Boneyard Tools

Shipping Cost Calculator

Carriers bill the greater of a parcel's actual weight and its dimensional weight. Enter the box size, weight and your rates to see the billable weight and the estimated shipping cost.

How to estimate a shipping cost

  1. Enter the parcel's actual weight and its length, width and height.
  2. Set your carrier's base rate, price per kg and dimensional divisor.
  3. Read the dimensional weight, billable weight and total cost.

Examples

Small dense box (actual weight wins)

5 kg, 40 x 30 x 20 cm, divisor 5000, base 10, 2 per kg
Dim weight 4.8 kg, billable 5 kg, cost 20

Large light box (dimensional weight wins)

2 kg, 60 x 50 x 40 cm, divisor 5000, base 10, 2 per kg
Dim weight 24 kg, billable 24 kg, cost 58

Frequently asked questions

What is dimensional weight and why does it matter?

Dimensional (or volumetric) weight prices a parcel by the space it takes up rather than how heavy it is. It is length times width times height divided by a carrier divisor (commonly 5000 for cm and kg). Carriers bill the larger of the actual and dimensional weight, so a big light box can cost more than its scale weight suggests.

Which dimensional divisor should I use?

It depends on the carrier and service. Many use 5000 for centimeters and kilograms, while some express services use 6000. A smaller divisor produces a higher dimensional weight, so check your contract or rate card and enter the value it lists.

Is this the exact amount I will be charged?

No. It is an estimate based on the rates you enter. Real invoices can add fuel surcharges, remote area fees, taxes, insurance and rounding rules, so treat the result as a planning figure rather than a quote.

Do you store my parcel details or rates?

No. The calculation runs entirely in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to a server or saved, so your dimensions, weights and pricing stay private on your device.

How do I price by actual weight only?

Turn off the dimensional weight option. The calculator then bills on your scale weight alone and ignores the box volume, which is useful for carriers or services that do not apply volumetric pricing.

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