The most common mistake in box orders is dimension confusion. The customer gives the size of their product, the manufacturer takes it as the outer size of the box, and the product does not fit. This article explains how to specify dimensions correctly.
Inner size or outer size?
In the packaging industry we always talk about the inner size. The inner size is the cavity your product will sit in. The outer size adds board thickness and folding allowances; it is usually 2–4 mm larger than the inner size.
When you give us dimensions, "my product is 8 × 4 × 12 cm" is enough. We calculate the outer size and the dieline.
Dimension order: Width × Height × Depth
The standard notation is:
- Width: the distance from left to right when you look at the box from the front
- Height: the distance from bottom to top
- Depth: the thickness of the box, front to back
For example, a tall, slim serum box might be 5 × 15 × 5 cm. Giving the dimensions in this order prevents confusion.
Leave a tolerance
Your product should not fit like a vice. Otherwise it is hard to insert, the box bulges and the shelf appearance suffers. General rule:
- 1–2 mm clearance per side for rigid items such as boxes and bottles
- 3–5 mm for flexible items such as pouches and fabric
- If a divider or foam insert goes inside, account for its thickness too
Points to watch when measuring the product
Include protrusions such as bottle caps, pump heads or raised labels. The most common error is measuring only the body, with the cap left out.
If you are not sure
Send us your product dimensions and we will recommend the right box size, board weight and structure. Before production you can test the fit with a physical sample.
Ready?
See your box price
right now.
Enter the dimensions; the dieline, 3D preview and your estimate appear on screen in seconds.
Calculate Price →
