Cartonization

Zonos uses cartonization to determine shipping costs based on box sizes rather than item dimensions or weights. Our system utilizes your shipping box sizes to fit items into the smallest feasible box based on their weight and dimensions.

It's important to note that while cartonization helps refine your shipping cost quote by suggesting the smallest box that your items would fit into, it does not dictate the box you must use. Cartonization provides a guideline based on item dimensions, but it's ultimately up to you to select the actual box you want to ship your product(s) in. This approach ensures that cartonization serves its purpose - to aid in cost estimation and streamline the fulfillment process, without imposing rigid packaging constraints.

Cartonization offers numerous benefits, including lowering shipping expenses by selecting practical box sizes that align with carriers' dimensional weight calculations. Additionally, it automates packaging, which enhances warehouse productivity and leads to quicker order fulfillment. The process also optimizes material usage, reducing costs and waste by using appropriately-sized boxes.

How it works 

Cartonization uses smart packaging algorithms to efficiently pack items. Upon checkout, our system evaluates the available shipping box (packagingOption) sizes, along with their maximum weight and dimensions, as well as the weight and dimensions of the items. It then strategically arranges the items into the smallest feasible shipping boxes. Shipping costs are then determined based on the dimensional weight of the boxes or the physical weight of the items, whichever is greater.

Packaging options 

Cartonization packs items into packaging options (boxes, poly bags, etc.) to ensure the smallest possible box size is used. By provide Zonos with packaging options, you allow us to use these specified options to cartonize your items. In the absence of specific packaging options, the default Zonos box size of 8x4x2 is applied. Should your items be too large for this default size, we dynamically create packaging options based on the item's weight and dimensions. However, if neither weight nor dimensions are provided, we will revert to using the default Zonos 8x4x2 box size.