Tissue Paper Size Calculator
Tissue paper lines the box: it covers the base, climbs both walls and folds over the contents at the top. One side is therefore the box width plus twice the height, for the two walls, plus about 5 cm to overlap on top — for a 20 × 15 × 8 cm box that is 20 + 16 + 5 = 41 cm, and 15 + 16 + 5 = 36 cm the other way. The standard sheet that covers 41 × 36 cm is 50 × 70 cm, the commonest size; halved it becomes 35 × 50 cm, which is slightly short for this box. That is really what this calculation decides: whether to use full sheets or cut them down. Two sheets per parcel is normal — one laid crosswise to wrap the item, one over the top or crushed to fill the gaps. Ten parcels is 20 sheets, so a 100-sheet pack covers five runs like it.
Your numbers
Paper width
41cm
Paper length
36cm
Total
20
Formula
Paper width = Box width + 2 × Box height + 5, Paper length = Box depth + 2 × Box height + 5
Strongly coloured tissue bleeds. Damp hands or a humid store room will transfer dye onto pale contents, so use acid-free white for anything absorbent such as clothing, soap or candles. Tissue is not cushioning either: it presents the item and keeps surfaces from rubbing, but it absorbs no shock, so fragile goods get bubble wrap first and tissue over it. Grained paper splits along the fold if you fold across the grain, so fold one sheet before cutting a stack. And measure the inside of the box — take outside dimensions and the sheet comes up short by the wall thickness.
What to enter
| Input | Default | Accepted range |
|---|---|---|
| Box width (cm)The box across, measured with the lid on. | 20 | 0 and up |
| Box depth (cm)The box front to back. | 15 | 0 and up |
| Box height (cm)The box height, lid included. | 8 | 0 and up |
| Sheets per parcelSheets per parcel — usually one to wrap and one to cover. | 2 | 0 and up |
| CountA plain count of items; it often ends up as the denominator. | 10 | 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) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 31 | 36 | 20 |
| 15 | 36 | 36 | 20 |
| 20 | 41 | 36 | 20 |
| 30 | 51 | 36 | 20 |
| 40 | 61 | 36 | 20 |
What each result means
| Result | At default values |
|---|---|
| Paper width (cm)The paper width needed. | 41 |
| Paper length (cm)The paper length needed. | 36 |
| TotalEvery item added together — check whether tax or tip is inside it. | 20 |
Common mistakes
Strongly coloured tissue bleeds. Damp hands or a humid store room will transfer dye onto pale contents, so use acid-free white for anything absorbent such as clothing, soap or candles. Tissue is not cushioning either: it presents the item and keeps surfaces from rubbing, but it absorbs no shock, so fragile goods get bubble wrap first and tissue over it. Grained paper splits along the fold if you fold across the grain, so fold one sheet before cutting a stack. And measure the inside of the box — take outside dimensions and the sheet comes up short by the wall thickness.
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.
- Sheets per parcel
- Sheets per parcel — usually one to wrap and one to cover.
- Count
- A plain count of items; it often ends up as the denominator.
- Paper width
- The paper width needed.
- Paper length
- The paper length needed.
- Total
- Every item added together — check whether tax or tip is inside it.
Frequently asked questions
Q. How is Tissue Paper Size Calculator calculated?
Paper width = Box width + 2 × Box height + 5, Paper length = Box depth + 2 × Box height + 5 — Tissue paper lines the box: it covers the base, climbs both walls and folds over the contents at the top. One side is therefore the box width plus twice the height, for the two walls, plus about 5 cm to overlap on top — for a 20 × 15 × 8 cm box that is 20 + 16 + 5 = 41 cm, and 15 + 16 + 5 = 36 cm the other way. The standard sheet that covers 41 × 36 cm is 50 × 70 cm, the commonest size; halved it becomes 35 × 50 cm, which is slightly short for this box. That is really what this calculation decides: whether to use full sheets or cut them down. Two sheets per parcel is normal — one laid crosswise to wrap the item, one over the top or crushed to fill the gaps. Ten parcels is 20 sheets, so a 100-sheet pack covers five runs like it.
Q. Can you walk through an example?
With Box width 20cm, Box depth 15cm, Box height 8cm, Sheets per parcel 2, Count 10, the answer is Paper width 41cm.
Q. What do I need to enter?
Enter Box width, Box depth, Box height, Sheets per parcel, Count. 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) 31 and Box width (cm) 40 → Paper width (cm) 61. 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?
Strongly coloured tissue bleeds. Damp hands or a humid store room will transfer dye onto pale contents, so use acid-free white for anything absorbent such as clothing, soap or candles. Tissue is not cushioning either: it presents the item and keeps surfaces from rubbing, but it absorbs no shock, so fragile goods get bubble wrap first and tissue over it. Grained paper splits along the fold if you fold across the grain, so fold one sheet before cutting a stack. And measure the inside of the box — take outside dimensions and the sheet comes up short by the wall thickness.
Related calculators
Materials differ in density and absorption. If your label states a figure, use it — the defaults here are only common values.