Calculate volumetric (DIM) and billable weight across multiple pieces. Units and divisor apply to this shipment.
Choose a preset to auto-fill units and the divisor, or leave on Custom to enter your own.
Typical: 139 (in³/lb), 366 (in³/kg), or 5000–6000 (cm³/kg). Use your carrier’s current divisor.
Enter length × width × height, actual weight, and quantity for each distinct carton or skid. Leave quantity at 1 if dimensions are unique.
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When it comes to freight, what you pay for isn’t always what your shipment weighs. Carriers often charge based on dimensional weight (DIM weight)—a pricing method that factors in both the size and weight of your shipment to better reflect how much space it occupies in a vehicle or aircraft.
For shippers, this distinction can mean the difference between an accurate quote and an unexpected invoice.
Dimensional weight is a calculation used by parcel, air, and ocean carriers to determine billable weight. Rather than charging only for actual scale weight, carriers apply a divisor to your shipment’s cubic volume (length × width × height).
If the dimensional weight is higher than the actual weight, the higher number is billed.
It’s a simple formula that protects carriers from losing revenue on large but lightweight packages. For example, a box of foam insulation might weigh 10 lb, but take up as much space as a 50-lb box of auto parts. The DIM divisor normalizes that space usage across shipments.
Carriers like UPS, FedEx, and DHL apply different divisors depending on service type. For example:
Even small changes in box size or packaging can affect cost. For high-volume shippers, optimizing carton dimensions and pallet configurations can reduce chargeable weight, improve container utilization, and lower total spend.
Journey’s DIM Weight Calculator helps you quickly determine billable weight before you ship. Enter your length, width, height, actual weight, and quantity for each piece. The calculator compares actual and volumetric weight, identifies which applies, and provides totals at both the piece and shipment level.
You can even choose preset divisors for common services or manually enter your own.
Understanding DIM weight isn’t just about getting the math right—it’s about maintaining control of your shipping budget and keeping commitments to your customers. When you know how carriers calculate space, you can:
At Journey, we help shippers make sense of the details that impact cost, compliance, and customer satisfaction. From carton optimization to multimodal routing, our teams guide you toward smarter, more predictable shipping decisions.
Your freight should move on time, at the right price—and with no surprises.
Useful Carrier DIM & Weight References
