Dimensional weight

Dimensional weight, also known as volumetric weight, is a pricing technique for commercial freight transport (including courier and postal services), which uses an estimated weight that is calculated from the length, width and height of a package.

The shipping fee is based upon the dimensional weight or the actual weight, whichever is greater.

Significance

Shipping costs have historically been calculated on the basis of gross weight in kilograms or pounds. By charging only by weight, lightweight, low density packages become unprofitable for freight carriers due to the amount of space they take up in the truck/aircraft/ship in proportion to their actual weight.

The concept of dimensional weight has been adopted by the transportation industry worldwide as a uniform means of establishing a minimum charge for the cubic space a package occupies. In fact, UPS^[1] and FedEx^[2] both announced that starting 2015, shipping charges on all shipments (air and ground) will be determined by greater of the actual weight and dimensional weight of a package. Prior to this announcement, dimensional weight charges were only applicable to packages of a specific size range.

Weight calculation

Dimensional weight is a calculation of a theoretical weight of a package. This theoretical weight is the weight of the package at a minimum density chosen by the freight carrier. If the package is below this minimum density, then the actual weight is irrelevant as the freight carrier will charge for the volume of the package as if it were of the chosen density (what the package would weigh at the minimum density).

Furthermore, the volume used to calculate the dimensional weight may not be absolutely representative of the true volume of the package. The freight carrier will measure the longest dimension in each of the three axis (X, Y, Z) and use these measurements to determine the package volume. If the package is a right-angled rectangular box (cuboid), then this will be equal to the true volume of the package. However, if the package is of any other shape, then the calculation of volume will be more than the true volume of the package.

Dimensional weight is also known as DIM weight, volumetric weight, or cubed weight. Freight carriers utilize the greater of the actual weight or dimensional weight to calculate shipping charges. Dimensional weight is calculated as (length × width × height) / (dimensional factor). Measurements can be made all in inches or all in centimeters, but the appropriate shipping factor must also be used.

Shipping factors for imperial measurements represent cubic inches per pound (in³/lb) while metric factors represent cubic centimeters per kilogram (cm³/kg). These are the inverse of the package density. Dimensional weight is applied when the actual product density is less than the minimum density represented by the chosen factor. Dimensional weight is representative of the weight of the package at the minimum density accepted by the freight carrier.^[3] Shipping factors are not only different for imperial and metric measurements, but also for shipment mode and in some cases between different customers. Shipping factors will be available from the freight carrier. Some common factors are listed below.

Imperial shipping factor examples:

139 in³/lb <=> 12 lb/ft³
166 in³/lb <=> 10.4 lb/ft³ - common for IATA shipments
194 in³/lb <=> 8.9 lb/ft³ - common for domestic shipments
216 in³/lb <=> 8.0 lb/ft³
225 in³/lb <=> 7.7 lb/ft³
250 in³/lb <=> 6.9 lb/ft³

Metric shipping factor examples:

5000 cm³/kg <=> 200 kg/m³
6000 cm³/kg <=> 166.667 kg/m³
7000 cm³/kg <=> 142.857 kg/m³

When calculating the dimensional weight with metric measurements, the length, width, and height are measured in centimeters (cm) and the result is stated in a nominal kilogram (kg) dimensional weight band (usually rounded up).^[4]

Shipping companies

Canada Post^[5]: Expedited or Regular : 6,000 cm³/kg (166 cu in/lb) or 1⁄6 kg/dm³ (10 lb/cu ft); Priority, Xpresspost, U.S. and International : 5,000 cm³/kg (138 cu in/lb) or 1⁄5 kg/dm³ (12 lb/cu ft)

DHL Express: Global: 5,000 cm³/kg (138 cu in/lb) or 1⁄5 kg/dm³ (12 lb/cu ft)^[6]; United Arab Emirates: 4,000 cm³/kg (111 cu in/lb) or 1⁄4 kg/dm³ (16 lb/cu ft)^[7]

