📦 Dimensional Weight Calculator
See what carriers will bill for your box, in inches or centimeters
Calculate Billable Weight
Result
| Divisor | Used by | Dim weight | Billable weight |
|---|
Couriers round each measurement and the billable weight up, so an invoice can come in slightly above this figure.
How Dimensional Weight Works
Carriers charge for the space a parcel takes up, not only what it weighs. They multiply length by width by height, divide by a divisor, and bill the higher of that figure or the scale weight. A large, light box of pillows can therefore cost the same as a small, heavy box of books.
The standard international divisor for couriers at list price is 139 when you measure in inches and pounds, and 5,000 in centimeters and kilograms. The two are close but not identical, which is why the same box can land a pound apart depending on the unit used. Negotiated accounts sometimes get a higher divisor, which lowers the billable weight.
Three Ways to Cut Billable Weight
Trim the box
Cutting one inch off each side of a 16 inch cube removes about 17% of the volume.
Use a mailer
Soft goods in a poly mailer compress, and a thin parcel often bills on scale weight.
Compare post
Postal services apply dim pricing less often, so a bulky light parcel can suit them well.
The full explanation, with carrier rules, is in the dimensional weight guide. Next, run the billable weight through the rate calculator, or convert units with the weight converter.