Opening your page…
Contact Support
Contact Support
Opening your page…
Box size decides how much cushioning fits, how the carton stacks and how much you pay to ship. Here is a repeatable way to pick it.
Measure the item at its widest points, including handles, cords, caps and any retail packaging you plan to keep. Round each measurement up to the next quarter inch. If you ship several items together, arrange them the way they will actually sit in the carton and measure the bundle rather than adding individual sizes.
Write the result as length by width by height. Length is the longest side of the opening, width is the shorter side of the opening and height (often called depth) is the distance from the opening to the bottom. Corrugated boxes are listed in that same order, so keeping the convention avoids ordering a box that is the right volume but the wrong shape.
Shipping box listings describe inside dimensions, the space available to your product. The outside of a single wall box is usually a little larger, and a double wall box larger again. Carriers bill on outside measurements, so a double wall carton with the same inside size can move into a higher dimensional weight bracket.
Allow room for protection. A common starting point is roughly two inches of clearance on every side for fragile items that need cushioning, and a snug fit with minimal clearance for durable goods that only need to be kept from shifting. Neither rule replaces testing: pack one sample, close it and shake it. If you hear or feel movement, the box is too big or the fill is too thin.
Standard regular slotted cartons cover most shipments. Literature mailers suit flat goods such as manuals, apparel and documents because the fold-over design closes without tape across a seam. Mailing tubes protect rolled drawings and posters. Corrugated pads and sheets can divide layers or stiffen a carton that holds flat items.
Regular shipping boxes for general cartons and multi-item orders
Literature mailers for flat items under a few inches thick
Round, square and triangle mailing tubes for rolled goods
Corrugated pads and sheets for layering and reinforcement
Void fill is whatever occupies the space between the product and the box walls. Kraft paper, crinkle paper, bubble rolls, foam and air pillows all do the job differently. Paper is easy to stock and works well for blocking and bracing. Bubble and foam cushion fragile surfaces. Decide which you will use, because it affects how much clearance the box needs.
Avoid overfilling. A carton that bulges does not stack well and can split at the seams. A carton that is underfilled can crush in a stack because the walls have nothing behind them.
Most small shipping operations can cover the majority of orders with a handful of sizes. Review the last few months of shipments, group them by product size and pick the smallest set of boxes that fits each group with sensible clearance. Fewer sizes means simpler ordering, less shelf space and fewer packing mistakes.
Once you have a list, save it in Biz Supply as a reorder list so the same item numbers are ready the next time stock runs low.
Size is only half of the decision. The box also needs enough stacking strength for the weight inside and the way it will travel. The companion guide on ECT and burst strength explains how to read the certificate printed on the box flap.
Parcel carriers commonly bill the greater of actual weight and dimensional weight, which is calculated from the outside length, width and height of the box. A light product in an oversized carton can cost more to ship than a heavier product in a snug one. That is the main financial reason to keep a range of box sizes rather than one generous carton for everything.
When you compare two candidate boxes, calculate the outside volume of each. If a slightly smaller box still leaves room for proper cushioning, it is usually the better choice. If the product is heavy and dense, actual weight will drive the cost anyway, and strength becomes the more important decision.
Biz Supply calculates shipping on its own orders automatically at checkout. The point here is your outgoing shipments: the boxes you buy from us shape what you pay your carrier.
Flat corrugated takes moisture from the air. Store bundles flat, off the floor and away from exterior doors and damp walls, and rotate older stock forward. Boxes that have absorbed moisture lose stacking strength and do not fold cleanly. Keep each size labeled on the shelf with its item number so restocking is a quick check rather than a search.
Measure your five most common shipments and note the inside dimensions you need.
Filter Standard Shipping Boxes by dimensions and compare candidates side by side.
Save the final sizes to a list so reorders take one step.
Enable JavaScript for cart, account and checkout tools.