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.
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.
Related tools
- Time Coordinator — schedule pickups and deliveries across time zones, DST-aware.
- Document Hygiene — scrub metadata from shipping documents and PDFs before sending them.
- Payload Workbench — format and convert the JSON/CSV data that often travels with shipments.
Part of Local Toolworks. Last reviewed: 2026-08-16.