FedEx^[8]^[9]: International: 139 cubic inches per pound (5,000 cm³/kg) or 1⁄5 kg/dm³ (12 lb/cu ft); U.S. and Puerto Rico: 139 cubic inches per pound (5,000 cm³/kg) or 1⁄5 kg/dm³ (12 lb/cu ft)

United Parcel Service^[10]^[11]: International: 139 cubic inches per pound (5,000 cm³/kg) or 1⁄5 kg/dm³ (12 lb/cu ft); U.S. Domestic: 139 cubic inches per pound (5,000 cm³/kg) or 1⁄5 kg/dm³ (12 lb/cu ft) (Daily rates only, for packages that exceed one cubic foot / 1,728 cubic inches.); U.S. Domestic: 166 cubic inches per pound (6,000 cm³/kg) or 1⁄6 kg/dm³ (10 lb/cu ft) (Retail rates only, for all packages. Daily rates only, for packages equal to or less than one cubic foot / 1,728 cubic inches.); Canada Domestic: 139 cubic inches per pound (5,000 cm³/kg) or 1⁄5 kg/dm³ (12 lb/cu ft) (All except UPS Standard within Canada.); Canada Domestic: 166 cubic inches per pound (6,000 cm³/kg) or 1⁄6 kg/dm³ (10 lb/cu ft) (UPS Standard within Canada.)

United States Postal Service^[12]^[13]: International: 166 cubic inches per pound (6,000 cm³/kg) or 1⁄6 kg/dm³ (10 lb/cu ft) (Global Express Guaranteed only); Domestic: 194 cubic inches per pound (7,000 cm³/kg) or 1⁄7 kg/dm³ (8.9 lb/cu ft) (Priority Mail only, parcels delivered to Zones 5-9 that exceed one cubic foot / 1,728 cubic inches.)

Examples

Using dimensional weight calculations, a freight carrier will charge for lightweight (low density) packages as if they had a greater weight (the weight of the package at the minimum accepted density).

For example, a box of clothing shipped internationally which weighs 10 pounds and measures 18 × 18 × 18 inches would be charged as if it weighed 36 pounds: (18 x 18 x 18)/166 = 35.1 pounds which is then rounded up to 36 pounds for shipping cost purposes. The 35.1 pounds is the 'theoretical" weight of the package if it had a density of 166 in³/lb or 10.4 lb/ft³: (18 × 18 × 18) = 3.375 ft³ × 10.4 lb/ft³ = 35.1 lb.

Note that for the USPS there are two different calculations for DIM weight: (L × W × H)/194 for domestic shipments and (L × W × H)/166 for international shipments.

Several programs are available to calculate dimensional weight: Dim Weight Calculator

Practical application

Dimensional weight favors shippers of dense objects and penalizes those who ship lightweight boxes. A box of unpopped corn kernels will likely be charged by gross weight; a box of popcorn will probably be charged by its dimensional weight. This is because the large box of popcorn takes up a lot of space but does not fill up a vehicle's capacity in terms of weight, making it an inefficient use of space.^[14]

Shippers avoid dimensional weight charges by using smaller boxes, by compressing their goods, and by reducing the use of packing materials.

Commercial use

Dimensional weight is commonly used for invoicing by air freight forwarders, truck carriers, as well as all commercial airlines worldwide. In 2007, DHL, FedEx, United Parcel Service and USPS adopted the dimensional weight system for ground services.

In May 2007, the United States Postal Service (USPS) adopted dimensional weight, calling it "Shape Based Postage Pricing". This rate system is designed to charge more for lightweight items, and also to recover costs involving manual sorting and handling, since many postal machines are built to handle flats. This system would charge much more for mailing a parcel than a flat envelope. It encourages mailing books and DVDs in flat paperboard or plastic envelopes, rather than padded mailers.

