Gift Wrap Size Estimator
Enter a box’s length, width, and height to get the sheet of wrapping paper and the length of ribbon it needs — plus paper area and box surface area.
Wrapping paper & ribbon needed
The sheet size includes a 2 cm overlap and the ribbon includes a 25 cm bow allowance. Add a little more for thick or irregular items, and cut a touch larger if you’re new to wrapping.
Cut once, wrap right
The two classic wrapping mistakes are cutting a sheet too small to meet in the middle, or unrolling far more than you need and trimming a wasteful pile of offcuts. A quick measurement fixes both. From the box’s length, width, and height, this estimator gives the exact sheet dimensions — girth plus overlap one way, length plus end-folds the other — so you can cut with confidence.
It’s handy for a single special present, and genuinely useful when you’re wrapping in bulk and want to know how far a roll of paper or a spool of ribbon will actually stretch.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much wrapping paper do I need for a box?
For a rectangular box the paper has to wrap once around the girth — twice the width plus twice the height — with a little overlap where the edges meet, and run the length of the box with enough at each end to fold over, which is the length plus twice the height. This estimator computes both sides of that sheet, plus its total area, from your dimensions.
Why does the sheet include an overlap?
A sheet cut to the exact girth would meet edge-to-edge with no seam to tape down, and any slight misalignment would leave a gap. The estimator adds a 2 cm overlap so the paper laps over itself for a clean, tapeable seam. For thick paper or a bulky box, give yourself a bit more.
How is the ribbon length worked out?
For a simple cross wrap, the ribbon runs around the box in two directions — the length-and-height loop and the width-and-height loop — which comes to twice the length, twice the width, and four times the height. The tool then adds a 25 cm allowance for tying the bow.
What's the difference between paper area and box surface area?
The box surface area is the area of the box itself — 2 times (length×width + length×height + width×height). The paper area is larger because a sheet has to fold over ends and overlap at the seam, so it always exceeds the bare surface area. Both are shown so you can compare.
Does this work for cylinders or odd shapes?
No — the formulas assume a rectangular (cuboid) box. For tubes, spheres, or irregular items, use the box that would contain the item as a rough guide and add extra paper, since curved and awkward shapes waste more at the folds.
An estimate for a rectangular box, including a 2 cm paper overlap and a 25 cm bow allowance. Add extra for thick paper, bulky or irregular items, or if you’re new to wrapping.