Blog
Practical, plain-language articles on sizing boxes and shipping them for less. Each one links to the calculator that does the math.
Shipping costs
- How to calculate dimensional weight
Step-by-step guide to calculating dimensional weight for UPS, FedEx and USPS, with worked examples, rounding rules and ways to lower it.
- Length plus girth explained
What length plus girth means, how to calculate it, typical UPS, FedEx and USPS limits, and how to keep packages under oversize thresholds.
- USPS cubic pricing explained
How USPS cubic pricing works, how tiers are calculated from rounded-down dimensions, eligibility, and which packages benefit most.
- How right-sized boxes reduce shipping costs
How oversized boxes raise dimensional weight, fill and labor costs, how to calculate savings from right-sizing, and when custom boxes pay off.
Box sizing
- What size box do I need?
A practical method for choosing the right box size for any product: measure, add cushioning, account for board thickness, and check shipping cost.
- How to measure a package for shipping
How carriers measure packages, which side is length, how rounding works and how to avoid surprise adjustments on your shipping invoice.
- How to choose the right mailer box size
How to size a mailer box for e-commerce and subscription products: measuring, clearance, inserts, depth limits and stock vs custom sizes.
Volume
- How to calculate the cubic feet of a box
Learn how to calculate the cubic feet of a box from inches, centimeters or feet, with examples and the conversions you'll need for shipping.
Freight
- How to calculate CBM for shipping
How to calculate CBM for sea and air freight from centimeters, meters or inches, with examples and how CBM relates to container capacity.
- How to determine freight class
How LTL freight class works, how to calculate density, the density-to-class table, and how to avoid costly reclassification.
- 20 ft vs 40 ft container: how many cartons fit?
Compare 20 ft, 40 ft and 40 ft high cube containers: inside dimensions, usable CBM, payload, and how to estimate how many cartons fit.
- Air freight chargeable weight explained
How air freight chargeable weight works, volumetric weight with the 6000 and 5000 divisors, worked examples and tips to reduce costs.
Pallets
- How many boxes fit on a pallet?
How to calculate boxes per pallet: boxes per layer, number of layers, height and weight limits, with examples on 48 × 40 and EUR pallets.
- How many pallets fit in a 53 ft trailer?
How many standard pallets fit in a 53 ft trailer, straight vs turned loading, double stacking, and the weight limits that cap a full load.
Box strength
- Box compression strength and the McKee formula
What box compression strength (BCT) means, how the McKee formula estimates it from ECT and board caliper, and how to apply safety factors.
Packing materials
- How much void fill do I need?
How to calculate how much void fill a box needs, compare peanuts, paper and air pillows, and cut fill by choosing a better box size.
- How much bubble wrap do I need?
How to estimate bubble wrap per item and per roll, how many layers to use, bubble sizes and how wrapping changes the box size you need.
- How much packing tape per box?
How much packing tape a box needs with a single strip or H-tape method, tape widths and grades, and how to estimate rolls for an order.
Moving
- How many moving boxes do I need?
Estimate how many moving boxes you need by home size, which box sizes to use for what, and how much tape and packing supplies to buy.
Materials
- GSM vs lb: paper weight explained
Why US paper weights in pounds are confusing, how GSM compares, conversion factors for text, cover and bond, and when caliper matters more.