How to Size a Product Label
Measure the product
For a box, measure the front width, the height and the depth. For a pouch, measure it flat, plus its seals.
Choose the label style
One panel, a band around the box, a label over the top, a front label on a pouch or a folded bag topper.
Download and test
Download the template with cut, bleed, safe and fold lines, and print the Print Test to check the fit.
How to Measure Boxes and Pouches
- Box width, height and depth
- Width is the front of the box from left to right, height is from the bottom to the top, and depth is from front to back along the side. Measure the outside of the box, where the label goes.
- Pouches and bags
- Lay the pouch flat and measure its full width and height. Then measure the parts a label can't cover: the sealed edges at the sides, the top seal with the zipper or tear notch, and the bottom seal or gusset.
- Flat surfaces
- For a lid, a panel or a card, measure the flat area the label must fit inside. The calculator subtracts the margin you choose on every side.
Boxes bulge and pouches change shape when filled. Measure a filled product, and test the Print Test on it before printing in bulk.
Label Styles and Their Formulas
Labels that cover more than one side are printed flat and folded around the product. The calculator works out their length and draws the fold lines in the template:
One panel = panel size − 2 × margin
Wrap-around band = 2 × (width + depth) + overlap
Over the top = front length + depth + back length
Bag topper = 2 × length on each side + fold allowance
| Label style | Settings | Label size |
|---|---|---|
| Front panel | 1/8 in margin | 3.75 × 5.75 in |
| Wrap-around band | 2 in tall, 1/4 in overlap | 12.25 × 2 in |
| Over the top | 3 in wide, 1.5 in on front and back | 3 × 5 in |
| Pouch front label | 3/8 in side seals, 1 in top, 1/2 in bottom, 1/8 in margin | 3 × 4.25 in |
| Bag topper | 1.5 in on each side, 1/8 in margin | 3.75 × 3 in |
The wrap-around band has fold lines at 2, 4, 8 and 10 in from its left edge, so the seam falls in the middle of the back panel.
Minimum Text Sizes on Product Labels
The size of the label affects how small some required text may be. The results show two common references:
United States: net quantity statement
FDA rules for food (21 CFR 101.105) and FTC rules for many other consumer products (16 CFR 500.21) set a minimum height for the net quantity statement based on the area of the principal display panel, the part of the package most likely to be seen at purchase. For a box or another rectangular package, that area is the height × width of the side that serves as the principal display panel. The calculator uses the front of the box or pouch.
| Principal display panel area | Minimum height |
|---|---|
| 5 in² (32 cm²) or less | 1/16 in (1.6 mm) |
| More than 5 to 25 in² (161 cm²) | 1/8 in (3.2 mm) |
| More than 25 to 100 in² (645 cm²) | 3/16 in (4.8 mm) |
| More than 100 to 400 in² (2580 cm²) | 1/4 in (6.4 mm) |
| More than 400 in² | 1/2 in (12.7 mm) |
With mixed upper- and lowercase letters, the height is measured on a lowercase “o”; with capitals only, on the capital letters.
European Union: food information
Regulation (EU) No 1169/2011 requires the mandatory food information to be printed with an x-height of at least 1.2 mm, or 0.9 mm when the largest surface of the package is less than 80 cm². For a box, the calculator compares its three faces and uses the largest.
These figures are a reference to help you plan the label size, not legal advice. Other rules may apply to your product and country, so check the current regulations.
Tips for Box and Pouch Labels
- Folds: keep text and barcodes away from the fold lines; a word that runs over an edge is hard to read and wears quickly.
- Over-the-top labels and bag toppers: on the flat template the back section is upside down, so rotate the artwork for that section by 180°.
- Wrap-around bands: a small overlap at the back hides the seam; on a box that isn't perfectly square, test the band on a filled box.
- Pouches: labels sit best on the flat front, away from seals, zippers and the bottom gusset, which curve when the pouch is filled.
Need a barcode or QR code on the label? Size it with the Barcode Size Calculator or the QR Code Print Size Calculator. To fit several labels on one sheet, use the Sticker Sheet Calculator, and for round lids use the Round Label Size Calculator.