UPS box sizes fall into two groups: free UPS-branded Express packaging (the Express Envelope, Pak, Tube, Small, Medium and Large Express Boxes, and the 10 KG and 25 KG Boxes) and your own boxes, which UPS Simple Rate sorts into five size tiers from Extra Small (up to 100 cubic inches) to Extra Large (up to 1,728 cubic inches). The Express packaging itself costs nothing when you ship with an eligible UPS air or international express service. What you pay is the shipping charge, which depends on the service, the package and the destination.
This guide lists the UPS packaging sizes, which services each one can be used with, and where prices come from: the box, the shipment, or both. For a live shipping price on any box, compare UPS and USPS rates for your package in the ParcelPath rate calculator.
What Sizes Are the Free UPS Express Boxes?
UPS’s Express packaging is made for its air and international express services. The sizes below are the standard U.S. versions; UPS shows current specifications when you order supplies on ups.com.
| UPS packaging | Approximate size | Weight guidance | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPS Express Envelope | 12-1/2″ x 9-1/2″ | Documents; Letter rate applies to correspondence and documents of 8 oz or less | Contracts, legal papers, urgent documents |
| UPS Express Pak | Flat, padded-style pak | Light, non-rigid items | Documents, apparel, small soft goods |
| UPS Express Tube | 38″ x 6″ x 6″ (triangular) | Rolled items | Blueprints, posters, maps, artwork |
| UPS Express Box, Small | 13″ x 11″ x 2″ | Light items | Small parts, phone accessories, paperwork bundles |
| UPS Express Box, Medium | 16″ x 11″ x 3″ | Light items | Books, files, small electronics |
| UPS Express Box, Large | 18″ x 13″ x 3″ | Light items | Binders, larger document sets, flat goods |
| UPS 10 KG Box | Fixed size for international express | Up to 10 kg (22 lb) | International shipments up to 10 kg |
| UPS 25 KG Box | Fixed size for international express | Up to 25 kg (55 lb) | Heavier international shipments |
The 10 KG and 25 KG Boxes are built for UPS’s international express services (Worldwide Express Plus, Worldwide Express and Worldwide Saver), and their names give the weight each is designed to carry.
UPS Express Envelope
The Express Envelope is for documents, not merchandise. UPS’s terms define a domestic Letter rate for Express Envelopes holding correspondence, urgent documents or electronic media at 8 ounces or less; anything heavier is rated by weight like a package.
UPS Express Pak
The Express Pak is a flexible pak for items that don’t need a rigid box, such as clothing or a thick stack of documents. It’s a good fit when an envelope is too small but a box would add unneeded size.
Which UPS Services Can Use Free Express Packaging?
UPS-branded Express packaging is only for UPS air and international express services, such as UPS Next Day Air, UPS 2nd Day Air and UPS Worldwide Express. UPS’s Terms and Conditions of Service say Express Envelopes, Paks, Boxes, Tubes and the 10 KG and 25 KG Boxes may not be used for UPS Ground, UPS Standard, UPS 3 Day Select or UPS Worldwide Expedited.
That rule catches many home shippers, because the free box looks like a cheap way to send a ground package. Our explainer on whether you can use a UPS Express Box for UPS Ground covers the policy in detail. If you want weekend arrival for an air shipment, our page on whether UPS delivers on Saturdays explains which services offer it.
What Are the UPS Simple Rate Box Sizes?
UPS Simple Rate lets you use your own box and pay a set price by size tier instead of by weight and distance. Packages can weigh up to 50 pounds, and the largest tier tops out at 1,728 cubic inches (one cubic foot). To find your tier, multiply the box’s length, width and height in inches.
| Simple Rate tier | Box volume | Example box sizes |
|---|---|---|
| Extra Small | 1 to 100 cubic inches | 4″ x 4″ x 4″ (64), 8″ x 6″ x 2″ (96) |
| Small | 101 to 250 cubic inches | 6″ x 6″ x 6″ (216), 12″ x 9″ x 2″ (216) |
| Medium | 251 to 650 cubic inches | 8″ x 8″ x 8″ (512), 13″ x 11″ x 2″ (286) |
| Large | 651 to 1,050 cubic inches | 10″ x 10″ x 10″ (1,000), 15″ x 11″ x 6″ (990) |
| Extra Large | 1,051 to 1,728 cubic inches | 12″ x 12″ x 12″ (1,728), 18″ x 12″ x 6″ (1,296) |
Simple Rate tends to pay off for heavy items in small boxes, since weight doesn’t change the price within a tier. Light items in big boxes usually price better with standard weight-and-zone rates, which bill on the greater of actual or dimensional weight; our guide to UPS dimensional weight shows how that’s calculated.
