Free packaging box calculator

Box Size & Container Selection Calculator

Find how many products fit in a box, crate, or rectangular container. Compare volumetric efficiency, product and packed weight, payload usage, remaining capacity, and the calculated arrangement in interactive 3D using the same Container Selection engine as KolliPack.

Use the calculator Open Container Selection
No account required Shared engineering engine Interactive RSC box PDF report

Product packing interpretation

Usable internal dimensions define capacity. Orientation permissions control which original product dimension may be vertical.

Interactive calculator

Calculate product-to-box capacity

Enter rectangular product and usable internal container dimensions in millimetres. Add product quantity, product weight, packaging tare, and maximum payload for a fuller capacity check.

Live example loaded — edit any value to calculate your own box.

Product 180 × 120 × 80 mm in a 600 × 400 × 320 mm RSC-style box. The visible metrics and 3D placement were generated by the real shared Container Selection calculation path.

One shared implementation. This public calculator and standalone Container Selection use the same form, validation, solver, result metrics, Three.js scene and viewer, public catalogue rules, Top-5 ranking, and snapshot-backed PDF path. Packaging Flow consumes the same prefixed components.

How to use this tool Modes, rotation restrictions, result interpretation, and good input practices.

What the tool does

The Container Selection Tool checks how many identical products fit inside a rectangular packaging item such as a box, crate, container, or trailer.

How to use the modes

Single mode tests one selected packaging item.

Optimal mode searches a packaging catalogue and ranks suitable options for the required quantity.

Single: Product + 1 packaging → result Optimal: Product + qty + catalogue → Top 5
  • Use Single mode when you already know which packaging to test.
  • Use Optimal mode when you want the tool to recommend candidates.
  • In Optimal mode, select a Top 5 candidate to generate the 3D view.

Rotation restrictions

Rotation permissions define which original product dimension may be placed vertically during packing. Disable a rotation if the product cannot safely be placed in that orientation.

R1
Length vertical R2
Width vertical R3
Height vertical

Interpreting results

The 3D image is a decision-support representation of the packing logic. Physical validation is still recommended for critical packaging decisions.

Max qty
Maximum units that fit Efficiency
Used product volume Total weight
Product load + packaging weight Payload usage
Product load vs. max payload Remaining capacity
Extra units that could fit
Use internal packaging dimensions for fit calculations. Dimensions are expected in millimetres and weights in grams. A high volumetric efficiency is useful, but the final choice may also depend on protection, handling, branding, transport, and quality requirements.
Product
Manual dimensions or product catalogue selection.
Design calculates internal dimensions; Single and Optimal evaluate existing containers.
Product shape affects the 3D visualization only. Packing calculations use the entered rectangular bounding dimensions.
Base product unit
Restriction means which original product dimension may be placed vertically.
Container
Manual dimensions in mm or catalogue selection from BOX, CRATE, CONTAINER, or TRAILER types.
Packaging weight and max payload are optional. They are used only for the weight and payload report.

3D rendering is generated only after selecting one Top 5 candidate.

Used only to calculate the carton's external dimensions. Blank uses the 4 mm default assumption.
Internal length, width, and height are calculated outputs in Design Mode.
Result
Packing preview with compact capacity summary.
Packing result
Max qty
40 pcs
Efficiency
90%
Total weight
19 kg
Interactive 3D result
Detailed analysis capacity, efficiency, weight and payload
Internal dimensions 600 × 400 × 320 mm
External dimensions 608 × 408 × 336 mm
Box thickness 4 mm
Current quantity 40 pcs
Volumetric efficiency — current 90%
Max quantity 40 pcs
Volumetric efficiency — max quantity 90%
Net weight 18 kg
Total weight — current 19 kg
Payload usage 90%
Remaining capacity 0 pcs
External dimensions estimated using an assumed 4 mm box thickness because no thickness was provided.
How to use it

Three steps to evaluate a packaging box

Use real product bounding dimensions and the packaging's usable internal dimensions, not its external shipping dimensions.

1

Describe the product

Enter product length, width, height, quantity, and unit weight. Choose a public catalogue item when available or keep the manual path.

2

Enter the container

Provide usable internal length, width, and height. Packaging weight and maximum payload enable the packed-weight checks.

3

Calculate and inspect

Review capacity and efficiency, rotate or pan the 3D scene, use fixed camera views, hide the box shell when useful, and export the current view to PDF.

Orientation restrictions

Control which product dimension may be vertical

The restriction applies throughout the shared calculation, including leftover regions. Enable only orientations the product, closure, labels, liquids, components, or handling process permit.

R1

Length vertical

The original product length may become the vertical dimension.

R2

Width vertical

The original product width may become the vertical dimension.

R3

Height vertical

The original product height may remain or become the vertical dimension.

Calculator outputs

Interpret quantity, efficiency, weight, and payload

Geometry and payload are separate constraints. A box can have adequate volume while exceeding its safe load limit.

Quantity and remaining capacity

Maximum quantity is the calculated capacity for the allowed orientations. Remaining capacity shows the difference from the current quantity used by the selected analysis mode.

Volumetric efficiency

Current and maximum efficiency compare packed product volume with usable internal container volume. The packing heuristic can also reuse suitable leftover rectangular regions.

Weight and payload

Net product weight plus packaging tare gives current total weight. Maximum payload enables payload usage; validate the real box strength separately.

Continue the packaging flow

Box capacity is one decision. Continue with palletization and transport loading, or evaluate a flexible bag when that packaging format is more suitable.

KolliPack Full Packaging Flow Palletization Calculator Bag Size Calculator Transport Container Loading Carton selection basics 3D box selection article
Frequently asked questions

Box size calculator FAQ

How many products fit in a box?
Enter the product and usable internal box dimensions, then select every permitted vertical orientation. The calculator evaluates the shared KolliPack packing engine and reports maximum capacity.
Which box dimensions should I use?
Use usable internal length, width, and height in millimetres. External dimensions are relevant later for palletization and transport but do not describe the product space inside the box.
What do R1, R2, and R3 mean?
R1 permits the original product length to be vertical, R2 permits width to be vertical, and R3 permits height to be vertical. Disable any orientation that handling or product rules prohibit.
What is volumetric efficiency?
It compares the volume occupied by the packed products with the usable internal container volume. Weight and payload are evaluated separately because a geometric fit can still exceed a safe load limit.
Does the result replace a packaging trial?
No. Confirm clearances, material strength, cushioning, compression, handling, closure, and product protection with the real product and packaging.

Continue the engineering analysis in KolliPack

Use catalogue-based Container Selection, compare Top-5 alternatives, and carry the selected packaging into palletization and transport through Full Packaging Flow.

Open Container SelectionOpen Packaging Flow