

Get all your questions answered here about measuring boxes.

Should I桂measure the桂inside or桂the桂outside of桂my桂box?

When you measure a桂box for桂shipping carriers like USPS or桂FedEx, you�셪l measure the桂exterior of桂the桂box so桂they can determine how much space their cargo will need to桂fit your box.

When you�셱e measuring the桂inside of桂the桂box, this will help you determine what products will fit within the桂box itself.

Does box size matter when shipping?

Yes! The size of桂the桂box you use will impact the桂shipping rate you pay. This is桂why you should have an桂accurate understanding of桂the桂size of桂your box so桂you can enter these measurements when paying for桂shipping.

You may be桂able to桂save some money on桂fees rather than just guessing what your box size is桂and桂overpaying.

Does every shipping carrier charge the桂same price for桂a桂box?

No. Each shipping carrier creates its own pricing model based on桂the桂package destination, the桂weight, and桂the桂desired delivery date. This is桂why we桂recommend shopping around for桂the桂best possible rate based on桂your box�셲 measurements.

What is桂LxWxH?

This is桂the桂common equation used to桂determine the桂volume of桂a桂box. Length times width times height will tell you the桂volume of桂a桂package, which many carriers require when paying for桂postage.

Successfully Ship Products with 붚죕쳔

Shipping products is桂the桂foundation of桂how any桂ecommerce company makes money (unless you�셱e only operating on桂digital downloads). To桂improve your bottom line and桂reduce overhead costs, it�셲 essential to桂find ways to桂save money on桂shipping.

Whether you reuse old boxes, ship using your carrier�셲 packaging, or桂utilize cost-saving strategies like 래낌령쓩삣�셲 discounted shipping labels, get creative with how you save money for桂the桂short and桂long term.

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About The Author

Max has been working in the ecommerce industry for the last six years helping brands to establish and level-up content marketing and SEO. Despite that, he has experience with entrepreneurship. He is a fiction writer in his free time.

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