Volumetric Weight Calculator
Enter your parcel's size in centimeters to see its volumetric weight for an express courier (÷5,000) and for air cargo (÷6,000), side by side. Add the real weight to see which one you will pay on.
Carriers round up. FedEx, for example, rounds each side up to the next whole cm and the result up to the next whole kg. Check your carrier's rule for exact billing.
Volumetric weight, courier (÷5,000)
Volume 0.06 m³
Express couriers (e.g. DHL Express) · 1 m³ counts as 200 kg · you pay on 12 kg (volume)
Air freight (IATA standard) · 1 m³ counts as 166.7 kg · you pay on 10 kg (volume)
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Estimates only. Your carrier's contract sets the divisor and rounding.
The volumetric weight formula
Example (loaded above): a 50 × 40 × 30 cm parcel that weighs 8 kg. Its volume is 60,000 cm³. With a courier: 60,000 ÷ 5,000 = 12 kg. As air cargo: 60,000 ÷ 6,000 = 10 kg. Both are more than the 8 kg it really weighs, so you pay on volume either way: 12 kg with the courier, 10 kg as air cargo.
5,000 or 6,000: what the divisor means
The divisor is a density line. Divide 1,000,000 (the cm³ in a cubic meter) by it, and you get the weight one cubic meter counts as. Anything lighter than that is billed on its size.
| Divisor | 1 m³ counts as | Used by |
|---|---|---|
| 5,000 | 200 kg | Express couriers, e.g. DHL Express; FedEx in metric |
| 6,000 | 166.7 kg | Air cargo (1:6), the IATA standard |
| 3,000 | 333.3 kg | Rail freight (1:3); road freight varies |
| 1,000 | 1,000 kg | Sea freight, LCL (1:1) |
Sources: DHL Express and DHL Global Forwarding; FedEx published rules. Your contract can use a different number, so enter it in the calculator's “other divisor” box.
Road and sea freight
Road freight has no single rule. DHL notes that ratios vary by country and carrier. Many use 1:3, where 1 m³ counts as 333 kg, but some use 1:2, which makes it 500 kg. Sea freight in a shared container (LCL) counts 1 m³ as 1,000 kg. For a shipment of pallets or crates across these modes, the chargeable weight calculator works out every mode at once.
How to pay less volumetric weight
- • Match the box to the item. Each extra centimeter on a side adds volume across the whole box.
- • Cut empty space and bulky padding. Thinner padding can let you use the next box size down.
- • Pack several items together rather than in many small boxes, which each round up.
- • Compare modes. A box that is expensive by courier (÷5,000) can be cheaper as air cargo (÷6,000).
Shipping in the US with UPS, FedEx or USPS? Their rules are in inches and pounds, and USPS changed its divisor in July 2026. Use the dimensional weight calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is volumetric weight?
It is a weight worked out from a parcel's size instead of a scale. Carriers use it so a big, light parcel pays for the space it takes. You are charged on whichever is higher: the volumetric weight or the actual weight.
How is volumetric weight calculated?
Multiply length × width × height in centimeters and divide by the carrier's divisor. For express couriers that is usually 5,000, and for air cargo 6,000. A 50 × 40 × 30 cm parcel is 60,000 cm³, so it counts as 12 kg with a courier and 10 kg as air cargo.
Why do couriers divide by 5,000?
Dividing by 5,000 means one cubic meter counts as 200 kg. Any parcel lighter than 200 kg per cubic meter is billed on its size. The smaller the divisor, the heavier a light parcel counts, so the same box costs more by volume with a courier than as air cargo at 6,000.
What does 6,000 mean in volumetric weight?
It is the standard divisor for air cargo, a 1:6 ratio. One cubic meter counts as 166.7 kg. It gives a lower volumetric weight than 5,000, so the same box costs less by volume as air cargo than with an express courier.
How does DHL calculate volumetric weight?
DHL Express multiplies length × width × height in centimeters and divides by 5,000, so 1 cubic meter equals 200 kg. It then charges the higher of that figure and the actual weight. DHL's freight-forwarding arm uses 6,000 for air cargo.
Can I use inches instead of centimeters?
Yes. Switch the calculator to inches and it converts for you. If you work it out by hand, divide cubic inches by 305 for the 5,000 rule. In pounds, 139 cubic inches per pound is almost the same as 5,000 cm³ per kg.