Shipping Carriers
Understand how major shipping carriers calculate dimensional weight and chargeable weight. Each guide explains volumetric pricing rules and provides tips to optimize your shipping costs.
16 carriers with detailed dimensional weight guides. Select a carrier below to learn their volumetric weight rules and get cost-saving tips.
Express Carriers
Premium express delivery services offering fast, time-definite international and domestic shipping.
DHL Express
DHL Express is one of the world's leading international express delivery services, operating in over 220 countries and territories. Known for fast international shipping, DHL uses volumetric weight calculations to determine shipping costs for packages where size exceeds density thresholds.
FedEx
FedEx Corporation is a global courier delivery services company offering express transportation, ground shipping, freight services, and logistics solutions. FedEx uses dimensional weight pricing to ensure shipping costs reflect both the weight and size of packages.
UPS
United Parcel Service (UPS) is one of the world's largest package delivery companies, providing logistics and supply chain solutions globally. UPS applies dimensional weight pricing to ensure shipping rates fairly reflect the space packages occupy.
Aramex
Aramex is a leading global logistics and transportation company headquartered in Dubai, with strong presence across the Middle East, Africa, and Asia. Aramex uses volumetric weight calculations for express shipments to ensure pricing reflects package dimensions.
SF Express
SF Express is China's largest express delivery company, providing domestic and international courier services. SF Express uses volumetric weight calculations for shipments to ensure pricing reflects both weight and package dimensions.
TNT
TNT is an international express delivery company now part of FedEx, with strong presence across Europe and global reach. TNT uses volumetric weight calculations to ensure shipping prices reflect package dimensions.
Purolator
Purolator is Canada's leading courier company, providing domestic and cross-border parcel delivery services. Purolator uses volumetric weight calculations to ensure shipping prices reflect both weight and package dimensions.
Postal Services
National postal operators providing economical mail and parcel delivery options.
USPS
The United States Postal Service (USPS) is the federal postal service of the United States, providing mail and package delivery to every address in the country. USPS uses dimensional weight pricing for certain services and package sizes.
Australia Post
Australia Post is the government-owned postal service of Australia, providing domestic and international mail and parcel delivery services. Australia Post uses cubic weight calculations for parcels, applying volumetric pricing to ensure fair rates for larger packages.
Royal Mail
Royal Mail is the United Kingdom's primary postal service, delivering letters and parcels across the UK and internationally. Royal Mail uses volumetric weight pricing for larger parcels to ensure shipping costs reflect both weight and size.
Canada Post
Canada Post is Canada's primary postal operator, providing mail and parcel delivery services across Canada and internationally. Canada Post uses volumetric weight calculations for parcels to ensure pricing reflects both weight and package dimensions.
Japan Post
Japan Post is Japan's national postal service, providing domestic and international mail and parcel delivery. Japan Post offers various international shipping options with volumetric weight calculations for larger parcels.
Deutsche Post
Deutsche Post is Germany's national postal service and parent company of DHL. For domestic German and European parcel shipping, Deutsche Post/DHL Paket uses volumetric weight calculations for larger parcels.
La Poste
La Poste is France's national postal service, offering domestic and international mail and parcel delivery through Colissimo and Chronopost services. La Poste uses volumetric weight for larger parcels.
Parcel Carriers
Specialized parcel delivery networks offering regional and national coverage.
DPD
DPD (Dynamic Parcel Distribution) is one of Europe's leading parcel delivery networks, operating in over 40 countries. DPD uses volumetric weight calculations to ensure fair pricing for packages where size exceeds weight-based thresholds.
Evri
Evri (formerly Hermes UK) is one of the UK's largest parcel carriers, delivering millions of parcels for consumers and businesses. Evri uses volumetric weight for pricing larger parcels, helping ensure shipping costs reflect package dimensions.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is dimensional weight?
Dimensional weight (also called volumetric weight) is a pricing technique used by carriers that factors in package size, not just actual weight. It's calculated by multiplying package dimensions (L × W × H) and dividing by a carrier-specific divisor, typically 5000 for metric or 139 for imperial.
Why do carriers use dimensional weight?
Carriers use dimensional weight to ensure fair pricing for packages that are large but lightweight. These packages occupy valuable cargo space without corresponding physical weight, so dimensional pricing compensates carriers for the space used.
Do all carriers use the same divisor?
Most major express carriers use similar divisors (5000 cm³/kg or 139 in³/lb), but some postal services use different values. USPS uses 166, for example, which is more favorable for shippers. Always check carrier-specific rules.
How can I reduce my shipping costs?
Key strategies include: using appropriately-sized boxes, minimizing void fill, considering flat-rate options when available, negotiating better divisors with volume discounts, and comparing carriers for specific routes and package sizes.
What is chargeable weight?
Chargeable weight is the weight used for billing purposes—the higher of actual weight or dimensional weight. Carriers compare both and charge based on whichever is greater, ensuring they're compensated for either heavy or bulky packages.
Do postal services use different rules than express carriers?
Yes, postal services often have more favorable terms. Many apply dimensional weight only to larger packages, use higher divisors (meaning lower volumetric weights), or offer flat-rate options that bypass dimensional calculations entirely.
Related Tools & Resources
Dimensional Weight Calculator
Calculate volumetric weight with carrier presets
ToolChargeable Weight Calculator
Compare actual vs volumetric weight
HubWhat is Dimensional Weight?
Complete guide to volumetric weight
GuideHow to Reduce Chargeable Weight
Tips for lowering shipping costs
HubForwarders & Shopping Agents
Guides for package forwarders
DefinitionDivisor (DIM Factor)
Understanding the key calculation factor