Any Size Any Shape Packaging – A Step-by-Step Guide

At ALP our aim is to demystify packaging and make it accessible and affordable to everyone. We felt that the easiest way to do that was to start with the principle that all packaging initially starts as a flat piece of paper and take it from there.  Simple!  
Whilst we have a couple of excellent videos showing how to measure your product and also how to determine the flat size of an existing box, this is a little step-by-step guide.

1. Know your paper sizes

In general, most of the packaging that we print fits on to one of these three sheet sizes:-

SRA3 – 450 x 320mm (A3)

SRA4 – 320 x 225mm (A4)

SRA5 – 225 x 160mm (A5)

2. Know how to measure your product

We don’t expect you to design a box for your product – that’s what we’re here for.  What we do need you to do is to measure the product that you want to put in a box, and the first lesson is that everything has three dimensions – Height, Width/Depth, Length.  Once we know these dimensions we can calculate the size of box you will need, incorporating glue tabs and a bit of capacity.

For example:-

Let's assume this product has the following diemsions - H 80mm, L 30mm, D 75mm

3. What we do with your measurements

Using those dimensions we would create a box similar in size to the example below.

Based on this scenario the flat area measures 224mm high x 425mm wide which means it will fit once an SRA3 sheet.

4. If in doubt, get in touch!

We have our own design studio and designers on hand to help you get the packaging product you want.  You can email them directly using studio@alp-group.co.uk or call us and ask for assistance. It's what we're here for ☺