How to Calculate the Volume of a Cardboard Box: Includes Calculator

We explain with examples how to calculate the volume of a cardboard box, obtaining the result in both cm3 and liters.

How to calculate the volume in cm³ of a box?

To find out the volume of a cardboard box, you need to take these two factors into account:

1. Its interior dimensions
2. Its external dimensions

Why are both measurements always given? Because the exterior dimensions represent the space the box occupies , its cubic capacity, which is necessary to calculate the package's volume when shipping or storing it on warehouse shelves, for example. And the interior dimensions ? This varies from the exterior dimensions, depending on the cardboard's thickness, and indicates the usable space available, its actual capacity . The same cardboard box with the same dimensions has exact exterior measurements but can have different interior dimensions depending on whether it's single-wall, double-wall, or thick. The dimensions of a cardboard box are usually given as: Length x Width x Height. It's most important to list the Height last, as the Length and Width don't usually affect the volume, but the Height does. To calculate the volume of a cardboard box, we multiply the three dimensions :

VOLUME = LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT

It is important to note that all measurements must be in the same unit of measurement ; that is, length, width, and height must be expressed in millimeters, centimeters, meters, etc., and the result will be in that same unit cubed (^3).

VOLUME (cm3) = LENGTH (cm) x WIDTH (cm) x HEIGHT (cm)

Normally, cm or mm are used as the unit when calculating the measurements of a cardboard box.

How to calculate the volume in LITERS for a cardboard box?

However, when we talk about the volume of a cardboard box, we usually do so in liters , and how do we do this conversion ? Like this – We divide by:

• 1,000 if we want to convert from Centimeters to Liters
• 100,000 if what we want is to convert Millimeters to Liters

Therefore, the rule would be as follows:

1,000 cm3 = 1 Liter

Length (cms) x Width (cms) x Height (cms) = VOLUME (cm3) / 1000 = X (Liters)

Let's look at an example with our 60x40x40 cm cardboard moving box :

60 cm x 40 cm x 40 cm = 96,000 cm3 /1000 = 96 Liters

This information is very important to know the space it occupies when stored or transported and is crucial when requesting quotes from parcel companies.

How much does it cost to ship a cardboard box?

In logistics, several elements must be considered. Weight and volume are usually the deciding factors, and while volume remains constant for the same item, each courier service uses a different conversion factor . The lower this conversion factor, the cheaper the shipping. To calculate the volumetric or billing weight , the following elements must be considered, using the previous example of our 60x40x40 cm box:

1. Dimensions : 60x40x40 cm
2. Weight : 5 kg (we assume it weighs 5 kg)
3. Conversion factor : 200 (given by the transport company)
4. Volumetric weight : X (let's solve for it)

Operation :

0.60 x 0.40 x 0.40 x 200 = 19.2 Kg (volumetric weight)

Since the actual weight is 5 kg and the volumetric weight is 19.2 kg, the billed weight is 19.2 kg (or 20 kg for rounding) because it's the larger value. If the box weighed 22 kg, for example, the billable weight would be 22 kg, because that's the larger value. Although each carrier has its own rates, they all use this formula to calculate a shipping price. I hope this post has been helpful and that you now have a clearer understanding of how to calculate the volume of a cardboard box and how much it might cost to ship it.