Volumetric Weight Calculator
Work out a shipment’s volumetric weight — the size-based weight that air and courier carriers bill on. Enter your dimensions and the divisor your carrier uses (6000 or 5000 cm³/kg for air, 139 in³/lb for US parcel); results show in kg and lb against the actual weight.
Dimensional weight
16.9 kg
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Estimates only — confirm the divisor and chargeable weight with your carrier.
How volumetric weight works
Aircraft and delivery vans run out of space long before they run out of weightcapacity, so carriers charge by whichever is larger: the actual scale weight or the volumetric weight. The formula is volume divided by a divisor:
“Volumetric weight” and “dimensional weight” are the same concept — the first term is more common internationally and in air freight, the second in US parcel. A smaller divisor gives a higher weight, so right-sizing your packaging always pays. To see the figure you’ll actually be billed, use the chargeable weight calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is volumetric weight?
Volumetric weight (also called dimensional or DIM weight) is a pricing weight based on a shipment's size rather than its actual mass. Air and courier carriers use it so a light, bulky parcel pays for the space it occupies in the aircraft or van.
How is volumetric weight calculated?
Multiply length × width × height, then divide by a volumetric divisor. For international air freight that is typically 6000 cm³/kg, so a 40 × 30 × 30 cm carton is 36,000 ÷ 6000 = 6 kg volumetric. Express couriers often use 5000 cm³/kg.
What divisor should I use for volumetric weight?
Air freight uses 6000 cm³/kg (≈167 kg/m³); express couriers like DHL, FedEx and UPS international commonly use 5000 cm³/kg, which produces a higher weight. US domestic parcel uses 139 in³/lb. Always confirm the divisor on your rate agreement.
Volumetric weight vs actual weight — which is charged?
The carrier bills the greater of the two, known as the chargeable weight. If your volumetric weight is higher than the scale weight, you pay on volume. Use the chargeable weight calculator to see which one governs your shipment.