Smart Packing

Smart Packing automatically determines how your customer's items fit into shipping boxes. This produces accurate dimensional weight calculations, which directly affect shipping cost estimates.

Why Packing Matters

Shipping carriers charge based on dimensional weight, not just actual weight. A large but light package costs more than a small, dense one. Without accurate box selection, your shipping estimates at checkout won't match what the carrier actually charges — leading to margin loss or customer friction.

Smart Packing automatically:

• Determines which items fit in which boxes
• Optimizes box selection to minimize cost
• Calculates accurate dimensional weight for each shipment

Box Profiles

Define the boxes you use for shipping:

1. Go to Packaging in the sidebar
2. Under the Box Profiles tab, click Add Box
3. Enter:
   • Name — label for this box (e.g., "Small Box", "Medium Poly Bag")
   • Packaging Type — Box, Bag, Tube, Envelope, or Pallet
   • Dimensions — Length, Width, Height in centimeters
   • Weight — empty box weight in grams
   • Default — mark as default box (used when no better match)
   • Active — toggle to enable or disable
4. Click Save

Box Profile Tips

• Start with a default box large enough for most orders
• Add smaller boxes for single-item orders
• Add envelope/poly bag types for soft goods (clothing)
• Dimensions should be the interior dimensions (what actually fits inside)
• Include the box weight — it's added to the shipment total

Packing Algorithm

Choose how RateTell packs items into boxes in Packaging:

The algorithm selection is saved immediately and applies to all future checkout calculations.

Product Mappings

Map specific products or variants to specific boxes for custom packing rules:

1. Under the Product Mapping tab, click Add Mapping
2. Select the product or variant
3. Choose the box profile to assign
4. Set options:
   • Ships Alone — this item must ship in its own box
   • Max Quantity Per Box — limit how many of this item fit in one box

Product mappings override the automatic packing algorithm for those specific products.

Testing Your Setup

After configuring boxes and mappings, test with a real checkout:

1. Add items to your Shopify cart that match your typical orders
2. Proceed to checkout with an international address
3. Verify the shipping rates shown are reasonable
4. Check the dimensional weight calculation

To verify your packing setup, place a test order through your Shopify checkout with an international address and confirm the shipping costs look right.

Next Steps

• Product Setup
• How It Works