Packing Material Calculator

Estimate cartons, tape, and cushioning in seconds from the number of boxes and one box size.

Work in metric or imperial units, and keep box style, sealing pattern, and fill assumptions visible.

Estimate box count, corrugated area, tape length, and cushioning volume together Accepts cm and in workflows with secondary-unit readouts Switches box style, sealing pattern, and cushioning profile Restores the same setup by share URL

What this tool covers

Shows required boxes and recommended order quantity with a spare rate.

Estimates total corrugated area and per-box board usage from one box size.

Estimates tape length from the sealing pattern, overlap, and tape waste allowance.

Estimates cushioning volume and converts it into pack equivalents.

How to use

Enter the number of boxes and the box length, width, and height.
Open settings if you need to change box style, sealing pattern, or cushioning profile.
Review required boxes, corrugated area, tape length, and cushioning volume.
Copy the result or share the exact setup by URL.

Examples

Metric standard packing

Input

120 boxes, 30 × 22 × 12 cm, box style RSC, sealing pattern H-seal, cushioning profile standard

Output

Boxes required 120, recommended 123, corrugated area 34.9 m², tape 257.1 m (6 rolls at 50 m), cushioning 149.7 L (2 packs at 100 L)

Imperial input for shared planning

Input

250 boxes, 16 × 12 × 10 in, box style RSC, sealing pattern H-seal, cushioning profile standard

Output

Recommended 255, corrugated area 1858.5 ft² (172.7 m²), tape 741.2 yd, cushioning 43.75 ft³

Glossary

RSC

Regular slotted carton, the common corrugated shipping box style.

H-seal

A sealing pattern that tapes the center seam and both side seams on top and bottom.

Fill ratio

The share of box volume assumed to be filled with cushioning or void fill.

Corrugated area

Estimated board usage derived from box surface area, style factor, and waste allowance.

Formulas

Surface area = 2 × (L×W + L×H + W×H)
Corrugated area = Surface area × box style factor × (1 + waste rate)
Tape length = (base sealing run + strip count × overlap) × (1 + tape waste rate)
Cushioning volume = Box volume × fill ratio × (1 + cushioning waste rate)

FAQ

What does box count mean here?

It is the actual number of boxes you will pack. If one shipment uses two boxes, count that as 2.

Should I enter inner dimensions or outer dimensions?

This first version assumes finished outer dimensions as an approximation. If you only know inner dimensions, the board estimate is still usable, but cushioning can shift more.

Why is the cushioning amount only an estimate?

Because the tool does not know the product shape, occupied volume, fragility, or insert design. Switch between compact, standard, fragile, or custom fill assumptions as needed.

Why can tape length differ from the warehouse floor?

Differences come from sealing method, overlap, rework, dispenser handling, and local practice. Adjust sealing pattern, overlap, and tape waste rate to match your operation.

Does this calculate material cost or freight too?

No. This page is intentionally limited to quantity and usage estimates for packing materials.

Notice

Results are estimates. Box construction, board thickness, sealing habits, occupied volume, and handling loss can change the actual numbers.
The tool does not include product dimensions, inserts, double-boxing, bags, stretch film, or label stock.
Confirm final purchasing quantities against warehouse history or supplier specs before ordering.