Dimensional Weight Calculator

Light but bulky freight fills the space in an aircraft or truck long before it reaches the weight limit. Carriers therefore convert the size of a package into a weight figure and charge on whichever is greater, the dimensional weight or the actual weight. That greater figure is the billable weight.

International express services commonly use 5000 for centimetres and 139 for inches, while general air freight and some domestic services use 6000 or 166. The exact divisor is stated in your carrier rate sheet, so check there when the difference matters.

CBM stands for cubic metre and is the standard unit for less-than-container ocean freight. One CBM is usually converted to 1,000 kg, and the higher of volume or weight determines the rate.

If the dimensional figure is the higher one, using a smaller box lowers the billable weight directly. If actual weight is already higher, shrinking the box changes nothing.