How much wrapping paper you need

Cutting wrapping paper by eye leads to two mistakes: a sheet too short to close the box, or one too big that wastes the roll. This calculator starts from the box size and tells you the exact sheet to cut, how many sheets a roll gives, how many rolls you need for all your gifts and how much ribbon to prepare.

How the calculation works

• Side that wraps around: twice the sum of width and height, plus a small overlap to close.
• Side for the ends: length plus height, plus a margin: each end is covered by about half the height on each side.
• Roll: the calculator tries both sheet orientations and picks the one that gives the most sheets, including sheets side by side across the roll.
• Ribbon: twice the sum of length and width, plus four times the height, plus ribbon for the bow.

Examples by type of gift

3 cm overlap, bow with 30 cm of ribbon:

For large boxes a standard 70 cm roll is not enough: join two pieces with tape on the bottom of the box, where it will not show, or use a wider roll.

How much roll width matters

A 33 × 20 × 12 cm shoebox, 67 × 48 cm sheet:

A wider roll lets you cut sheets side by side and waste less paper.

Wrapping tips

• Place the box in the middle of the sheet with its long side parallel to the side of the sheet that wraps around.
• Fold the overlap edge by a centimetre before taping it: the result is neater.
• For non-rectangular gifts such as cylinders or irregular shapes, measure the circumference and add more margin.

Limits of the calculator

The calculation applies to rectangular boxes and classic wrapping. It does not account for paper wasted by cutting mistakes or patterns to line up: if the paper has a design to match, buy a little extra. The ribbon figure is for a classic cross over all four sides with a bow; more elaborate ribbons need more.

Frequently asked questions

How much wrapping paper do I need for a box?

A sheet twice the sum of width and height plus a few centimetres long, and as wide as the box length plus its height.

How much paper for a shoebox?

For a 33 × 20 × 12 cm box, a sheet of about 67 × 48 cm.

How many gifts from one roll?

It depends on the boxes and the roll: a 70 × 300 cm roll gives about 6 sheets for shoeboxes and 12 for books.

How much ribbon does a gift need?

For a classic cross, twice the sum of length and width, plus four times the height and ribbon for the bow.

What if the sheet does not fit the roll?

Join two pieces with tape on the bottom of the box, or use a wider roll.

How much overlap should I leave?

Usually 2-5 cm is enough to close the sheet neatly.

How do I wrap a gift that is not a box?

Put it in a box, or measure the circumference and add more margin: the calculator is for rectangular shapes.

Does the calculator account for the paper pattern?

No: if the design must match, buy a little extra paper.

How can I save paper?

Use the sheet orientation the calculator suggests and, if the roll is wide, cut several sheets side by side.