Gift Wrap Paper Calculator
Calculate how much wrapping paper you need for a box.
Enter dimensions and get the exact paper size with overlap allowance.
Gift wrapping paper is calculated by figuring out how much paper you need to fully cover all sides of a rectangular box, plus a comfortable overlap so the paper folds neatly.
The core idea is straightforward. You need enough paper width to go around the box (covering the front, bottom, back, and top), plus enough paper height to cover the two open ends and fold over the edges.
The formulas:
Paper Width = Box Length + 2 × Box Height + Overlap
Paper Height = Box Width + 2 × Box Height + Overlap
The overlap is typically 2 inches (5 cm) on each side. This ensures clean folds and enough material to tape securely.
For imperial (inches):
A standard gift wrap roll is 30 inches wide. If your calculated paper width exceeds 30 inches, you may need a wider roll or to wrap diagonally.
For metric (centimeters):
A standard gift wrap roll is 70–76 cm wide. The same diagonal wrapping trick applies for oversized boxes.
Practical tips for wrapping:
- Always add 2–3 inches (5–7 cm) of extra overlap for neat edges
- For cylindrical objects, wrap in a rectangle where the width equals the circumference plus overlap
- Tissue paper inside the box adds a professional touch without extra wrapping paper
- Double-sided tape gives a cleaner look than regular tape
- Measure twice, cut once — wrapping paper cannot be un-cut
Common box sizes for reference:
- Shirt box: 14.75 × 9.5 × 2 inches (37 × 24 × 5 cm)
- Medium gift box: 12 × 12 × 6 inches (30 × 30 × 15 cm)
- Large gift box: 18 × 12 × 8 inches (46 × 30 × 20 cm)
- Shoe box: 13 × 7.5 × 5 inches (33 × 19 × 13 cm)