1. Introduction
Is measuring a tin box the same as a paper box? No.
Metal is hard. Paper is soft. If a paper box is a little small, you can usually squeeze your product in. But metal does not bend. In tin making, even 1mm makes a huge difference. If the size is wrong, the lid simply won’t fit. You waste time and money.
At Tengda, we have 35 years of experience. We know your biggest worry is the tooling charge (mold cost).
Here is how you save money: you may not need to pay for a new mold. If you measure your product correctly, you can use one of our 3,000+ existing molds. This means:
No mold costs.
Faster shipping.
Zero risk.
This guide will show you how to measure correctly to find the best, cheapest mold for your brand.
2. The Golden Rule: Length x Width x Height (LxWxH)
To get a correct price and the right fit, you must follow the industry order: Length x Width x Height (LxWxH).
If you mix these up, your box might be made the wrong way. For example, your lid could end up on the short side instead of the long side.
How to find the right order?
Always start with the opening. Imagine the box is sitting on a table with the lid facing up:
Length (L): The longest side of the opening.
Width (W): The shorter side of the opening.
Height (H) or Depth (D): The distance from the table to the top of the lid.
Is it Height or Depth?
Many customers ask us: “Is it Height or Depth?” In the tin box world, they mean the same thing. Whether you call it H or D, it is always the vertical distance from the opening to the bottom.
A Real Example
Let’s look at one of our popular molds: 180X73X27mm.
180mm is the Length (long side of the opening).
73mm is the Width (short side of the opening).
27mm is the Height (how tall it sits on the table).
When you use this “Lid-Up” rule, our team can search our 3,000+ mold library much faster to find your best match.
