A complete 2026 reference of dimensional weight (or volumetric weight) divisors used by major carriers worldwide. Save this page; we update it whenever carriers publish changes.
United States
| Carrier | Service | Imperial (in/lb) | Metric (cm/kg) |
|---|
| FedEx | Ground Daily Rates | 139 | 5000 |
| FedEx | Ground Retail Rates | 166 | 5000 |
| FedEx | Express (all tiers) | 139 | 5000 |
| UPS | Ground Daily Rates | 139 | 5000 |
| UPS | Ground Retail Rates | 166 | 5000 |
| UPS | Air (2nd Day, Next Day) | 139 | 5000 |
| USPS | Priority / Priority Express | 166 | 6000 |
| USPS | Ground Advantage | 166 | 6000 |
Europe
| Carrier | Service | Metric (cm/kg) |
|---|
| DHL Express (Germany / Global) | All Express tiers | 5000 |
| Deutsche Post DHL (Germany) | Paket / International | 5000 |
| Royal Mail (UK) | International Tracked | 5000 |
| Poste Italiane (Italy) | SDA Express | 5000 |
| Posten / Bring (Norway) | International | 5000 |
Americas
| Carrier | Service | Metric (cm/kg) |
|---|
| Canada Post | All services | 6000 |
| Correios (Brazil) | SEDEX / PAC / International | 6000 |
Asia & Middle East
| Carrier | Service | Metric (cm/kg) |
|---|
| Blue Dart (India · DHL Group) | Domestic & International Air | 5000 |
| DTDC (India) | Air Express | 5000 |
| India Post | Speed Post (EMS) / International | 5000 |
| Aramex (UAE · Global) | Express Worldwide | 5000 |
| SF Express (China) | Air Express | 5000 |
| SF Express (China) | Standard / Ground | 6000 |
| Japan Post / EMS | International EMS | 6000 |
Oceania
| Carrier | Service | Metric (cm/kg) |
|---|
| Australia Post | All services | 4000 (unusual) |
Air freight standards
| Standard | Imperial (in/lb) | Metric (cm/kg) |
|---|
| IATA General Cargo | 166 | 6000 |
| IATA Express Air Cargo | ~150 (varies) | ~5000 (varies) |
Key takeaways from this table
- 5000 cm³/kg is the global standard for express courier services. Most international shippers can use this number for back-of-envelope calculations.
- 6000 cm³/kg is the global standard for ground / postal services and works to the shipper's advantage (lower DIM weight than 5000).
- Australia Post at 4000 is the outlier. If you ship to or within Australia, expect higher DIM charges than most global carriers.
- USPS at 166 is unusually favorable in the US market — and the 1 cubic foot exemption rule makes it even better for small packages.
- FedEx and UPS at 139 are the most aggressive among major US carriers — they'll hit lightweight bulky packages hardest.
For a live calculation comparing all of these carriers at once, use the calculator at the top of any page on this site.
Run the calculation
Use the dimensional weight calculator to see exactly what your package would bill at across every major carrier.
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