Donaldson R F Dimensional Weight Calculator
Couriers charge for the larger of a parcel's real weight and its volumetric weight. Find out which one you will pay for.
Volumetric weight in plain English
A large, light parcel takes up as much room on a van or plane as a small, heavy one, so couriers charge by whichever is greater: the actual weight or the volumetric (dimensional) weight. Volumetric weight is length × width × height divided by a divisor that the carrier sets. In metric it is (cm × cm × cm) ÷ 5000 = kg for most international express services, 4000 for some couriers and freight, and 6000 for standard air freight. In the US, domestic services typically use 139 (in³ per lb) for express and 166 for some ground and retail services.
These are common examples only — the divisor, the rounding rules and the way girth or extra-large surcharges apply differ between carriers and services and change over time, so check your carrier's current terms and choose “Custom” to enter theirs. Measure the outside of the packed parcel at its longest points, including any bulge. Use this tool to compare packaging options: trimming a few centimetres off a box can move a parcel down a price band.