Volumetric weight, decoded

The honest dimensional weight calculator.

Seventeen carriers across five continents. Two unit systems. One billable number that decides what your package actually costs to ship.

17
Carriers worldwide
29
Articles · guides
30
Comparisons
Compute billable weight
CALC.001 / DIM-WEIGHT
Shipment type
Unit system
Package dimensions
L
W
H
Actual weight (lb)
Focus on carrier (optional)
ƒ

Awaiting dimensions. Enter package details to compute billable weight.

The mechanics

Carriers charge for space, not just weight.

— 01

Dimensional weight is a pricing fiction

Carriers invented DIM weight to charge fairly for packages that hog truck space but weigh little. A pillow-filled box and a lead brick of the same size take up identical room — so they cost the same to ship.

— 02

The divisor is the punchline

Volume divided by a number — typically 139 for US carriers, 5000 for metric. Smaller divisor means higher DIM weight. The number itself isn't physics. It's a business choice each carrier makes.

— 03

You pay the higher of two weights

Carriers compute both your actual weight (the scale number) and your dimensional weight (the box-size number). The bigger one becomes your billable weight.

Billable weight = max ( actual weight, ( L × W × H ) ÷ divisor )
— always rounded up to the next whole unit
Browse by region

Seventeen carriers across five continents.

USA
FedEx
÷ 139in³/lb
USA
UPS
÷ 139in³/lb
USA
USPS
÷ 166in³/lb
Global
DHL Express
÷ 5000cm³/kg
India
Blue Dart
÷ 5000cm³/kg
UAE
Aramex
÷ 5000cm³/kg
China
SF Express
÷ 6000cm³/kg
Australia
Australia Post
÷ 4000cm³/kg
See all 17 carriers →
Carrier comparisons

Head-to-head carrier matchups.

Thirty side-by-side comparisons — same package, two carriers, see which one wins. Each comparison page has a live calculator locked to the two carriers being compared.

US
FedEx vs UPS
÷ 139 vs ÷ 139in³/lb
India
Blue Dart vs DTDC
÷ 5000 vs ÷ 5000cm³/kg
N. America
Canada Post vs USPS
÷ 6000 vs ÷ 6000cm³/kg
Global
DHL vs Aramex
÷ 5000 vs ÷ 5000cm³/kg
All 30 comparisons →
Recent guides

Field notes on dimensional weight.

Comparison · May 2026
FedEx vs UPS Dimensional Weight: Which Is Actually Cheaper?
Both use the same 139 divisor — so why do shippers see different bills? The real difference is in base rates, fuel surcharges, and which divisor you actually get.
USPS · May 2026
How USPS Calculates Dimensional Weight in 2026
USPS has the friendliest DIM rules in US shipping — but only if your package crosses the 1 cubic foot threshold. Here's exactly when DIM applies and when it doesn't.
DHL · May 2026
DHL Volumetric Weight Calculator Explained
DHL calls it "volumetric weight" — the math is identical to dimensional weight elsewhere. Here's the divisor, the math, and the international rules that trip people up.
Fundamentals · May 2026
What Is Billable Weight? A Complete Guide
Billable weight is the number carriers actually charge you for. It's never just the scale weight — and understanding why determines whether your shipping bill makes sense.
Strategy · May 2026
How to Reduce Dimensional Weight Charges
You can't eliminate DIM charges, but you can dramatically reduce them. Here are the seven tactics that actually work, ranked by ROI.
All articles →