UPS shipping charges are based on either the dimensional weight or the actual weight of a package, whichever is heavier. If your package has a large size-to-weight ratio, you may need to consider your package’s dimensional weight to calculate its UPS shipping rate.

Dimensional weight takes into account the density of a package (the amount of space a package occupies in relation to its actual weight).To calculate dimensional weight, you first need to calculate the cubic size of your package.

How to Calculate the Cubic Size of Your Package

Cubic Size = L x W x H

To calculate the cubic size of your package, multiply the length in inches, the width in inches and the height in inches. Round each measurement to the nearest whole inch (Example: A measurement of 1.00” to 1.49” is considered one inch, and 1.50” to 1.99” is considered 2 inches.)

How to Calculate the Dimensional Weight of Your Package

Dimensional Weight = L x W x H divided by 194

Once you have the cubic size of your package, you can calculate its dimensional weight.

• If the cubic size of the package is 5,184 or larger, divide the cubic size by 194 to determine the dimensional weight in pounds.
• If the cubic size is less than 5,184, use the actual weight of the package. (Weigh your package on any standard scale and round up any fraction of a pound to the next full pound.)

If you have a multiple-package shipment, add the cubic sizes for all the packages together. The total is the cubic size of your shipment.

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