How to determine billable weight?

If your package has a large size-to-weight ratio, you may need to consider your package’s dimensional weight when you calculate your shipping rates.

Determine the Actual Weight
First, use a scale to determine the weight of the package. Round any fraction of a pound or kilogram to the next whole pound or kilogram for all packages.

Determine the Dimensional Weight
Next, determine the package dimensions in inches or centimetres. For each dimension, measure at the longest point, rounding each measurement to the nearest whole number (for example, 1.00 to 1.49 will be considered 1, and 1.50 to 1.99 will be considered 2). Measure the length, width and height of the package at its extreme points. If the package has a bulge or is irregularly shaped, include the bulge or irregular aspects of the package. Multiply the package length by the width by the height. The result is the cubic size in inches or centimetres.

For Domestic and Export Shipments
For all services except UPS Standard shipments: Divide the cubic size by 139 if measured in inches, or by 5,000 if measured in centimetres, to determine dimensional weight. Increase any fraction to the next whole number.

For UPS Standard shipments: Divide the cubic size by 166 if measured in inches, or by 6,000 if measured in centimetres, to determine dimensional weight. Increase any fraction to the next whole number.

For Import Shipments
For all import shipments, divide the cubic size by 139 if measured in inches, or by 5,000 if measured in centimetres, to determine dimensional weight. Increase any fraction to the next whole number.

Dimensional Weight

Notes: Size limits indicated by a box manufacturer may not reflect exterior dimensions of a package, including where a package may have bulges or otherwise may not be uniform across each plane, and should not be used as a substitute for actual length, width, and height measurements in determining dimensional weight.

Improper packaging may result in the alteration of a package’s dimensions during transit which can affect the package’s dimensional weight and result in a shipping charge correction.

Determine the Billable Weight
Compare the package’s actual weight to the dimensional weight. The greater of the two is the billable weight and should be used to calculate the rate.

For Multiple Package Shipments
When measured in pounds, total the billable weight of all packages in the shipment.

When measured in kilograms, round the fractional actual weight and dimensional weight of each package up to the next half kilogram. Add the greater of the actual weight and dimensional weight of each package to determine the total billable weight. If the total billable weight ends in a half kilogram, round up to the next whole kilogram.

Large Package Surcharge
A Large Package Surcharge may apply to domestic and international shipments. A package is considered a “Large Package” when its length plus girth [(2 x width) + (2 x height)] combined exceeds 130 inches / 330 centimetres.

Large Packages are subject to a minimum billable weight of 90 pounds / 41 kilograms.

An Additional Handling charge will not be assessed when a Large Package Surcharge is applied.