Checking Shipment Size and Weight

Parcels can be up to 400 centimetres in length and girth combined.

To accurately determine length and girth, use the formula: Length + 2x Width + 2x Height

Remember, the longest side of your parcel will be your length.

Measure irregularly shaped parcels as if they were in a rectangular box. Measure the length, width and height of the theoretical parcel from its extreme points to determine the parcel’s dimensions.

The actual weight is the parcel weight rounded up to the next half kg.

Use a scale to determine the weight of the package. Round any fraction of a kg to the next half kg.

Compare the parcel's actual weight to its dimensional weight. The greater of the two is the billable weight and should be used to calculate the rate. For multiple-parcel shipments, total the billable weight of all parcels in the shipment.

Refer to the Determine the Weight and Size section of the Rate and Service Guide:

• Northern China Rate & Service Guide
• Southern China Rate & Service Guide

Dimensional weight reflects parcel density, which is the amount of space a parcel occupies compared to its actual weight. Dimensional weight may apply to all UPS domestic and international parcel services.​

Determine the parcel measurement in centimetres. For each measurement, start at the longest point, rounding each measurement to the nearest whole number.​

Multiply the parcel length (longest side of the parcel) by the width by the height (L x W x H). The result is the cubic size in centimeters.​

Divide the cubic size in centimetres by 5,000 to find the dimensional weight ((L x W x H) ÷ 5,000). Increase any fraction to the next half kilogram.​

Compare the parcel's actual weight to its dimensional weight. The greater of the two is the billable weight and should be used to calculate the rate.​

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Billable weight is the weight used to calculate the rate. The billable weight will be the greater of the dimensional weight, actual weight, and minimum billable weight.

To determine billable weight:

Step 1. Determine actual weight. Actual weight is the weight of the items on the pallet and the weight of the pallet rounded up to the next half kilogram.

• Use a scale to determine the weight. Round any fraction of a kilogram to the next half kilogram.

Step 2. Determine dimensional weight. Dimensional weight reflects pallet density, which is the amount of space a pallet occupies in relation to its actual weight. Dimensional weight may apply to all UPS international parcel services.

• Determine the pallet dimensions in centimetres. For each dimension, measure at the longest point, rounding each measurement to the nearest whole number (e.g., 1.00 to 1.49 will be considered 1, and 1.50 to 1.99 will be considered 2).
• Multiply the pallet length by the width by the height. The result is the cubic size in centimetres.
• For import and export shipments, divide the cubic size by 5,000 to determine the dimensional weight. Increase any fraction to the next half kilogramme.

Step 3. Determine billable weight.

• Compare the pallet's actual weight to its dimensional weight and minimum billable weight. The greater of the two is the billable weight and should be used to calculate the rate. The minimum billable shipment weight is 71kg.