Shipping box sizes chart
Common stock shipping boxes run from 6 × 6 × 6 in to 24 × 24 × 24 in, with 12 × 12 × 12, 16 × 12 × 12 and 18 × 18 × 18 in among the most used; export cartons are often 40 × 30 × 20 cm or 60 × 40 × 40 cm so they fit EUR pallets. Box sizes are written length × width × depth, measured inside.
How box sizes are written
A box size is usually given as length × width × depth (height) of the inside, in that order. Length and width are the sides of the opening, length being the longer; depth is the distance from the opening to the bottom. A 12 × 10 × 8 in box therefore opens 12 × 10 in and is 8 in deep.
How to measure a box
- Measure the inside, from wall to wall, along the longer side of the opening: that is the length.
- Measure the shorter side of the opening: the width.
- Measure from the bottom to the top of the side wall: the depth.
- For shipping costs, measure the outside of the packed box, including bulges, and round up as your carrier does.
Outside dimensions are larger than inside by about two board thicknesses: roughly 1/4 in (6 mm) for single wall and 1/2 in (12 mm) for double wall.
Standard box sizes in inches
| Box (in) | Cubic feet | DIM weight at 139 | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6 × 6 × 6 | 0.12 | 1.6 lb | Small parts, cosmetics |
| 8 × 6 × 4 | 0.11 | 1.4 lb | Accessories, small electronics |
| 10 × 8 × 6 | 0.28 | 3.5 lb | Shoes, small kitchenware |
| 12 × 10 × 8 | 0.56 | 6.9 lb | Books, small appliances |
| 12 × 12 × 12 | 1 | 12.4 lb | Cube for mixed items |
| 14 × 14 × 14 | 1.59 | 19.7 lb | Larger cube |
| 16 × 12 × 8 | 0.89 | 11.1 lb | Files, flat goods |
| 16 × 12 × 12 | 1.33 | 16.6 lb | General e-commerce |
| 18 × 12 × 12 | 1.5 | 18.6 lb | Clothing, bedding |
| 18 × 18 × 18 | 3.38 | 42 lb | Bulky light goods |
| 20 × 20 × 20 | 4.63 | 57.6 lb | Large light goods |
| 24 × 18 × 18 | 4.5 | 55.9 lb | Moving and storage |
| 24 × 24 × 24 | 8 | 99.5 lb | Largest stock cube |
Standard export carton sizes in cm
Export cartons are often sized to divide the 1200 × 800 mm EUR pallet or the 1200 × 1000 mm UK pallet exactly.
| Carton (cm) | CBM | Per EUR pallet layer | Per EUR pallet to 160 cm |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 × 20 × 15 | 0.009 | 16 | 144 |
| 40 × 30 × 20 | 0.024 | 8 | 56 |
| 40 × 30 × 30 | 0.036 | 8 | 32 |
| 50 × 40 × 30 | 0.06 | 4 | 16 |
| 60 × 40 × 40 | 0.096 | 4 | 12 |
| 60 × 40 × 30 | 0.072 | 4 | 16 |
Carrier size limits
Parcel networks cap size and weight. As a rough guide, UPS and FedEx parcel services accept up to 150 lb and 165 in of length plus girth (girth = 2 × width + 2 × height), and USPS generally up to 70 lb and 108 in (130 in for Ground Advantage). Oversize boxes pay surcharges well before those limits; check your carrier's current rules.
Choosing the right size
- Leave about 2 in (5 cm) of cushioning around fragile items, less for robust ones.
- Prefer a stock size that fits snugly over a big box with void fill.
- For freight, pick a size whose multiples fill your pallet; see export carton dimensions.
- Check the box strength for the weight and stacking; see ECT vs Mullen.
Tools used in this guide
Related guides
Common questions
What are standard shipping box sizes?
Common stock sizes include 6 × 6 × 6, 8 × 6 × 4, 10 × 8 × 6, 12 × 10 × 8, 12 × 12 × 12, 16 × 12 × 12, 18 × 18 × 18 and 24 × 18 × 18 inches. Export cartons are often 40 × 30 × 20 cm or 60 × 40 × 40 cm.
How do you measure a box size?
Measure the inside: length (longer side of the opening) × width (shorter side) × depth (bottom to top). For shipping charges, measure the outside instead.
Which number is the height on a box size?
The last one. Box sizes are written length × width × depth, and depth is the height.
What is the most common shipping box size?
There is no single one, but 12 × 12 × 12 in and 16 × 12 × 12 in are among the most stocked sizes in the US; 40 × 30 × 20 cm and 60 × 40 × 40 cm are common export cartons.
How do box dimensions affect shipping cost?
Carriers bill the higher of actual and dimensional weight, which is the outside volume divided by a divisor such as 139. A 1 in smaller box can save a noticeable amount on light goods.