Volumetric Weight: How to Avoid Overpaying

Carriers bill you on whichever is greater: actual weight or volumetric weight. If you ship light, bulky products, volumetric weight is often what you pay for.

How Volumetric Weight Is Calculated

The common formula divides volume in cubic centimeters by a divisor (often 5000 or 6000):

volumetric_kg = (L_cm * W_cm * H_cm) / 5000

A 60 x 40 x 40 cm box has a volumetric weight of about 19.2 kg even if the contents weigh only 8 kg. You pay for 19.2 kg.

How to Reduce It

• Choose the smallest box that still holds your units
• Remove empty space by mixing product sizes
• Avoid rounding up to a bigger box "just in case"

Reducing free space directly reduces volumetric weight, which directly reduces cost.

FAQ

What divisor does my carrier use? Most use 5000 for road and 6000 for some air services. Check your contract. BoxOptimizer reports free-space percentage so you can see how much air you are shipping.

Is volumetric weight the same as actual weight? No. You are charged on the higher of the two. Optimizing the box lowers the volumetric figure.

How does free space relate to cost? Less free space means a smaller box for the same units, which lowers both volumetric weight and packaging cost per unit.