Packaging Tape Calculator

What is the Packaging Tape Calculator?

Tape is cheap per box but adds up over thousands of cartons. The packaging tape calculator works out the tape per box for an I-tape (centre strip only) or H-tape (centre plus edges) seal on the top and bottom, then the rolls you need.

For heavier export cartons, H-tape is recommended. For other packing materials, see the Packaging Material Calculator. All calculators accept centimetres, inches or millimetres and kilograms or pounds, so you can use the units on your supplier's spec sheet.

How to use the Packaging Tape Calculator

1. Enter the box dimensions and quantity.
2. Choose I-tape or H-tape.
3. Enter the tape overhang and roll length.
4. Read tape per box and rolls needed.

Formula

I-tape (top + bottom) = 2 × (L + 2 × overhang) · H-tape adds 4 × (W + 2 × overhang)

Example

A 40 × 30 × 30 cm box with 7 cm overhang uses 1.08 m with I-tape and 2.88 m with H-tape. 1,000 boxes with H-tape need about 44 rolls of 66 m.

Tape tips

• Use 48 mm tape for most cartons and 72 mm for heavy ones.
• Let tape run 5–7 cm down each side.
• Press tape firmly so it bonds to recycled board.
• Printed tape can show your brand and act as tamper evidence.

Related packaging and shipping tools

Packaging decisions are connected: the box size sets the volumetric weight, which sets the courier bill, and the carton size decides how many fit on a pallet or in a container. These related calculators help with the next step:

• Bubble wrap calculator: metres and rolls needed.
• Stretch film calculator: machine film per pallet.
• Pallet wrap calculator: hand wrap per pallet.
• Shrink wrap calculator: film size and rolls.
• Packaging material calculator: board, tape and void fill.

Frequently asked questions