What Is Volumetric Weight?
Volumetric weight, also called dimensional weight or vol weight, is how couriers account for parcels that take up more space than their scale weight suggests.
Carriers usually compare the actual weight and the volumetric weight, then price the shipment using whichever number is higher. That is why a large light parcel can sometimes cost more than a smaller, denser one.
Actual weight
The physical parcel weight measured on the scale.
Volumetric weight
The space a parcel occupies, calculated from its length, width and height.
Chargeable weight
The higher of the two figures is commonly used to price the shipment.
How volumetric weight is usually calculated
For the international courier services Jetkrate commonly works with, volumetric weight is typically estimated using length × width × height divided by 5,000 when measured in centimetres, or divided by 305 when measured in inches and converted to kilograms. Final chargeable weight still depends on the live quote, carrier, service and account rules.
Inches: L × W × H ÷ 305
Bulky, light parcels are most exposed
Retail boxes, padding and domestic packaging can create empty space. That space can increase the chargeable weight, even when the product itself is not heavy.
- Shoes and boots in large boxes
- Coats, bedding and soft bulky goods
- Toys or collectibles in oversized packaging
- Homewares, décor and large cartons
- Low-value items with lots of empty space
- Multi-item orders packed inefficiently
How to reduce wasted space
You may be able to reduce chargeable weight by consolidating eligible parcels, requesting repacking where suitable, checking dimensions before buying and avoiding oversized low-value items.
Why actual weight still matters
Volumetric weight does not replace actual weight. A small dense parcel can still cost more than expected because couriers usually price from the higher chargeable figure.
Estimate before you ship
Think about parcel size as well as product weight. If the item is light but bulky, the box dimensions may matter more than the scale weight.