Sealed carton
Use the final outside dimensions.
FROMCHINAHUB · SHIPPING SCHOOL
Volumetric Weight: Measure in cm, Divide by 6000 or 8000
Watch an English video and try the calculator: measure the packed parcel, convert cubic centimeters to dimensional kilograms, then compare with actual weight using the selected service rules.
DIMENSIONAL WEIGHT (kg)L × W × H6000 / 8000
Length × Width × Height (cm) ÷ Service divisor
01 · VIDEO
Read the lesson ↓Watch the lesson
2:37 · English narration · Male voice · Captions available
02 · CM → CM³ → KG
Measure. Convert. Compare.
Default example: 60 × 40 × 40 cm = 96,000 cm³ = 0.096 CBM. At 10 kg actual weight: divisor 6000 → 16 kg; divisor 8000 → 12 kg.
Read the lesson ↓MEASURE THE OUTSIDE
Three shapes. One outside measurement.
Bulging carton
Include the widest bulge.
Irregular parcel
Measure the complete rectangular envelope.
03 · TRY IT
Try the numbers yourself
A learning comparison for services using the greater of actual and dimensional weight. No carrier rounding is applied.
Displayed values use up to 3 decimal places; very small values use scientific notation. This is not carrier billing rounding.
Same parcel. Different service rules.
For this example only: 60 × 40 × 40 cm, with a greater-weight comparison. Choose the service first; its rules determine the divisor.
| Actual weight | Divisor | Dimensional weight | Comparison before carrier rounding |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 kg | 6000 | 16 kg | 16 kg |
| 10 kg | 8000 | 12 kg | 12 kg |
| 20 kg | 6000 | 16 kg | 20 kg |
| 20 kg | 8000 | 12 kg | 20 kg |
1. Measure the parcel you will actually ship
Pack and seal the parcel first. Measure its outside length, width and height in centimeters, including packaging and any protrusions. Measure three perpendicular directions. Use the greatest outside extent in each direction; the product size printed on a listing or an empty carton can be different from the packed parcel. Keep a photo and write down all three measurements.
2. Include bulges and the empty space around irregular shapes
For a bulging carton, measure beyond the bulge rather than along the printed carton edge. For an irregular parcel, imagine the smallest rectangular box that would contain the complete packed shape. Measure that bounding box in three directions. Do not subtract gaps, corners or hollow spaces. This lesson shows the rectangular measurement method; a carrier may apply its own measurement and oversize rules.
3. Multiply first: centimeters become cubic centimeters
Length × width × height gives volume, not weight. A parcel measuring 60 × 40 × 40 cm occupies 96,000 cm³. To express the same volume in cubic meters, divide by 1,000,000: 0.096 m³, also called CBM. Do not put meter measurements into a formula that expects centimeters. Volume in CBM and dimensional weight in kg are different quantities.
4. The divisor is part of the shipping service
Dimensional weight in kg = length × width × height in cm ÷ the service divisor. For 96,000 cm³, dividing by 6000 gives 16 kg; dividing by 8000 gives 12 kg. A divisor of 5000 would give 19.2 kg. These are different ways of converting occupied space into a pricing weight. A larger divisor gives a lower dimensional weight for the same parcel, but you cannot freely choose it: use the divisor specified by the available shipping service.
5. Compare with the scale weight
For a service that charges the greater of actual and dimensional weight, compare both numbers for the packed parcel. If this example weighs 10 kg, the comparison is 16 kg at divisor 6000 or 12 kg at divisor 8000. If it actually weighs 20 kg, the comparison is 20 kg in both cases. The comparison shown here is before carrier rounding, minimum weights and other service-specific adjustments.
6. Use the real quote before choosing a service
Enter the final dimensions and gross weight for every parcel in the shipping rate calculator. Divisors, dimension rounding, weight increments, multi-parcel treatment and volumetric concessions can vary by service. A smaller comparison weight does not by itself guarantee a lower total price. This lesson calculator is a learning tool, not a shipping quote, a bill or the warehouse storage-fee formula.
Before you ship
- Measure after final packing, using centimeters and gross kilograms.
- Include bulges and protrusions; measure each parcel separately.
- Check the divisor, rounding and billing rules for the selected service.
- Compare live shipping quotes before booking.
Measurement references
- DHL Express · Weight calculation ↗
- SF Express · Service-specific volume factors ↗
- FedEx · Measuring irregular parcels ↗
Carrier references explain the measurement principles. The 6000 and 8000 examples are educational comparisons, not a promise that a particular carrier or route uses either divisor.
DHL
UPS
FedEx
TNT
DPD
ARAMEX
USPS
Purolator
YAMATO · 黑猫宅急便
GLS
Royal Mail
YunExpress · 云途
COMONE EXPRESS
SF Express · 顺丰
China Post · 中国邮政
EMS
KYE · 跨越速运
J&T Express · 极兔
货拉拉 · Huolala
Cainiao · 菜鸟
GOFO
UniUni
4PX · 递四方
Matson · 美森
MAERSK
MSC
CMA CGM
COSCO SHIPPING
EVERGREEN
ONE · Ocean Network Express