Tuesday 11 October 2016

How To Measure Length, Breadth and Height of Shipping Boxes

No matter which shipping service you choose, the cost of shipping will depend on the length, width, and height of your package. As such, it is crucial that you know the dimensions of the box you plan to ship.

1. Measure Length and Girth For Regular Boxes

(i) Measure the longest side of the package. Determine which side of the box is longest, then measure the full length of this side from one end to the other using a measuring stick.
  • Round this measurement off to the nearest inch (2.5 cm).
  • This measurement is the length of your package.
(ii) Measure the width of the package. The width of your box is the shorter side of the bottom or top face (or the open side) of the box. Measure the full distance of this side from one end to the other using a measuring stick.
  • Round this measurement off to the nearest inch (2.5 cm), as well.
  • Even if you mix up the height and width measurements, the final calculation should not be thrown off. The only side you absolutely must identify accurately is the length.

(iii) Measure the height of the package. Use a measuring stick to measure the standing side of the box from one end to the other. This is your height measurement.
  • The height should be the only side previously unmeasured at this point.
  • Round the measurement to the nearest inch (2.5 cm).

(iv) Double the width and height measurements. Multiply the width by two. Multiply the height by two, as well.
  • Neither of these calculations have a separate term, but you'll need to know them for your final girth calculation.
  • Do not double the length measurement.
  • For example, if you have a box with a length of 12 inches (30.5 cm), a width of 4 inches (10 cm), and a height of 6 inches (15.25 cm), you would only need to double the width and height:
    • Doubled width: 4 * 2 = 8 inches (20 cm)
    • Doubled height: 6 * 12 = 12 inches (30.5 cm)
(v) Add the doubled measurements together. Add the doubled height and doubled width measurements together. The combined sum equals the girth of the box.
  • The girth is essentially the total distance around the thickest part of the box.
  • In the previous example, the doubled width was 8 inches (20 cm) and the doubled height was 12 inches (30.5 cm). As such, the girth would be found by adding these two calculated measurements together:
    • Girth: 8 + 12 = 20 inches (50.5 cm)
(vi) Calculate the combined length and girth. When shipping ground packages, you may need to know the overall size of the package. This can be found by adding the length and girth measurements together.
  • In the previous example, the girth of the package was 20 inches (50.5 cm) and the length was 12 inches (30.5 cm). To find the overall package size, you need to add these two measurements together:
    • Size: 20 + 12 = 32 inches (80.5 cm).
(vii) Note the final measurements. You should have all the necessary measurements needed to ship your box at this point. Keep a note of each separate measurement so that you'll be able to provide the shipping service with the exact information required.
  • You might be asked for:
    • Separate length, width, and height measurements (L; W; H)
    • Length and girth measurements (L; 2W + 2H)
    • Total package size (L + 2W + 2H)
2. Measure Irregular Packages

(i) Measure the longest side of the package. Determine which side of the package is longest. This will be used as the length measurement.
  • Measure the longest distance from one end to the other using a measuring stick. Only measure along the outer edge if the outer edge is the longest point. If the longest distance lies somewhere in between the outer edges of the package, you must measure there instead.
  • Round the measurement to the nearest 1 inch (2.5 cm).
(ii) Measure the widest part of the package width. Set the package down so that the length runs parallel to the table or floor. The other (shorter) parallel side is the width.
  • Identify the longest distance along this width. It might be at one of the outer edges of the package, but it may lie somewhere in between the outer edges.
  • Measure this widest portion of the package width using a measuring stick. Round this measurement to the nearest 1 inch (2.5 cm).

(iii) Measure the deepest part of the package height. Identify the remaining unmeasured side. It should run perpendicular to the floor or table. This side is theheight of the package.
  • Look for the tallest point of the package. Measure from this point down to floor or table, where the bottom of the package rests. Do not measure along the outer edge of the height unless that outer edge is the tallest one.
  • Use a measuring stick and round off your measurement to the nearest 1 inch (2.5 cm).
(iv) Treat the package as a rectangular box. To calculate the girth or overall size of the box, apply the same method you would use when calculating the measurements of a regular rectangular box.
  • When asked for separate length, width, and height measurements, provide the measurements you just took as they are.
  • When asked for length and girth measurements, provide the length measurement you just took as it is. For the girth, double both the width and height measurements, then add the two doubled values together.
    • Example: Length = 6 inches (15 cm); Width = 2 inches (5 cm); Height = 4 inches (10 cm)
    • Girth = (2 * 2 inches [5 cm]) + (2 * 4 inches [10 cm]) = 4 inches (10 cm) + 8 inches (20 cm) = 12 inches (30 cm)
  • When asked for the total package measurement, add the girth and length together.
    • Example: Girth = 12 inches (30 cm); Length = 6 inches (15 cm)
    • Total size = 12 inches (30 cm) + 6 inches (15 cm) = 18 inches (45 cm)



How To Buy Postage Stamps Without Going Post Office

If you hate waiting in line at the post office to buy stamps, you're not alone. The good news is that there are now many ways to buy stamps that don't even require you to make a special trip to the United States Postal Service (USPS) office. Whether you'd like to buy stamps online, directly from your mail carrier, or while you're out running errands, it's easy to make your purchase.

Purchasing Stamps Online


1. Go to usps.com. Visit https://www.usps.com/ from any browser.

2. Sign in or register. If you already have an account on USPS, sign in at the top right-hand screen. If not, you'll need to create or register an account.
  • To register, select "sign up". You'll need to provide shipping information and create a password.
3. Sign in or register. If you already have an account on USPS, sign in at the top right-hand screen. If not, you'll need to create or register an account.
  • To register, select "sign up". You'll need to provide shipping information and create a password.

4. Click "Buy Stamps". From here, you'll need to select the style of stamp you want. Once you've clicked on the stamp style you like, you'll need to select the quantity and possibly the format you want.
  • For example, some stamps will allow you to purchase sheets or blocks of stamps.

5. Add your stamps to your online cart. Once you've entered the details about the stamps you'd like to purchase, simply add them to your cart.


6. Click on checkout. When you're finished shopping, select "checkout" and follow the payment prompts. You'll need to use a credit card, although a debit card may be used and processed like a credit card if it has a VISA or MasterCard logo.[1]
  • VISA, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover cards are accepted if a PIN is not required. At this time, you cannot use PayPal to purchase stamps.
Printing Postage Online

1. Go to usps.com. Visit https://www.usps.com/ from any browser.

2. Sign in or register. If you already have an account on USPS, sign in at the top right-hand screen. If not, you'll need to create or register an account.
  • To register, select "sign up". You'll need to provide shipping information and create a password.
3. Click on the Mail and Ship heading. This should be one of the first options you see when you're on USPS's landing page.

4. Click "Print and Ship". From here, you'll have to create a shipping label by filling out the mailing address and destination address. You'll also need to select when you're mailing the package, whether or not it's flat rate (if not, provide the measurements), the value, and what kind of mailing service you want.
  • You'll be able to select notification preferences about tracking, receipts, and delivery notifications.
5. Select a service type. This will allow you to see delivery options and prices. Take note of the packaging sizes, as your parcel must match the delivery option and price you've selected.

6. Choose a delivery option. Select a package size/delivery option/price and click "Add to Cart".

7. Click on checkout. When you're finished shopping, select "checkout" and follow the payment prompts. You'll need to use a credit card, although a debit card may be used and processed like a credit card if it has a VISA or MasterCard logo.[3]
  • VISA, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover cards are accepted if a PIN is not required. At this time, you cannot use PayPal to purchase postage.