Before 19 September 2009, the record for the largest cardboard box went to an example that measured 4.85 m x 12.88 m x 2.45 m (15.9 ft x 45.25 ft x  8.03 ft) and this was the goal that textbook rental company Chegg.com were trying to beat with their record attempt at the famous Rose Bowl football stadium in Pasadena, California, USA.

The previous record was only set a couple of weeks prior, on the 3 September 2009, in New York City. The Chegg.com team had already been preparing their attempt for months before that point, and when news broke of the successful attempt on 3 September, they saw the task before them become even tougher.

Chegg.com's record attempt was timed to coincide with the big UCLA versus Kansas State football game the company were also sponsoring. They even had their company mascot "Shelly" on hand to help with the coin toss and the odd bit of cheerleading.

Chegg.com is one of the fastest growing companies on the internet, and since it launched in the US in 2007, it has quickly become the leading online textbook rental company, saving students a lot of money and planting a tree every time a textbook is rented. To date, Chegg.com have planted over 850 acres of trees, or the equivalent of 650 Rose Bowls.

Chegg.com's cardboard box was a replica of company's delivery box; bright orange, with the Chegg.com slogan "Don’t Buy It" and their now-famous mascot, Shelly the walking/dancing/cheerleading egg. Carl Saville, the Guinness World Records™ adjudicator on the scene, measured the box and found it to be 6.12 m X 14.05 m X 2.75 m (20.1 ft X 46.1 ft X 9.025 ft) with a total volume of 236.8 cubic meters, making it a new Guinness World Records world-beater.

20 September 2009.