Calculators

Dimensional Weight Calculator

DIM weight and billable weight for UPS, FedEx, USPS, express and air freight: see which one the carrier will charge.

How it works

Carriers charge for the space a package takes as well as its weight. The box's volume divided by the carrier's divisor gives a dimensional weight, and you pay for whichever is higher, that or the actual weight. US parcel carriers round each side to the nearest inch and bill whole pounds; air cargo works in centimetres and bills in half-kilogram steps.

DIM weight = length × width × height ÷ divisor; billable = max(actual, DIM)
139
UPS and FedEx daily rates, inches and pounds
166
USPS, inches and pounds
5000
International express, centimetres and kilograms
6000
IATA air freight, centimetres and kilograms

Worked example

An 18 × 14 × 12 in box weighing 8 lb, shipped UPS Ground.

  1. 1Volume: 18 × 14 × 12 = 3,024 in³
  2. 2DIM weight: 3,024 ÷ 139 = 21.8, rounded up to 22 lb
  3. 3Actual weight: 8 lb
  4. 4Billable: the greater of 22 and 8

Billed as 22 lb, 14 lb more than the box actually weighs.

Frequently asked questions

Does dimensional weight apply to every package?

UPS and FedEx apply it to all ground and air packages. USPS applies it to Priority Mail and Ground Advantage parcels over one cubic foot (1,728 in³). Air cargo and international express always use volumetric weight. Small, dense packages are almost never affected.

How do I lower dimensional weight?

Use the smallest box the product fits in with adequate padding. A single inch off each side of an 18 × 14 × 12 box cuts DIM weight by about 20%. Poly mailers suit soft goods, and high-volume shippers can negotiate a higher divisor, such as 166 or 194 instead of 139, which lowers DIM weight on every package.

What is the difference between 5000 and 6000 divisors?

Express couriers such as DHL Express, UPS Worldwide and FedEx International divide cubic centimetres by 5000, which gives a higher volumetric weight. Airlines and freight forwarders use the IATA standard of 6000. The same box can therefore bill 20% heavier by express courier than as air cargo.

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