Shipping cost calculator

The parcel

Length

Width

Height

Unit

Weight each

Pieces

Rate

Dated USPS tables are available below. For your own rate, replace the example price and fuel percentage with your quote. DHL billing increments are assumptions; confirm your service contract.

Rate source

Carrier

Divisor 5000

Currency

Rate type

Rate per chargeable kilo

Fixed base charge

Surcharges

These are where quotes and invoices diverge.

Fuel surcharge

Resets weekly against a diesel index. Take the current figure from your invoice or the carrier's surcharge page.

Remote area surcharge

Residential delivery

Additional handling / oversize

Total shipping cost

$59.38

On 5 kg chargeable weight total

Chargeable weight

5 kg

Billed on volume

Cost per kilo shipped

$14.84

Freight before surcharges

$47.50

Surcharges

$11.88

What you are paying for

80%

20%

Freight (5 kg × $9.5)−$47.5080%
Fuel surcharge (25%)−$11.8820%

Step-by-step breakdown of the calculation
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		4 kg
Greater of the twoThis parcel is bulky for its weight, so the carrier bills the volume figure.	max(4, 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

Shipping cost on ShipMargin Rates checked 21 Sept 2026 How this is calculated