How to calculate the volume of a Cardboard Box?

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, these two factors must be taken into account:

1. Your interior measurements
2. Its external measurements

Why are both measurements always indicated? Because the exterior measurement is what the box occupies in space , it is what it cubes , necessary to calculate the volume of the package when making shipments or on the shelves of a warehouse, for example. And the interior space ? This varies from the outside, depending on the thickness of the cardboard and indicates the useful space available, its real capacity . The same cardboard box with the same dimensions has exact exterior measurements but may have different interior measurements depending on whether it is a single or double channel and its thickness. The measurements of a cardboard box are usually indicated in: Length x Width x Height. The most important thing is to indicate the Height in the last position because the Length and Width do not usually determine, but the height dimension does. To calculate the volume of a cardboard box we multiply the three dimensions :

VOLUME= LENGTH x WIDTH x HEIGHT

It must be taken into account that all measurements must be in the same unit of measurement , that is, that both the length, width, and height are expressed in millimeters, centimeters, meters, etc. and the result will be in that same unit. unit cubed (^3)

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

Normally cm or mm are used as a 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 it in Liters and how do we do this conversion ? In this way – We divide between:

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

Therefore, the rule would be the following:

1,000 cm3 = 1 Liter

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

Let's see 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 decisive when we request a quote from parcel delivery companies.

How much does it cost to ship a cardboard box?

In logistics there are several elements to take into account. Normally the decisive factors are weight and volume, which is invariable for the same item, but each courier agency has a different conversion factor . The lower this conversion factor, the cheaper the shipping will be. To calculate the volumetric or billing weight, the following elements must be taken into account, using the previous example of our 60x40x40 cm box:

1. Measurements : 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 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, 19.2 kg are invoiced (or 20 due to rounding) because it is the greater value. If the box weighed 22 kg, for example, the billable weight would be 22 kg, because it is the largest figure. Although each carrier has its rates, to obtain a shipping price they will all use this formula. I hope this post has been useful to you and now you are clearer about how to calculate the volume of a cardboard box and how much it can cost to ship it.