Short answer. Cut a sheet that goes round the four long sides of the box with a 2 inch (5 cm) overlap. End to end, it needs the length plus the height plus about 1¼ in (3 cm), so a 13 × 8 × 5 in shoe box takes 28 × 19½ in. Type your box below.
- Round the box: 2 × (width + height) + 2 in (5 cm) for the overlap.
- End to end: length + height + about 1¼ in (3 cm). Each end then has a bit more than half the box height, so the end flaps meet with a small overlap.
- Which way round: the calculator tries the box both ways. It picks the one that fits your roll in one piece with the least paper.
Will the sheet fit your roll?
Most rolls sold in America are 30 in wide. In Europe they are usually 70 cm, and cheap rolls are often 50 cm. Pick your width above.
If the sheet is wider than the roll both ways round, the calculator tells you how many pieces to cut. Tape them together with the join on the bottom.
How many gifts does one roll wrap?
The calculator counts whole wraps from one roll, cut the way it shows. A 30 in × 10 ft roll wraps 6 shoe boxes of 13 × 8 × 5 in. Bigger boxes, or a narrow roll that needs 2 pieces, take more.
How much ribbon and tape do you need?
For a cross on top, the ribbon goes once round the box each way, plus about 12 to 24 in for the bow. The shoe box above takes about 80 in. A paper wrap takes 5 pieces of tape: 3 on the seam and 1 at each end.
What if you have no ruler?
- A Letter sheet is 8½ × 11 in, and an A4 sheet is 21 × 29.7 cm.
- A bank card is 3⅜ in (8.6 cm) long.
- Or roll the box one full turn across the paper. That turn is the paper you need round the box. Add three fingers' width for the overlap.
For the folds, follow how to wrap a present step by step.
Paper sizes for common gifts| Gift | Size | Paper to cut |
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| Shoe box | 13 × 8 × 5 in (34 × 21 × 13 cm) | 28 × 19½ in (72 × 49 cm) |
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| Hardback book | 9½ × 6½ × 1½ in (25 × 17 × 4 cm) | 24 × 9½ in (61 × 24 cm) |
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| Medium LEGO set | 15 × 10½ × 3 in (39 × 27 × 8 cm) | 29 × 19½ in (74 × 49 cm) |
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| Board game | 12 × 12 × 3½ in (31 × 31 × 9 cm) | 33 × 17 in (84 × 43 cm) |
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| Video game case | 7 × 6 × 1 in (18 × 16 × 3 cm) | 18 × 8½ in (46 × 21 cm) |
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| Mug box | 5 × 5 × 4 in (13 × 13 × 11 cm) | 20 × 10½ in (51 × 26 cm) |
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| Phone box | 7 × 4 × 2 in (18 × 11 × 6 cm) | 20 × 7½ in (51 × 19 cm) |
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| Wine bottle | 3½ × 12½ in (9 × 32 cm) | 13 × 19½ in (33 × 50 cm) |
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