Such companies use automated systems called dimensioners for calculating both dimensional and actual weight and invoice their customers accordingly. More and more transport and logistics companies including warehouses and retailers are investing in dimensioning equipment for calculating the dimensional weight of their packages in order to keep in line with their carriers and avoid back charges.^[15]

Cube weight is used in less than truckload shipping (LTL) to fill trailers with small heavy objects in them with light weight large objects to increase load factor. Generally cube and weight are reference data from the shipment table.

References

^ Lauren Jow. "New FedEx & UPS Dimensional Weight Changes". Shipwire. Archived from the original on 2016-08-28. Retrieved 2016-06-07.
^ "FedEx Announces Pricing Changes". May 2, 2014. Archived from the original on April 30, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.
^ "Dimensional weight". Shipping & Freight. January 28, 2012. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved October 21, 2009.
^ How to Measure a Box Dimension
^ "ABCs of Mailing - 3.4 Shipping charges and weight". Canada Post. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
^ "Volumetric Weight". DHL Global. Archived from the original on 2011-12-13. Retrieved 2011-12-17.
^ "Volumetric Weight". DHL United Arab Emirates. Archived from the original on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2011-12-17.
^ "How to Pack" (PDF). FedEx. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-11-23. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
^ "Other Factors That Can Affect Your Shipping Rate - FedEx". www.fedex.com. Archived from the original on 2017-01-12. Retrieved 2017-01-19.
^ "How to Determine Billable Weight". United Parcel Service. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2016-02-26.
^ "UPS Rates: 2017 Rate Change". rates.ups.com. Archived from the original on 2017-01-26. Retrieved 2017-01-19.
^ "USPS Notice 123". pe.usps.com. Archived from the original on 2016-07-07. Retrieved 2017-02-10.
^ "Domestic Mail Manual". USPS Postal Explorer. United States Postal Service. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.
^ "Moving Air" (PDF). Mettler Toledo. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-06-24. Retrieved 2008-03-07.
^ "Ten Year Global Partnership with DHL Parent Company". Mettler Toledo. Archived from the original on 2007-11-12. Retrieved 2021-02-28.

[1] Lauren Jow. "New FedEx & UPS Dimensional Weight Changes". Shipwire. Archived from the original on 2016-08-28. Retrieved 2016-06-07.

[2] "FedEx Announces Pricing Changes". May 2, 2014. Archived from the original on April 30, 2023. Retrieved April 30, 2023.

[3] "Dimensional weight". Shipping & Freight. January 28, 2012. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved October 21, 2009.

[4] How to Measure a Box Dimension

[5] "ABCs of Mailing - 3.4 Shipping charges and weight". Canada Post. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2016-02-26.

[6] "Volumetric Weight". DHL Global. Archived from the original on 2011-12-13. Retrieved 2011-12-17.

[7] "Volumetric Weight". DHL United Arab Emirates. Archived from the original on 2012-04-26. Retrieved 2011-12-17.

[8] "How to Pack" (PDF). FedEx. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-11-23. Retrieved 2016-02-26.

[9] "Other Factors That Can Affect Your Shipping Rate - FedEx". www.fedex.com. Archived from the original on 2017-01-12. Retrieved 2017-01-19.

[10] "How to Determine Billable Weight". United Parcel Service. Archived from the original on 2016-03-05. Retrieved 2016-02-26.

[11] "UPS Rates: 2017 Rate Change". rates.ups.com. Archived from the original on 2017-01-26. Retrieved 2017-01-19.

[12] "USPS Notice 123". pe.usps.com. Archived from the original on 2016-07-07. Retrieved 2017-02-10.

[13] "Domestic Mail Manual". USPS Postal Explorer. United States Postal Service. Archived from the original on 1 March 2021. Retrieved 25 January 2021.

[14] "Moving Air" (PDF). Mettler Toledo. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2016-06-24. Retrieved 2008-03-07.

[15] "Ten Year Global Partnership with DHL Parent Company". Mettler Toledo. Archived from the original on 2007-11-12. Retrieved 2021-02-28.

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