Parcel calculator
Enter the sealed parcel size and scale weight once. ShipMathLab compares FedEx, UPS Daily, UPS Retail, USPS and DHL side by side, shows which rules bill on size, and estimates how much smaller the box must be to avoid DIM weight.
Example values included
50 × 40 × 30 cm parcel at a 5,000 divisorCompare the parcel's actual weight with dimensional weight before you accept a carrier quote or choose packaging.
Dimensional weight = (length × width × height) ÷ divisorUse the finished outside dimensions and scale weight. We compare FedEx, UPS Daily, UPS Retail, USPS and DHL automatically—no divisor knowledge required.
What happens next: each carrier row first applies that carrier's dimension rule, then calculates DIM weight, checks whether DIM applies, compares it with scale weight, and rounds the likely billable weight.
DIM-weight decision flow
FedEx, UPS, DHL and USPS public guidance reviewed August 6, 2026
Measure the finished parcel at its widest points
Length × width × height
Use the service and rate-card rule that actually applies
Package volume ÷ divisor
Use the greater of dimensional and actual weight
Apply the carrier billing increment per package
Use this when
Not for
Related questions
Use finished package dimensions, the divisor for the exact service, and actual packed weight to find the planning chargeable weight.
Compare Actual vs Dimensional WeightShould I use actual weight or dimensional weight for shipping? ↗Compare scale weight and cube weight per parcel and identify the packaging change that can actually lower a billable result.
Several shipments to calculate?
Compare quotes and keep landed cost, pallet plans, DIM checks, and margin calculations in one editable Excel file.
Method & limits
The result uses the formula below. Check the measurements, unit setting, and applicable carrier or supplier rule before using it.
Carriers use different divisors by service, account, and destination. Confirm the divisor and rounding rules on your rate card before quoting.
Related Dimensional weight guide ↗This calculator is a planning aid, not a carrier quotation, engineering assessment, or professional advice. Verify critical figures against current supplier and carrier documentation.
Worked example
ResultThe planning chargeable basis is 12 kg per parcel before any service-specific measurement rule or surcharge.
Avoid these errors
A calculator can expose the arithmetic; the applicable carrier rate card, handling standard, or freight quotation still controls the real transaction.
Examples and guides
Find cartons that are quietly increasing parcel charges, then test changes without weakening the pack.
8 minDimensional-weight divisors for FedEx, UPS, DHL, and USPS ↗Compare common parcel DIM factors without treating a public rule as a substitute for your service contract.
7 minDimensional-weight rounding: worked parcel examples ↗See why measuring and rounding at the correct step can change billed weight across a multi-parcel shipment.
8 minActual weight vs dimensional weight: which one controls the parcel charge? ↗Compare scale weight and package cube correctly, then identify the packaging change that can actually reduce billable weight.