Dimensional Weight Calculator
Volumetric weight versus actual, and which one bills.
Billable weight
6.91 lb
billed on dimensional weight
Dimensional weight is binding, so box size is your largest cost lever. Each inch removed has a multiplied effect because the calculation is volumetric.
How the Dimensional Weight Calculator works
Dimensional weight prices the space a parcel occupies rather than its mass, because a van fills up before it reaches its weight limit. Whenever a package is bulky relative to what it weighs, the dimensional figure is what you pay for — and knowing which one binds tells you whether to redesign the box or the product.
Not financial advice. Marketplace fees change, and they vary by country, plan and seller status. Every rate here is an editable default, not a quoted price — check the platform's current fee schedule before you price a product against it. This is not tax or business advice.
Frequently asked questions
How is dimensional weight calculated?
Length × width × height ÷ the carrier's divisor. In inches and pounds the common divisor is 139; in centimetres and kilograms it is 5000. A 12 × 10 × 8 inch box is 960 cubic inches, or roughly 6.9 lb dimensional weight.
What is a dim divisor and why does it vary?
It converts volume into a weight equivalent, and carriers set it themselves. A lower divisor means a higher dimensional weight and a higher bill. Negotiated contracts often include a more favourable divisor, which is one of the more valuable things to bargain for.
When does dimensional weight apply?
Whenever it exceeds actual weight, which is most of the time for anything light and bulky — apparel, cushions, packaged goods with protective void fill. Dense items like books and tools are almost always billed on actual weight.
How do I reduce dimensional weight?
Smaller boxes, right-sized to the product; poly mailers instead of boxes where the product allows; compressing or flat-packing; and removing unnecessary void fill. Each inch removed from a dimension has a multiplied effect, because the calculation is volumetric.