How tall is a box of cereal Packaging? Read This Blog!

The right size of a product packaging matters most in making the brand image, especially for the food businesses. Cereals are one of the most selling products due to their everyday use. And this is why cereal brands need to know how tall is a box of cereal is when making different cereal packages. The more accurate you measure the dimensions of a cereal box, the better you can market your product on the retail shelves. This blog has accumulated all the aspects of the cereal box dimensions to customize the right size. Read on for all the answers to cereal box dimensions!

Overview of Cereal Box Packaging

Cereal comes in different flavours and its boxes look different in design, size, shape, and dimensions. The average cereal box has a rectangular shape and the height varies depending on the quantity and weight of the cereals. These boxes are especially designed to protect cereals while standing out on the retail shelves with funky and playful designs. In short, custom cereal boxes act more than just packaging boxes and as a marketing strategy for your cereal brand. 

7 Components of Cereal Box Structure

How tall is a box of cereal depends on the structure and shape of the box a brand uses for cereals. Consider the following structural components of the cereal box packaging when measuring the right dimensions:

• Front PDP Panel

One of the most important parts of every cereal box is the PDP (principal display panel), which is the front side of the cereal and helps you know how tall is a box of cereal. This panel occupies a certain percentage of the area on the front side panel of the cereal box for branding and labeling purposes. According to FDA’s labeling guidelines, every food brand must get its name, logo, and product relevant information printed on the PDP panel of food boxes. 

• Back Panel

The cereal box has a back panel the same size as the front panel. However, the information and design could be different on the back side of the box. The back panel of a cereal box contains information like bar codes, warnings for allergies, manufacturer’s address, and playful designs like puzzles. A standard cereal box has around 12” tall front and back panels.

• Side Panel

The side panel of a cereal box is approximately 2” wide and 12” tall. It contains information about the calorie count, vitamins, and the combination of cereal with other items like fruits. Correctly measuring the side panel when measuring how tall is a box of cereal is important for precise cereal packaging. 

• Top Flaps

The top panel of the cereal box contains two flaps, which overlap each other for a secure closure. These flaps can be sealed with the help of a glue. Some cereal boxes have flaps that tuck into the boxes for a secure closure and do not require adhesive. This is why they are an important component to know how tall is a box of cereal.

• Bottom Closure

Most cereal boxes have an auto lock bottom closure with the two flaps interlocking each other to ensure secure closure. Some boxes contain bottom flaps that are attached with the help of glue, and the box can only be opened from the top panel with a tuck flap. 

• Internal Packaging

Cereals are mostly packaged in plastic bags to ensure protection from moisture and oxidation. These cereal-filled plastic bags are packed in the card or kraft cereal boxes. The barrier properties of plastic bags ensure the extended shelf life.

• Window Cut-Outs

Window cut-outs are an optional structural component of cereal box packaging. They can be incorporated in custom shapes when customizing cereal boxes. A certain window area is supposed to be cut out from the card or kraft cereal boxes to place a clear plastic sheet. 

What Are the Dimensions of a Cereal Box?

Understanding how tall is a box of cereal is important for the right packaging that helps your cereals stand out on the retail shelves. Dimensions of a cereal box can be measured using the length x width x depth (inches) formula. Keep the measuring unit metric the same when calculating the dimensions of a cereal box. And measuring the dimensions in inches is much easier than measuring in centimeters. This is why you need to measure the following dimensions one by one to calculate the volume and dimensional weight of a cereal box:

• Height of Cereal Box

The height of a cereal box means how tall is a box of cereal is. It may vary depending on the brand’s size guide, which determines how tall a brand wants to keep its standard cereal pack. An average cereal box has 12 inches (30.48 cm) in height. 

• Width of a Cereal Box

The wide part of the cereal box is its width dimension. And it is important to measure the width to know how tall is a box of cereal. Most standard size cereal box packaging has a width of 8 inches (20.32 cm). The width of a cereal box allows enough space in the box to prevent cereal from breaking. 

• Length of a Cereal Box

The length and depth are often confused when measuring cereal box size. Side panels of a cereal box packaging, when measured from a wide angle, are known as the depth or length of the box. A standard cereal box is 2 inches (5.08cm) in length. 

What Are the Regular Sizes of Cereal Boxes?

Let’s make it simple for you, how tall is a box of cereal in regular size. A regular or standard size cereal box may have different dimensions according to the brand’s size guide. However, the standard size followed by the majority cereal brands is 12” tall, 8” wide, and 2” long. 

What Are the Dimensions of Mini Cereal Boxes?

The changing eating habits of consumers are one of the reasons why brands are now making mini cereal packages. These small versions of cereal packages are made for single-serving, mostly. And the dimensions of small/mini cereal boxes are 6.5 inches (16.5cm) x 4 inches(10.2cm) x 1.5 inches (3.8cm).

