Gift Wrap Size Calculator
One direction has to travel all the way around the box, so it is (width + height) × 2 plus the overlap — 59 cm for a 20 × 8 cm cross-section. The other direction is the depth plus enough to fold over each end, about three quarters of the height on each side, so depth plus 1.5 × height: 30 cm. Those two numbers are the sheet to cut.
Your numbers
Paper width
59cm
Paper length
30cm
Formula
Paper width = 2 × (Box width + Box height) + Overhang per side, Paper length = Box depth + 1.5 × Box height + Overhang per side
Wrapping paper comes on rolls of fixed width, usually around 70 cm. If the shorter figure exceeds the roll width you have to turn the box or join two sheets. Directional patterns cannot be turned, so check the roll width before buying. Cutting exactly to size looks worse than leaving 2 cm to fold under.
What to enter
| Input | Default | Accepted range |
|---|---|---|
| Box width (cm)The box across, measured with the lid on. | 20 | 1 and up |
| Box depth (cm)The box front to back. | 15 | 1 and up |
| Box height (cm)The box height, lid included. | 8 | 1 and up |
| Overhang per side (cm)Extra beyond each edge, absorbing shift while quilting. | 3 | 0 and up |
Step by step
Quick reference table
Results when only Box width (cm) changes and everything else stays put.
| Box width (cm) | Paper width (cm) | Paper length (cm) |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | 39 | 30 |
| 15 | 49 | 30 |
| 20 | 59 | 30 |
| 30 | 79 | 30 |
| 40 | 99 | 30 |
What each result means
| Result | At default values |
|---|---|
| Paper width (cm)The paper width needed. | 59 |
| Paper length (cm)The paper length needed. | 30 |
Common mistakes
Wrapping paper comes on rolls of fixed width, usually around 70 cm. If the shorter figure exceeds the roll width you have to turn the box or join two sheets. Directional patterns cannot be turned, so check the roll width before buying. Cutting exactly to size looks worse than leaving 2 cm to fold under.
Glossary
- Box width
- The box across, measured with the lid on.
- Box depth
- The box front to back.
- Box height
- The box height, lid included.
- Overhang per side
- Extra beyond each edge, absorbing shift while quilting.
- Paper width
- The paper width needed.
- Paper length
- The paper length needed.
Frequently asked questions
Q. How is Gift Wrap Size Calculator calculated?
Paper width = 2 × (Box width + Box height) + Overhang per side, Paper length = Box depth + 1.5 × Box height + Overhang per side — One direction has to travel all the way around the box, so it is (width + height) × 2 plus the overlap — 59 cm for a 20 × 8 cm cross-section. The other direction is the depth plus enough to fold over each end, about three quarters of the height on each side, so depth plus 1.5 × height: 30 cm. Those two numbers are the sheet to cut.
Q. Can you walk through an example?
With Box width 20cm, Box depth 15cm, Box height 8cm, Overhang per side 3cm, the answer is Paper width 59cm.
Q. What do I need to enter?
Enter Box width, Box depth, Box height, Overhang per side. The result recalculates as you type, and an empty box counts as zero.
Q. How much does the answer move if I change a number?
Changing only Box width (cm) moves the answer to Box width (cm) 10 → Paper width (cm) 39 and Box width (cm) 40 → Paper width (cm) 99. The table below lays out five steps.
Q. How are the numbers rounded?
Money is shown to the nearest whole unit, percentages to one decimal place and everything else to two. What you see is rounded; the calculation itself carries the unrounded value forward.
Q. Anything to watch out for?
Wrapping paper comes on rolls of fixed width, usually around 70 cm. If the shorter figure exceeds the roll width you have to turn the box or join two sheets. Directional patterns cannot be turned, so check the roll width before buying. Cutting exactly to size looks worse than leaving 2 cm to fold under.
Related calculators
Materials differ in density and absorption. If your label states a figure, use it — the defaults here are only common values.