Where Do UPS Box Prices Come From?
UPS box prices come from three different places, and only one of them is the box itself. Knowing which applies saves you from paying twice.
| Box source | Box cost | Shipping cost | Where to see the price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Free UPS Express packaging | None, with an eligible air or international express service | Set by service, weight and destination | A rate quote for the air service you choose |
| Your own box with UPS Simple Rate | Whatever you paid for the box | Set by size tier and service | A Simple Rate quote for your tier |
| Box bought at The UPS Store | Set by each store (most are independently owned franchises) | Set by service, weight, dimensions and destination | Ask the store for box and packing prices |
Book shippers sometimes look for a special media price; our page on whether UPS has a book rate covers that. If a shipment is small and light, UPS Mail Innovations is another UPS option for business volume.
How Big Can a UPS Package Be?
If you use your own box, it has to fit UPS’s package limits. UPS accepts packages up to 150 pounds, up to 108 inches long, and up to 165 inches in combined length and girth. Our full guide to UPS size and weight limits explains how to measure girth and which large-package rules apply near those limits.
Good packing matters as much as size. UPS expects a sturdy box with enough cushioning that the contents don’t shift, and our UPS packaging guidelines cover box strength, cushioning and taping in detail.
Where Can You Get UPS Boxes?
You can order free UPS Express packaging online at ups.com with a UPS account, and it’s delivered to your address. The UPS Store sells boxes in many sizes along with packing services, and many UPS Access Point locations can accept prepaid packages once they’re packed and labeled.
Our guide to UPS labels and supplies covers ordering labels alongside your boxes, and our UPS shipping overview covers services, tracking and rates.
How Can You Save on Shipping a UPS Box?
The cheapest box is the one that fits your item with just enough room for cushioning, because extra volume raises dimensional weight and can push you into a bigger Simple Rate tier. After that, the biggest lever is the rate you pay for the label.
ParcelPath offers up to 85% off UPS and up to 89% off USPS, with no subscription, per-label fee or minimums, and you can print UPS labels without a printer using a UPS Mobile Barcode at The UPS Store. If you’re weighing carriers, our comparison of whether FedEx or UPS is cheaper covers the trade-offs, and our overview of shipping services and solutions compares more options. You can also start from the ParcelPath home page.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are UPS boxes free?
UPS-branded Express packaging is free when you ship with an eligible UPS air or international express service, such as UPS Next Day Air, UPS 2nd Day Air or UPS Worldwide Express. That includes the Express Envelope, Pak, Tube, the Small, Medium and Large Express Boxes, and the 10 KG and 25 KG Boxes. Boxes bought at The UPS Store are not free.
What are the UPS Express Box sizes?
UPS makes three Express Box sizes in the U.S.: Small at about 13″ x 11″ x 2″, Medium at about 16″ x 11″ x 3″, and Large at about 18″ x 13″ x 3″. All three are for UPS air and international express services only. UPS also offers the 10 KG and 25 KG Boxes for heavier international express shipments.
What are the UPS Simple Rate box sizes?
UPS Simple Rate uses five tiers based on your box’s volume in cubic inches: Extra Small (1 to 100), Small (101 to 250), Medium (251 to 650), Large (651 to 1,050) and Extra Large (1,051 to 1,728). Packages can weigh up to 50 pounds, and you use your own box.
Can I use a free UPS box for UPS Ground?
No. UPS’s Terms and Conditions of Service say Express Envelopes, Paks, Boxes, Tubes and the 10 KG and 25 KG Boxes may not be used for UPS Ground, UPS Standard, UPS 3 Day Select or UPS Worldwide Expedited. For ground shipments, use your own sturdy box, which can also be rated with UPS Simple Rate.
How much does a box cost at The UPS Store?
Box prices at The UPS Store are set by each location, since most stores are independently owned franchises, so the same size can cost different amounts in different towns. Ask the store for the box and packing price, then compare the shipping charge separately; the free Express packaging is the only UPS box with no box cost.
Sources
- UPS: Terms and Conditions of Service, Section 9 “Use of UPS-Provided Materials and Services” and Letter rate definition (ups.com)
- UPS: Simple Rate (ups.com)
- UPS: Package dimensions and weight limits (ups.com)
- UPS: Order shipping supplies (ups.com)
Part of our UPS Packaging Guidelines guide. Related: UPS Express Box, Can You Use an Express Box for UPS Ground, UPS Shipping: Rates, Tracking & Services.
