Couriers bill on more than actual weight. A large, light box can cost more to ship than a small heavy one, because the charge goes on whichever figure is higher: actual weight or volumetric weight. This calculator works out chargeable weight first, then the total cost from your own courier's rate card.

Why volumetric weight exists

A courier's vehicle and warehouse space is limited by volume as much as by weight. A large, light package such as a lampshade or a pillow occupies room that a small heavy one does not, even at the same actual weight. Volumetric weight approximates that space cost as a weight figure, so it can be billed the way actual weight is.

Why the divisor is an input, not a constant

The volumetric divisor, applied as length × width × height ÷ divisor in cm and kg, has no single universal value. Different couriers, and different modes (air against surface, domestic against international), use different divisors, commonly somewhere in the 4000-6000 range. The wrong one hands you a confidently wrong chargeable weight, so this tool asks for it instead of assuming one.

What this tool doesn't do

It knows nothing about any specific courier's rate card, zone pricing, or current fuel surcharge. Those change often and vary by courier, route, and negotiated volume. Enter your own numbers from your courier agreement or portal for an accurate result.

Frequently asked questions