FLUF / THE SELLER REFERENCE
Dimensional weight: volumetric weight and parcel examples
A carrier’s weight-equivalent measure of how much space a parcel occupies, also called volumetric weight.
Why a light parcel can cost more to ship
Carriers have limited vehicle and aircraft space as well as weight capacity. A large box of lightweight goods occupies space that could carry other parcels. Dimensional pricing gives that space a weight-equivalent value for rating purposes, subject to the service’s rules.
How the calculation works
A common form is length × width × height divided by a carrier-specified divisor. The dimensions, units, rounding and divisor must match the service. The divisor is not universal, and the applicable rules can vary by country, carrier, contract and service.
Illustrative example, not a carrier quote
A packed box measuring 40 × 30 × 20 centimetres has a volume of 24,000 cubic centimetres. If a hypothetical service uses a divisor of 5,000, the dimensional weight is 4.8 kilograms before that service’s rounding. A two-kilogram scale weight would therefore not necessarily be the weight used to price it.
Actual weight versus billable weight
Actual weight is the scale measurement of the complete packed parcel. Billable weight is the weight used for charging under the applicable service rules, often based on the larger of actual and dimensional weight. Minimum charges and size or handling surcharges can still affect the final amount.
What sellers should measure
Measure after packing, including protective material and any protrusions. A product’s dimensions are not its parcel dimensions. When combining purchases, remeasure the combined package and compare available services. Avoid a fixed shipping promise based only on an unpacked item’s scale weight.
Put it into practice
Explore shipping guidance. For selling across marketplaces, see FLUF Connect crosslisting and current plans and pricing.
Related terms
Reference
Primary reference: UPS. The examples on this page are illustrative, not customer results or universal benchmarks.
