When planning a document scanning service, you’ll need to calculate the number of documents you have to scan in order to get a picture of the size and costs of your project.
The most common methods used to estimate your papers is by the number of bankers boxes or file boxes you have, or how many sheets of paper per inch you have in a filing cabinet or shelf.
We usually start by asking you how many boxes you have to store or scan, but here’s some more specific information on how you can calculate that number to receive an accurate quote.
Estimation of Pages or Sheets By Container
The type of container your documents are in can help you estimate the number of pages you have to scan. Check out this quick reference table to help estimate your volume.
| Type of Container | Approximate Number of Pages or Sheets |
| Standard Bankers Box or Copy Box (measuring 12.5” W x 15.5” D x 10.5” H) | 2,000 – 2,500 sheets of paper |
| Large File Box (measuring 15” W x 24” D x 10.5” H.) | 4,000 – 4,500 sheets of paper |
| Shelf or Filing Cabinet (per inch of space) | 150 – 200 sheets of paper |
To estimate how many boxes of documents you have, you can also consider this:
- If your documents aren’t packed tightly and you have 150 sheets per inch, then you need 1 standard bankers box for every 13–16 inches of space on your shelves.
- If you can’t fit one more piece of paper on your shelf, you’re probably closer to 200 sheets per inch. In that case, you’ll need 1 standard bankers box for every 10–12 inches of space on your shelves.
Although this is an approximate number, it will give you an idea of how many boxes you have, or approximately how many actual documents that you need to scan.
