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Research Guides

Archival Processing

A guide to processing archival collections at OU Libraries

Calculating Collection Size

Calculate the size of a processed collection in cubic feet with this formula: LxWxH in inches divided by 1728 = total c.f. per unit.

Some common container measurements are:

  • Document case legal size 15.5 x 5 x 10.5": 0.471 c.f.
  • Half document case legal size 15.5 x 2.5 x 10.5": 0.235 c.f.
  • Document case letter size 12.5 x 5 x 10.5": 0.380 c.f.
  • Full size record storage carton 10 x 12 x 15": 1.0 c.f.
  • Oversize flat box 36.5 x 48.5 x 1.5": 1.54 c.f.
  • Oversize flat box 36 x 24 x 3": 1.5 c.f.
  • Oversize flat box 23 x 31 x 3": 1.24 c.f.
  • Oversize flat box 20 x 24 x 3": 0.87 c.f.
  • Oversize flat box 16 x 20 x 3": 0.55 c.f.
  • Oversize flat box 13 x 18 x 3": 0.41 c.f.
  • Map drawers 26 x 38 x 2": 1.1 c.f
  • Map drawers 38 x 50 x 2": 2.2 c.f.
  • Map drawers 26 x 38 x 4": 2.3 c.f.
  • Map drawers 38 x 50 x 4": 4.4 c.f.
  • Media box 9 x 16 x 5": 0.42 c.f.
  • Roll tubes 38 x 2 x 2": 0.1 c.f.
  • Roll tubes 50 x 2 x 2": 0.1 c.f.
  • Roll tubes 38 x 4 x 4": 0.4 c.f.
  • Roll tubes 50 x 4 x 4": 0.5 c.f.