US Patent 10118723 Custom containers in a materials handling facility

Described herein are systems and techniques for determining a pack station for storing inventory in a materials handling facility, routing item packages to pack stations based on size ranges for custom containers and optimizing dimensions of custom containers based on dimensions of a shipping container. For example, the systems described herein may allocate a percentage of inventory to a custom inventory location that is physically near custom container forming devices, thereby reducing the cost to pick, sort, pack and route items for shipment, storing or otherwise handling in a custom container.