Measure a product

When measuring the height, width and depth of a product, it is important that you and everyone else measures the same way. Fortunately, there is a GS1 standard that points out how to measure products and this makes it easier to deliver accurate information. Use our checklist based on our most frequently asked questions about measuring products.

Why correct measurements matters

Your product dimensions are included in your trade item information which is the digital information shared with your recipient or retailer. The dimensions in the trade item information must be consistent with the dimensions of the actual packaging. This results in many efficiency benefits, for example;

  • a retailer can make a accurate shelf planning and optimize the shelves
  • packages and pallets will fit in the warehouse
  • transports can be planned so that the truck’s capacity is optimally utilized.

Checklist

Measure the outer dimensions

Remember to always measure the outer dimensions of the item as they are needed for shelf planning and transport. If you instead use the inner dimensions that you receive from your packaging supplier, you may get an end result where the store’s shelf planning doesn’t work or the item doesn’t fit in it’s slot at the warehouse.

Let the measurement standard guide you

The GS1 Package and Product Measurement Standard is the global standard for all packaging types. The parts describing measurement for packed consumer and non-consumer items are translated into Swedish in GS1 Standard för mätning av förpackningar och produkter.

Quality Assurance 

Suppliers can get assistance with quality assurance of trade item information in Validoo which is a service from GS1 Sweden. A quality assurance means that a data quality specialist helps you check that information on the trade item and the information on the physical packaging match and comply with the measurement standard.

Consumer and non-consumer items

When measuring the item you need to think about whether it should be sold to a consumer or not. These two items should be measured in different ways:

  • A consumer item is sold to a consumer (example a jar of jam).
  • A non-consumer item is not sold to consumers (example a cardboard box or a tray).

Measurement Tutorials

These tutorials explain how to measure consumer and non-consumer items according to GDSN Package Measurement Rules.

Products with packaging – hard

Products with packaging – soft

Products with packaging – medium

Non-consumer trade items

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