Have You Ever Heard of Dimensional Weight in Shipping?

Dimensional Weight (or “Dim Weight” as frequent shippers like to call it) is a term used for the calculation of cubic weight when shipping a parcel or pallet.

 

Dim weight can be understood as the amount of space your shipment occupies while in transit. This is broken down with a formula that returns the cubic weight of the shipment. All couriers will charge based on the dim/cubic weight vs. the scale weight, whichever is greater.

 

This means that shipping an extremely large package, that doesn’t weigh much, will be charged based on its size (dim weight), rather than how much it actually weighs (actual weight)

All couriers use dimensional weight calculations behind the scenes and most shippers are not aware that it is happening. Not to worry though, ShipTime will calculate this weight for you based on the dimensions that you input when getting your shipping quote so you get an accurate rate upfront with no hidden fees.

For those of you who love math, the formula for dimensional weight calculation is length x width x height / a courier specific divisor. This divisor is usually between 115 and 144, depending on the service provided and the courier.

“How do I reduce my dimensional weight?”

Don’t ship air!

Avoid leaving extra space in a box – if this is the case, you may be using a box that is too large for what you are shipping. The larger the box, the more you could run the risk of being charged based on the dimensional weight vs. the actual weight.

Remember to package your parcel efficiently with empty space or room for the contents to move around. This will also help prevent damage that can occur while shipping. To always make sure your package is covered, ShipTime Insurance is available.

Our goal at ShipTime is to have you get the best discounted shipping for your dollar and for your parcel to arrive safely and on time.

About ShipTime:

Whether shipping single packages across town, shipping internationally across the globe, or sending less-than-truckload (LTL) freight, ShipTime compares the most trusted couriers to find you the best price everytime you ship with discounts of up to 65% vs retail. 

We have pre-negotiated rates with the top national couriers, no need to set up multiple accounts with each. With Purolator, FedEx, DHL, Canpar, GLS, and more, we have you covered.

Ship Smarter – with ShipTime, we are a true partner beyond just discounted rates. We provide a best in class platform with features such as Branded Tracking, ShipTime Insurance, and eCommerce connections to the top platforms (Shopify, WooCommerce, Ecwid, and more).

Backed by our legendary Heroic Support™ team, you can sleep easy with ShipTime’s best-in-class customer care. Our bilingual team is available by phone, live chat, or email Monday – Friday from 8:30AM to 8PM EST.