How is weight calculated for a shipment?
REAL WEIGHT
PHYSICAL WEIGHT
This is the weight shown by the scale. It’s how much the package really weighs, in kilograms or pounds. It could be a very small box but very heavy.
A small box with books is small but heavy
That’s its real weight.
VOLUMETRIC WEIGHT
VOLUME WEIGHT
This is the space a package occupies. Sometimes a package is large but light, and it takes up a lot of space in the truck or airplane.
A box with a stuffed toy is large but weighs little.
Formula for volume:
Volumetric weight =
Length × Width × Height / 139
Which weight is used for billing?
Example 1
Calculate the volumetric weight and compare it with the real weight.
Even though its real weight is 15 lb, it’s charged as if it weighed 43 lb, because it occupies that space.
The higher weight determines the cost.
Example 2
Calculate the volumetric weight and compare it with the real weight.
Its volumetric weight is 14 lb, therefore the real weight of 14 lb is charged.
Calculate the volumetric weight of your package
If you don’t know the dimensions or weight of the product, you can usually check them in the specification section on most websites.
