Dimensional, volumetric & chargeable weight calculator
Compare actual and volumetric weight, apply per-piece billing increments, and test a smaller box. Metric and imperial inputs with carrier assumptions shown.
USPS calculations use inches even when you enter centimetres. Measurement rounding and the volume threshold follow the cited USPS rule.
DHL Express · 11.02 lb
| Step | Working | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Volume per piece | 40 × 30 × 20 | 24,000 cm³ |
| Volumetric weight per pieceThe divisor 5000 is the carrier's published centimetres-to-kilograms factor.Source: DHL | 24000 ÷ 5000 | 4.8 kg |
| Actual weight | 2 kg | |
| Greater of the twoThis parcel is bulky for its weight, so the carrier bills the volume figure. | max(2, 4.8) | 4.8 kg |
| Each piece rounded up, then multiplied by quantityThis carrier bills in 0.5 kg steps at this weight.Source: DHL | ceil(4.8 / 0.5) × 0.5 × 1 | 5 kg |
| Chargeable weight | 5 kg |
Compare this packing decision
Presets: DHL metric volume with assumed billing increments, UPS US daily rates, and USPS parcel rules. Weights are totals for identical pieces, each rounded before multiplying. Lower weight does not necessarily mean a lower shipping price.
| Carrier | Current kg | Smaller kg |
|---|---|---|
| DHL | 5 | 5 |
| UPS | 5.44 | 5.44 |
| USPS | 2.27 | 2.27 |
Carrier divisor reference
Compare the stored assumptions below with your service contract. A divisor alone does not determine the price.
| Carrier | Context | in / lb | cm / kg | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DHL Express | Metric volume calculation | — | 5000 | Calculate centimetres to kilograms. The calculator uses half-kilo steps up to 30 kg and whole-kilo steps above as a planning assumption; check your local billing agreement.DHL |
| UPS US | Daily rates | 139 | — | Inches to pounds. The preset rounds dimensions up and final weight to whole pounds. Contract terms can override published defaults.UPS |
| UPS US | Retail rates (reference only) | 166 | — | A lower dimensional weight is not proof of a lower price: the retail and daily rate tables differ. The daily-rate calculator preset does not use 166.UPS |
| USPSchanged 2026-07-12 | Rectangular parcels over one cubic foot | 139 | — | Round each dimension up in inches before checking the threshold. Postal sub-pound rate bands are handled separately by the postage worksheet.USPS Postal Explorer |
A larger divisor lowers the raw volume-derived weight. Rates, rounding, service eligibility and surcharges still determine the payable amount. Presets above are deliberately limited to the stated scope.
Step 2 of 3 — I am importing stock
What will a unit actually cost me, landed and cleared?
- Step 1CBMHow much space the shipment takes
- You are here Billable weight
- Step 3Landed costThe true cost per unit
One parcel, three useful weights
Actual weight comes from the packed parcel on a scale. Dimensional weight converts its measured volume using a service-specific divisor. Chargeable weight is the larger result after billing increments. This page combines those steps so changing the unit system does not require a separate tool or page.
Test a packing decision
Consider a 40 × 30 × 20 cm parcel weighing 2 kg. On a 5000 cm³/kg rule, dimensional weight is 4.8 kg. With an assumed half-kilo billing increment, the result is 5 kg. Reducing each side by 2 cm gives 38 × 28 × 18 ÷ 5000 = 3.8304 kg, rounded to 4 kg. That removes one billed kilogram only if the product and protection still fit. It does not prove a particular cash saving; apply your quote in the shipping-cost worksheet.
Units and scope matter
DHL is calculated in centimetres; UPS US daily and USPS presets use inches even when you enter centimetres. UPS retail uses a different divisor and is shown in the reference table, not selected by the daily-rate preset. USPS tests its volume threshold after rounding measurements. Other carrier presets were withdrawn pending service-specific verification.
Identical pieces and a boundary example
Three identical parcels each with a 1.1 kg winning weight, on an assumed 0.5 kg increment, bill at 1.5 kg each: 4.5 kg total. Rounding the combined 3.3 kg to 3.5 kg understates the result. Calculate mixed-size parcels separately. For USPS, a 12-inch cube is exactly one cubic foot; a 12.1 × 12 × 12 inch box rounds up and crosses the threshold.
What to check next
Use the size and girth checker for the recorded limits and the cost worksheet for rates. This calculator does not establish service acceptance, minimum billed weight from oversize charges or account-specific pricing. The billing uplift is a comparison of weights, not a measurement of empty space inside the box.
Questions people ask about this
Answers written from the published rules, not from other people's summaries of them. Every figure quoted below is listed with its source at the foot of this page.
Every formula on this siteAre volumetric and dimensional weight different?
They describe the same volume-based calculation. Chargeable weight adds the comparison with actual weight and the billing increment.
Why can equal-looking divisors give different results?
5000 centimetres-to-kilograms and 139 inches-to-pounds are separate tariff conventions, not exact unit conversions. The preset’s billing system is held constant when input units change.
Does this choose the cheapest carrier?
No. The comparison tests measured weight and packaging. Prices, account discounts, service coverage, oversize minimums and other charges can outweigh a difference in billed kilograms.
Can I use it for a tube or mixed-size shipment?
The public worksheet assumes rectangular parcels of identical size and weight. For mixed pieces, calculate each separately. Nonrectangular postal rules require a service-specific shape adjustment; a rectangular estimate can overstate that weight.
Further reading
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Where these numbers come from
Rates and rules change, and a calculator running on stale data is worse than no calculator. Every figure below carries the date we last checked it and a confidence level, so you can judge how much weight to put on it.
| Source | Publisher | Effective | Confidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| DMM 113.1.3 — dimensional weight, and Notice 123 price list Read directly off the Domestic Mail Manual, revision 7-12-26. It states the divisor as 139, applies dimensional weight only to parcels exceeding one cubic foot (1,728 cubic inches), requires each measurement to be rounded up to the nearest whole inch before multiplying, and requires the result to be rounded up to the next whole number. Nonrectangular parcels multiply the cubic dimensions by 0.785 first. Notice 123, effective the same date, confirms the threshold and the 108-to-130 inch oversize band. | USPS Postal Explorer | 2026-07-12Checked 2026-08-18 | Primary source |
| DHL Express weight and dimensions Supports centimetres divided by 5000 and per-piece comparison with actual weight. It does not establish every local billing increment; the worksheet labels those increments as assumptions. | DHL | Not specifiedChecked 2026-09-21 | Primary source |
| UPS US dimensions, billable weight and size limits US daily divisor 139; retail divisor 166; whole-pound billing; 150 lb, 108 inch length and 165 inch combined limit. This page includes conflicting general measurement wording; the preset follows its explicit round-up instructions. Confirm the governing service guide or contract. | UPS | Not specifiedChecked 2026-09-21 | Primary source |
Page updated . Spotted something out of date? Tell us — corrections are published with the date they were made.
More on the working: every formula on this site, the full source register, what the terms mean, and how we decide what to publish. What an estimate here can and cannot support is set out in the accuracy notes.