Calculate Volumetric Weight

Understanding Volumetric Weight

What is volumetric weight and how it is calculated? The courier industry, and different carriers, use
varying methods for assessing the volumetric weight of a parcel. The majority of couriers base their
delivery rates on either the size or volumetric weight of a parcel, whichever is the greater. The bigger
an item is, the more room it takes up on a vehicle or aircraft, and the more it costs to send. If an item
is large but light, the price will be based on the size rather than the weight. Even if you have a pallet
or a very large item to send, ParcelHero specializes in Large & Heavy parcel delivery

How to Calculate Volumetric Weight

Volume weight (sometimes referred to as dimensional weight) is calculated using a volumetric weight formula.
Different courier companies use different metrics, but to establish the volumetric weight of your
ParcelHero® package, you just need to measure the length, height and width of your parcel.

Then grab your calculator and:

• 1. Multiply the parcel’s three dimensions (length x height x width)
• 2. If you are using centimetres then divide the result by 5000 (or 4000 for EU economy services).
  If you are using inches then divide the result by 305 (or 245 for EU economy services).
• 3. The resulting figure represents the volumetric weight of your parcel

The courier will compare the volumetric weight to the actual physical weight of a parcel and charge whichever is
the greater of the two (also known as billable weight or chargeable weight)

UK Express Services

length x height x width

5,000 if cm (or 305 if using inches)

= Volumetric weight in Kg

All Other Services

length x height x width

4,000 if cm (or 245 if using inches)

= Volumetric weight in Kg

Length X Width X Height