How to Measure a Box for a Quote: Internal Length, Width and Height

How to measure an existing box

Use a steel tape or ruler, measure to the nearest millimetre, and take every measurement inside the box.

1. Open the box and measure inside it, not outside: the board adds its thickness on every side.
2. Measure the longer side of the opening. That is the length (L).
3. Measure the shorter side of the opening. That is the width (W).
4. Measure from the opening down to the base. That is the height (H), sometimes called the depth.
5. Write it as L × W × H in millimetres, for example 300 × 230 × 300 mm.
6. Look at the cut edge of the board: one wavy layer is single wall, two wavy layers is double wall.

When there is no box yet

Measure the product at its widest points and add room for any wrapping, inserts or dividers. Tell the manufacturer what the product weighs, how the boxes will be stacked and how they ship, because the allowance and the board grade follow from that.

If you are replacing a box, send the one you have. Timepack will measure it, match it and confirm the board before you commit to anything, and a physical sample can be supplied before production.

How thick is corrugated board?

The thickness of corrugated board comes from its flute, the wave between the liners. Nominal thicknesses for the standard flutes are about 1.6 mm for E-flute, 3.2 mm for B-flute and 4.0 mm for C-flute; BC double wall bonds a B and a C flute together and is thicker again. That thickness is why an internal and an external measurement of the same box differ.

Flutes at a glance

Flute	Nominal thickness	Typical use
E-flute	About 1.6 mm	Retail, display and mailer boxes; the best print surface
B-flute	About 3.2 mm	General transit; crush-resistant, die-cuts cleanly
C-flute	About 4.0 mm	Shipping cartons that need cushioning and stacking strength
BC double wall	B and C flute together	Heavy contents and high stacks

Box styles and FEFCO codes

Box styles are named by the FEFCO code, the internationally applied system for corrugated packaging design, developed by FEFCO and adopted by the International Corrugated Case Association. Giving the code with your dimensions removes any doubt about the style. The regular slotted container, the common shipping carton whose flaps are all the same length, is FEFCO 0201.

Timepack manufactures regular slotted cartons, die-cut boxes, telescope boxes with a separate lid and base, and folder and tray styles, and quotes from FEFCO codes and dimensions.

What else a quote needs

To quote accurately we need the box style, internal dimensions (L × W × H in mm), quantity per order, board grade preference, printing requirements and your delivery address.

Quantity is per order: a minimum is set by the area of board the run uses, so it converts to a different number of boxes for every size.

Frequently asked questions

Are box dimensions internal or external?

Corrugated boxes are usually specified and ordered by internal dimensions, because those are what the product has to fit. Timepack quotes to internal length × width × height in millimetres.

Which side of a box is the length?

The length is the longer side of the opening, the width is the shorter side of the opening, and the height is the depth from the opening to the base.

What is a FEFCO code?

A code number from the FEFCO code, the internationally applied system for corrugated box designs. The regular slotted container, the standard shipping carton, is FEFCO 0201.

How thick is corrugated cardboard?

It depends on the flute: nominally about 1.6 mm for E-flute, 3.2 mm for B-flute and 4.0 mm for C-flute. Double wall board combines two flutes and is thicker again.

Sources

• Corrugated box design — boxes are specified by internal dimensions; the RSC is FEFCO 0201
• The FEFCO code for corrugated box designs
• Corrugated fiberboard — standard flute thicknesses

Also from Timepack

Tell us what you need made

Send us the size, the quantity and what has to go inside it. We will come back with a spec and a price.