Introduction
Volumetric weight is the amount of space a package takes up during shipping. Carriers charge you based on whichever is higher: the actual weight or the volumetric weight.4 This is because a large, light box still takes up room on a truck or plane. Our free volumetric weight calculator finds the billable weight of your shipment. Just enter your package dimensions, actual weight, and carrier divisor. The tool works for both box and tube shapes, supports metric and imperial units, and handles multiple packages at once. Use it to avoid surprise shipping costs and plan your logistics with confidence.
How to Use Our Volumetric Weight Calculator
Enter your package details below to find the volumetric weight, actual weight, and billable weight. The calculator compares both weights and shows which one your carrier will charge you for.
Package Type: Pick "Box" if your package is rectangular or "Tube" if it is round like a cylinder.
Unit System: Choose "Metric" to use centimeters and kilograms, or "Imperial" to use inches and pounds.
Length: Enter the longest side of your package.
Width: Enter the second longest side of your box. This field only shows for box-shaped packages.
Height: Enter the shortest side of your box. This field only shows for box-shaped packages.
Diameter: Enter the distance across the round end of your tube. This field only shows for tube-shaped packages.
Actual Weight: Enter how much your package weighs on a scale.
Carrier Divisor: Enter the divisor your shipping carrier uses. DHL Express uses 5,000 for centimeters and kilograms.1 FedEx uses 139 for inches and pounds.2 Check with your carrier if you are not sure.
Number of Packages: Enter how many identical packages you are shipping. The calculator will multiply the results for you.
Click Calculate to see your results. Click Reset to clear all fields and start over.
What Is Volumetric Weight?
Volumetric weight (also called dimensional weight or DIM weight) is a way shipping carriers figure out how much to charge you based on the size of your package, not just how heavy it is. A big, light box takes up a lot of space on a truck or plane, so carriers use volumetric weight to make sure they get paid fairly for that space. Knowing the volume of your package is the first step.
How Is Volumetric Weight Calculated?
To find the volumetric weight of a box, you multiply the length × width × height and then divide by a number called the divisor. For metric measurements (centimeters and kilograms), DHL Express uses a divisor of 5,000.1 For imperial measurements (inches and pounds), FedEx divides by 139.2 UPS divides by 166 for domestic packages at its retail rates and by 139 for export packages.3 Divisors differ between carriers and services, so always check with your carrier first.
What Is Billable Weight?
Carriers compare your package's actual weight on a scale to its volumetric weight. Whichever number is higher becomes the billable weight, and that is the weight you pay for.3 This means even a very light package can cost more to ship if it is large in size.
Why Does Volumetric Weight Matter?
Understanding volumetric weight helps you save money on shipping. If you can use a smaller box or reduce empty space with better packaging, you lower the volumetric weight and may pay less. This is especially important for businesses that ship many packages every day, because small savings per box add up fast. Pairing this calculator with our Lead Time Calculator gives you a fuller picture of your supply chain performance, helping you plan both costs and delivery timelines.
Box vs. Tube Packages
Most packages are box-shaped, but some items ship in tubes or cylinders. UPS measures each dimension of a package at its longest point.3 For a tube, that makes the width and the height both equal to the diameter, so the volume is length × diameter × diameter. The calculator above handles both shapes for you automatically.