Published packaging specs on one side, dated 2026-07-27 quotes on the other.
The FedEx packaging lineup, per fedex.com, retrieved 2026-07-27
One Rate prices are the entry point for each format on its cheapest express speed; the packaging itself is listed at no charge. Envelopes carry up to 10 lb of contents, everything else up to 50.
| Packaging | Dimensions (in) | One Rate from |
|---|---|---|
| Envelope | 9-1/2 × 12-1/2 | $12.75 |
| Extra small box | 7-1/4 × 2-1/2 × 4-11/16 | $13.40 |
| Pak | 10-1/4 × 12-3/4 or 12 × 15-1/2 | $16.30 |
| Small box | 10-7/8 × 1-1/2 × 12-3/8 or 8-3/4 × 2-5/8 × 11-1/4 | $19.55 |
| Medium box | 11-1/2 × 2-3/8 × 13-1/4 or 8-3/4 × 4-3/8 × 11-1/4 | $24.35 |
| Large box | 12-3/8 × 3 × 17-1/2 or 8-3/4 × 7-3/4 × 11-1/4 | $32.05 |
| Extra large box | 11-7/8 × 10-3/4 × 11 or 15-3/4 × 14-1/8 × 6 | $42.75 |
| Tube | 6 × 6 × 38 | $42.75 |
Plain boxes cut to FedEx footprints, quoted live, Newark 07102 to Atlanta 30303, 2026-07-27
| Matching size | Weight | Cheapest row | Cheapest FedEx row |
|---|---|---|---|
| Small box footprint | 2 lb | $8.48 USPS Ground Advantage | $12.42 Ground Economy |
| Medium box footprint | 4 lb | $8.48 USPS Ground Advantage | $13.18 Ground Economy |
| Large box footprint | 6 lb | $13.51 UPS Ground Saver | $14.31 Ground Economy |
The two tables answer different questions. One Rate's $24.35 medium fare buys a fixed express price to anywhere, boxes included; the $13.18 Ground Economy row underneath it buys the same cubic space moving at ground pace on this particular lane. Neither is wrong, but conflating them is how people overpay: if the deadline is soft, the second table is your market, and if it's hard, the first table's certainty starts earning its premium.
Most sizes come in two cuts
The small, medium and large boxes each list a shallow wide version and a deeper compact one, same fare either way per fedex.com. That doubles your odds of a snug fit, and a snug fit is cheaper to pad and safer in transit.
The tube is priced like a giant
At $42.75 the 38 inch tube shares the top One Rate tier with the extra large box despite holding far less. Posters and blueprints travel fine in plain mailing tubes too; ours quoted a 26 inch tube at $11.07 on UPS Ground the same day.
Branded boxes bind you to FedEx
Pack in FedEx cardboard and you've committed the shipment before comparing carriers. Pack in a plain carton, quote it, and the same physical object can board whichever network bids lowest that morning.
FedEx box size questions
What sizes do FedEx boxes come in?
Per fedex.com, retrieved 2026-07-27: an extra small box at 7-1/4 x 2-1/2 x 4-11/16 inches, small and medium boxes around an 11-1/4 x 8-3/4 footprint in two depths, a large box up to 17-1/2 inches long, an extra large around 11 x 11 x 12, plus an envelope, a padded Pak and a 38 inch tube.
Are FedEx boxes free to get?
The One Rate page on fedex.com, retrieved 2026-07-27, lists the packaging itself at no charge; you pay only when you ship. Boxes, Paks and tubes take contents under 50 lb, envelopes under 10 lb.
What does it cost to ship a FedEx medium box?
Through One Rate, from $24.35, per fedex.com, retrieved 2026-07-27, riding express services at a fixed price. Our live 2026-07-27 quote for an own-box shipment of the same footprint at 4 lb, Newark to Atlanta, started at $8.48 on the ground tiers. Speed is the whole difference.
Should I use One Rate or my own box?
Decide by deadline. One Rate buys a predictable express price anywhere in the country. If the recipient can wait a few extra days, our captures show plain cartons of identical size shipping ground for roughly half the fixed fare or less. Quote both before taping anything.