How to Measure a Box for Shipping: 6 Best Practices
Measuring a box for shipping might seem like a fairly straightforward process, but you’d be surprised at some of the obstacles people encounter. If you’re a business or individual new to shipping products, it is important to learn the basics of how to measure a box. This way, you will avoid wasting time or making needless mistakes.
Below is a tutorial guide on how to measure a box for shipping. Follow these instructions on how to measure a box, determine the cubic size, and some other information to keep in mind before shipping your product out into the world.
1. Know the box dimensions
Before you measure a box for shipping, it is important to keep in mind that boxes are typically measured using the inside dimensions. The reasoning behind this is that it allows the buying party to know right away whether or not their products will fit inside.
Conversely, when measuring a box to be sent off with a carrier like UPS or FedEx, it is the outside dimensions that matter. The reasoning here being that by using the outside dimensions, the carrier will be able to quickly and accurately figure out the space required for each package.
It is important to note that the exact same item will come with two sets of dimensions, either referring to the inside or outside of the box in question.
2. How to measure a box for shipping
When it comes to measuring a box for shipping, it is the outside dimensions that you should be worried about. To actually measure the box itself, you should always begin by measuring the length of the box. This is the long side of the box on the side of the longest flap.
After that, you’ll want to rotate the box 90 degrees and measure the width, which is the side with the shorter flap. Finally, measure the height of the package. This will be measured showing the flaps closed, from top to bottom. In summary, that’s long side, short side, then height.
3. Dimensional weight and shipping your package
Once you’ve got the basic measurement accounted for, another important measurement to note before shipping your package is dimension weight. Knowing the dimensional weight of a box is how you’ll factor out the weight of the box. This will help you calculate how much you’ll ultimately be paying to ship the package.
You can calculate this by determining the cubic size of the box, multiplying the length by the width by the height. Then you’ll take that number and if it’s greater than 1,728 inches, which is the equivalent of 1 cubic foot, you’ll divide that by each shipping carrier’s divisor. What is the shipping carrier’s divisor you ask? Well that depends.
4. Shipping rules vary from company to company
According to who you’re shipping with, costs will vary. Be warned that it can also mean a significant difference, so it important to do your research in advance. Generally speaking though, costs are based on both the size of the box and where the package is being shipped to.
In most cases, shipping companies will charge you shipping costs based on the cubic size of the package based on the destination. It is important that these numbers are exact though, when it comes to dimensional weight you don’t want to round up or down at all.
5. Know the costs of shipping
You might run into some confusion around pricing due to the fact that some companies will either charge according to the dimensional weight of the box or the actual weight, whichever is greater. As you’ve likely surmised, this is a tactic employed in order to maximize their profits.
As the shipper, it’s critical that you have the right sized shipping boxes for your product. If you’ve got a lot of leftover space, if it quite likely that you’ll end up being overcharged for your shipment. In the event that you’re ordering a standard or custom corrugated box, you need to determine the size for your product to the nearest inch.
6. The right box size keeps your items safe
To elaborate on the point made above, matching your product size to the right box size will not only save you money on shipping costs, but it will also ensure a snug and safe journey.
When dealing with a fragile product, it is vital that you pack the item precisely and leave little to no wiggle room. If you need packing material to ensure your package arrives safely to your customer, consider adding 1-2 inches on each side of your box measurements. This will help guarantee the box has room for packing material.
