Volumetric weight calculator — dimensional weight for shipping
Enter package dimensions and the actual scale weight, pick the carrier or transport mode, and this page computes the volumetric (dimensional) weight and the chargeable weight you would be billed on. Everything runs locally in this tab — package data is never uploaded.
Calculate chargeable weight
Result
How it works
Three deterministic steps, all computed in this tab:
- Measure volume. The package volume is computed from length × width × height in cubic metres (CBM) — your chosen unit is converted internally, so mixing inches with a kilogram weight is fine.
- Apply the factor. For couriers and air freight, the volumetric weight is the volume in cm³ divided by the carrier's factor (5000 or 6000 cm³ per kg). For sea LCL, 1 CBM counts as 1000 kg.
- Compare. The chargeable weight is the larger of the actual weight and the volumetric weight. If volumetric wins, the package is "light for its size" and you are billed on volume.
Worked example: a 50 × 50 × 50 cm box with a DHL-style factor of 5000 has a volume of 0.125 CBM (125,000 cm³), so its volumetric weight is 125,000 ÷ 5000 = 25 kg. Against a scale weight of 10 kg, the chargeable weight is 25 kg.
When does volumetric weight matter?
Volumetric billing only shows up when a package is light for its size. These are the situations where it most often changes what you pay:
- E-commerce sellers comparing courier quotes. Light, bulky products — pillows, plush toys, lampshades, or apparel in oversized packaging — are billed on size rather than scale weight. Checking the volumetric weight first tells you which DHL, FedEx or UPS service actually prices your box cheapest.
- Air-freight quotations. Forwarders quote on chargeable weight using the IATA 6000 cm³ per kg standard, so a light carton of foam or textiles can cost far more than its scale weight suggests. The number you compute here is the number your quote is built on.
- FBA and warehouse inbound shipments. Amazon sellers and 3PL users often hit dimensional billing when receiving light goods in large boxes. Checking before you create a shipment plan avoids unexpected inbound fees.
- Small-parcel courier pickups. Even domestic ground parcels get dimensioned by many couriers (USPS for larger parcels, and carriers such as Delhivery, DTDC and Shiprocket in India). The same 139 or 166 in³ per lb rule applies when you measure in inches.
The formula, plainly
The same math the calculator runs locally, written out:
- Couriers (metric): volumetric weight (kg) = length × width × height in cm ÷ 5000. DHL Express, FedEx and UPS commonly use 5000 cm³ per kg.
- USPS and IATA air freight (metric): volumetric weight (kg) = length × width × height in cm ÷ 6000 (6000 cm³ per kg).
- Couriers (imperial): volumetric weight (lb) = length × width × height in inches ÷ 139. That is the same 5000 cm³ per kg rule expressed in inches per pound.
Sea freight LCL is the exception: there is no divisor — 1 CBM counts as 1000 kg.
Worked example in inches: a 20 × 15 × 10 in box has a volume of 3,000 in³. With the courier factor of 139, the volumetric weight is 3,000 ÷ 139 ≈ 21.6 lb. Against a scale weight of 15 lb, the chargeable weight is 21.6 lb.
Common carrier factors (estimate)
| Carrier / mode | Factor | Equivalent (imperial) |
|---|---|---|
| DHL Express | 5000 cm³ per kg | ≈ 139 in³ per lb |
| FedEx | 5000 cm³ per kg | ≈ 139 in³ per lb |
| UPS | 5000 cm³ per kg | ≈ 139 in³ per lb |
| USPS | 6000 cm³ per kg | 166 in³ per lb |
| Air freight (IATA) | 6000 cm³ per kg | 166 in³ per lb |
| Sea freight (LCL) | 1 CBM = 1000 kg | — |
Factors are industry-standard starting points, not quotes. Carriers can use different factors per service, origin/destination, and date — always confirm with your carrier or forwarder.
Limits
- Estimate only: this tool computes the standard volumetric formula. It does not include fuel surcharges, zone rates, minimum charges, dimensional rounding rules, or other carrier pricing terms.
- Not affiliated: Local Toolworks is not connected to DHL, FedEx, UPS, USPS, or any forwarder. The presets are public industry factors.
- One package at a time: pallet or consolidated shipments need their own stacking rules and are out of scope here.
Frequently asked questions
What is volumetric (dimensional) weight?
Volumetric weight — also called dimensional or DIM weight — is a shipping pricing measure based on a package's size rather than its actual weight. Carriers charge the greater of the two: the actual weight or the volumetric weight. Light but bulky packages (like a large box of pillows) therefore cost more to ship than their scale weight suggests.
Do my package dimensions leave my computer?
No. This is a static page: the calculation runs entirely in your browser tab. Your dimensions and weights are never sent to a server, logged, or stored.
Which carrier factors are used?
DHL Express, FedEx and UPS commonly use 5000 cm³ per kg (about 139 in³ per lb); USPS and IATA air freight use 6000 cm³ per kg (166 in³ per lb); sea freight LCL counts 1 CBM as 1000 kg. Factors can change and vary by service and origin, so treat the result as an estimate and confirm with your carrier.
What is the difference between volumetric weight and chargeable weight?
Chargeable weight is simply the larger of the actual weight and the volumetric weight for the transport mode you choose. If the volumetric weight is larger, the package is light for its size and you pay on volume; if the actual weight is larger, you pay on scale weight.
How do I calculate volumetric weight in inches and pounds?
Multiply the three dimensions in inches (length × width × height) and divide by 139 for most couriers (DHL, FedEx, UPS) or by 166 for USPS and IATA air freight. For example, a 20 × 15 × 10 in box is 3,000 in³ ÷ 139 ≈ 21.6 lb. This page does that conversion automatically whichever units you enter.
Is volumetric weight the same as dimensional weight?
Yes — they are the same concept under different names. UPS, FedEx and USPS usually say "dimensional weight" (DIM weight); DHL and international air freight more often say "volumetric weight". Both mean the size-based weight used to bill light, bulky packages.
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Part of Local Toolworks. Last reviewed: 2026-08-16.