Two kinds of weight
Shipping companies charge for the space a parcel takes up as well as its weight. Every parcel has two weights:
- Actual weight: what it weighs on a scale.
- Volumetric weight: a weight worked out from its size.
You're charged for whichever is higher. That's the "chargeable weight". A big box of hoodies can weigh 2 kg but be charged as 5 kg.
The formula
Volumetric weight (kg) = length × width × height in centimetres ÷ a divisor.
| Divisor | Used by |
|---|---|
| 5000 | Most express carriers and many special lines |
| 6000 | Some special and postal lines |
| 8000 or none | A few lines that charge mainly by actual weight |
The smaller the divisor, the more a bulky parcel costs. Each line's page on your agent shows which divisor it uses.
An example
Two pairs of trainers in their boxes, packed in a 50 × 35 × 30 cm carton weighing 3.4 kg:
- Volumetric weight at 5000: 50 × 35 × 30 ÷ 5000 = 10.5 kg
- Actual weight: 3.4 kg
- Chargeable weight: 10.5 kg, about three times the real weight.
Without the shoe boxes, the same trainers fit in a 40 × 30 × 20 cm carton: 4.8 kg volumetric, so you'd pay for 4.8 kg. That's less than half.
How to lower it
- Remove shoe boxes. The biggest single saving. Keep them only if you need them.
- Vacuum-seal soft clothing. Hoodies and jackets shrink a lot.
- Ask for a smaller carton or compact packing. Most agents offer this.
- Request a parcel rehearsal (pre-pack). Many agents will pack the parcel and tell you the real size and weight before you pay.
Use the calculator
Enter your carton size and items to see your chargeable weight in seconds: open the weight calculator.