Length Width Height Dimensions: A Comprehensive Review

Measuring the right dimensions of every object requires the basic understanding of the length width height formula. The spatial characteristics of every physical object can be determined by its length, width, and height. It especially applies to the packaging boxes and bags to get the right one. Read this blog for a better understanding of length x width x height!

Importance of Dimensions

The importance of dimensions can’t be overstated when it comes to determining the shapes and sizes of objects. Length, width, and height are three of the most important aspects of dimensions. They combine to create volumes of the objects.

For shapes like a square, a rectangle, the length, width, and height are enough to calculate all dimensions of the objects. However, other shapes may require additional factors as well to measure dimensions accurately.

In the packaging industry, the significance of dimensions even increases. The reason is that they determine the sizes of the boxes and bags to perfectly pack products inside.

Overview of Length x Width x Height

The Length x Width x Height formula calculates the cubic size of every physical object. However, the length width height formula is commonly used to measure the dimensions of boxes and bags. It is an important part of custom packaging. 

The packaging industry relies on the length, width and height to ensure a snug fit for products in a box or bag. Most square and rectangle boxes are measured using the Length x Width x Height formula. The shapes of boxes could be different, like horizontal or vertical, but the formula will be the same to measure the cubic size and the dimensional weight. 

Order of Length Width Height

The standard order to measure a box’s dimensions is Length x Width x Height. However, the length width height measurement order sometimes depends whether the box is horizontal or vertical.

• Height Width Length Order

The height, width, and length dimensions can vary depending on what type of product packaging you want to measure. Every brand has a different size guide, and follows the measuring techniques accordingly. They measure height first, followed by width and Length. This order is often used for vertical boxes.

• Height Length Width Order

Height, length and width order is followed for the object or box in a horizontal shape. You can start measuring the height first, and then the length and width. The order could be different, but the formula will apply in the same way to calculate the cubic size and dimensional weight.

• Length Height Width Order

If you see the box from the side view, you will follow Length Height Width order. Look at the box from its front panel and turn it to 90 degrees. Now start measuring the length, which is usually smaller than the height and width. 

Length Vs Width

If we talk about cubes and rectangular prisms, length and width are at right angles to each other. From the front, both these dimensions combine to give a two-dimensional image to objects. The length and width of product boxes decide how long and wide products can be packed inside the packaging boxes.

Width Vs Height

Width and height are also at right angles to each other. However, the front view hides the height of a cuboid or rectangular prism box. These dimensions combine to decide the depth and width of items that can be accommodated in the packaging boxes.

Height vs Length

Like width vs height, length also shadows the height of a cube from the front view. Dimensions of products from left to right and front to back are determined by the height and length of the packaging boxes.

Difference Between Length Width Height

Let’s take an example of a cereal box to understand the difference between length, width, and height. Look at the box from the front side. The top to bottom, tallest part of the cereal box is its height. Keep the box straight and measure from the right to the left, it is its width.

Turn the box at 90 degrees and see the side panel. The side panel of a cereal box is approximately 2”, it is its depth or length. The difference between length, width, and height lies in how tall or wide these parts are. For example, a standard cereal box is 12 inches in height, 7.5 inches in length, and 2 inches in width.

Tips to Measure Length Width Height of a Box Correctly

You need to make a checklist of things you need to measure the box’s dimensions. Get supplies ready like measuring tape, a small ruler, and a notepad to write the dimensions to measure the box. Start measuring from the tallest side, from top to bottom, to measure the height of a box. Then move to the width and length respectively. Use a small ruler to measure small mailer boxes and a large yard stick for large boxes. 

Tools for Measuring Length, Width, and Height

Measuring boxes accurately is essential when it comes to the snug fitting of products inside. To do so, you need accurate tools that help you create boxes of perfect length, width, and height. Some tools you can leverage to measure the dimensions of your packaging boxes are listed here:

• A caliper to measure thickness.
• Rulers to measure length, width, and height separately.
• Flexible measuring tapes to measure the perimeter of the boxes.

How to Measure the Volume of a Box?

It is important to measure the volume or cubic size of a box to calculate the right dimensional weight, helping brands with shipping products without any hassle. To calculate the volume of a box, you need to take the three dimensions of the box, length, width, and height. The formula to calculate volume is as follows:

Volume = Length x Width x Height

For example, a standard shipping box has 16” length, 12” width, and 12’ in depth/height. The above formula will be applied accordingly (Volume = 16 x 12 x 12). You will know that a standard shipping box’s volume will be 2,304 cubic inches.