Dimensional Weight

If your package has a large size-to-weight ratio, you may need to consider your package's dimensional weight when calculating your shipping rates.

Learn About Dimensional Weight

Determining which weight to use in calculating your rate requires that you determine which rule applies. Dimensional weight reflects package density, which is the amount of space a package occupies in relation to its actual weight. Dimensional weight may apply to all UPS domestic and international services. Billable weight is the weight used to calculate the rate. For domestic and international services, the billable weight will be the greater of the dimensional weight as compared to actual weight. Calculations of dimensional weight are subject to change without notice.

Packages that exceed UPS weight and size limits are not accepted for transportation. If found in the UPS system, they are subject to an Over Maximum Limits charge.

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How To Measure the Cubic Size of Your Package

Calculate the cubic size of your package in centimetres by multiplying the height by the length by the width. Round each measurement to the nearest whole centimetre. The resulting total is the cubic size of your package.

Measuring Cubic Size
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How To Calculate Dimensional Weight

You can calculate the dimensional weight as the billable weight when the dimensional weight of your package exceeds its actual weight.

  • Determine Actual Weight: Use any standard scale to determine the actual weight of your package. Increase any fraction to the next half kilogram.
  • Determine Dimensional Weight: Divide the cubic size of your package in centimetres by 5,000. Increase any fraction to the next half kilogram.
  • Determine Billable Weight: Compare the package's actual weight to its dimensional weight. The larger of the two weights is the billable weight and should be used to calculate the rate.

For multiple-package shipments, total the billable weight of all packages in the shipment.

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Large Package Conditions

Your UPS package is considered a Large Package when its length plus girth [(2 x width) + (2 x height)] combined exceeds 300 cm, but does not exceed the maximum size of 400 cm.

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Large Package Surcharge

A Large Package Surcharge will be applied to each UPS package when its length plus girth [(2 x width) + (2 x height)] combined exceeds 300 cm, but does not exceed the maximum UPS size of 400 cm.

Large Packages are subject to a minimum billable weight of 40 kg in addition to the Large Package Surcharge.

An Additional Handling charge will not be assessed when a Large Package Surcharge is applied.

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