How Big Are Cereal Boxes in Family Pack Size?

Cereal brands must understand the eating habits and preferences of every customer to know how tall is a box of cereal for certain qualities of cereals. And this is why family-sized cereal packs are made. These boxes have some dimensions similar to standard cereal boxes. However, they are taller than them. Most family packs of cereal boxes have dimensions of 15 inches(38.1cm) in height, 8 inches (20.32 cm) in length, and 3 inches (7.62cm) in width. Family-sized cereal boxes contain a larger quantity of cereal than regular size cereal box. These boxes contain 20 to 24 ounces of cereal. 

How to Measure Cereal Box Dimensions Accurately?

The right way to measure the cereal box dimensions correctly is to get essentials ready for use. You need to gather the things like a measuring tape, a pen, a small ruler for small boxes, and a notepad. Keep in mind the measuring formula length x width x depth (inches). 

Now, start measuring the height first to know how tall is a box of cereal. Then, move to the width side of the cereal box and note down the measurements on the notepad to calculate the cubic size or area. Last, measure the length or depth of the cereal box from the width of the side panels of cereal boxes. Calculating the cubic size of the cereal box is simple. You just need to multiply the height by the width by the length.

What is the Average Weight of a Cereal Box?

The weight of a cereal box depends on how much cereal is packed in it. And an average cereal box with dimensions around 12x8x2 inches contains 500 grams of cereal. It means a half kg pack of a cereal box. In ounces, the weight of an average cereal box is 17.637 ounces. So it is important to measure the weight of the product if you want to know how tall is a box of cereal.

Why the Correct Cereal Box Dimensions Matter?

Measuring how tall is a box of cereal important because it is linked with cereal safety, shipping, storage, display, and user experience. Food brands create custom cereal boxes to not only secure cereals but also for marketing and branding purposes. 

Every brand wants its cereals to stand out on the retail shelves with professional appeal, right labeling and size. The right cereal box size also helps you decide how much cereal quantity should be packed in it, which aligns with customers’ eating habits. 

6 Benefits of Personalized Cereal Boxes

The answer to how tall is a box of cereal depends on the right measurements. And it helps your food brand in many ways. Some benefits of custom cereal boxes are as follows:

1. Help improve brand awareness with printed branding details.
2. Make your cereals stand out on the retail shelves with aesthetic appeal.
3. Ensure cereal protection during handling, shipping, display, and storage.
4. Grab customers’ attention at first glance with vibrant colors and stylish appeal.
5. Influence customers’ purchasing decisions with the right weight, size, details, and design.
6. Build a deeper connection with customers with playful designs, easy handling, and proper labeling.

How Thick a Cereal Box Should Be?

Thickness is one of the important factors to ensure product safety when measuring how tall is a box of cereal Box. And boxes with higher thickness are less flexible but more protective. The thickness of a cereal box depends on what material you choose. Most cereal boxes are made from kraft paper and card stock. Some cereal boxes used for shipping purposes are made from corrugated cardboard. The average thickness of a cereal box is 0.022 inches (0.05588 cm.)

How to Ensure Cereal Protection Inside the Box?

It is important to choose the right material for cereal box packaging to ensure the safety of cereals in the boxes. The best practice to make a cereal package is to get cereals packed in plastic bags to protect the cereal from moisture. Later, the plastic bags filled with cereals are packed in cereal boxes made from sustainable and durable materials. 

Kraft paper is one of the reliable materials for cereal box packaging due to its food-grade and eco-friendly properties. Customers also prefer buying food items packed in sustainable packaging. This is why cardboard and kraft paper are better options for custom cereal boxes to ensure protection of cereals inside the box. 

5 Design Ideas for Cereal Boxes

Cereal boxes should be designed with unique design themes that can make your customers' boring breakfast routine into a playful and exciting morning routine. This is why it is important to create engaging designs on cereal boxes that influence customers’ purchasing decisions. Some popular design ideas for cereal packaging that can help your brand improve customer engagement are as follows:

1. Cartoon themed cereal boxes to entice customers, especially children.
2. Rube Goldberg’s design theme is based on playful pulley and wheel elements.
3. Funky design theme with groovy design characters and unconventional typography.
4. Vintage design to add a touch of nostalgia and historic trust with retro design elements.
5. Whimsical design that induces a sense of imagination to customers with some playful elements. 

Final Thoughts!

Measuring how tall is a box of cereal, is not rocket science. However, you need to follow the steps and formula length x width x depth (inches). Gather the tools such as a small ruler, a measuring tape, pen, and notepad. Start measuring from the tallest part to measure how tall is a box of cereal. A standard cereal box packaging is 12 inches in height, 2 inches in depth, and 8 inches in width. 

Still have questions? Feel free to contact us for more information about how tall is a box of cereal!