Volumetric weight (also known as dimensional weight) is a measurement used in shipping that reflects the amount of space a package occupies relative to its actual weight. It is calculated based on the volume of the parcel (length × width × height) divided by a specific divisor, often 5000 or 6000, depending on the carrier. Shipping charges are then determined by comparing the volumetric weight and the actual weight of the package, with the cost based on whichever is greater.
How volumetric weight is calculated
The formula to calculate volumetric weight is:
Volumetric Weight=Length (cm)×Width (cm)×Height (cm)Divisor\text{Volumetric Weight}=\frac{\text{Length (cm)}\times \text{Width (cm)}\times \text{Height (cm)}}{\text{Divisor}}Volumetric Weight=DivisorLength (cm)×Width (cm)×Height (cm)
Typically, the divisor used by carriers like DHL, FedEx, and UPS is 5000 for metric measurements, but it can vary.
Why volumetric weight matters
Volumetric weight helps carriers price shipping based on the space a package occupies in transport rather than just its physical weight. This ensures that large but lightweight packages, like pillows or feathers, that take up a lot of space but weigh little, are charged fairly for the space they occupy. Shipping prices use the higher value between the actual weight and volumetric weight, known as the billable or chargeable weight.
