DIM Weight Comparison Calculator | ContainerMetric
Compare dimensional weight across DHL, FedEx, UPS, USPS, Korea Post, TNT, and EMS.
Comparing Carrier DIM Weight
Couriers each apply their own dimensional (DIM) weight divisor, so the same box can be billed differently depending on who carries it. This tool computes the volumetric weight under several common standards at once and shows the chargeable weight — the greater of actual and volumetric — for each. DHL, FedEx, UPS and TNT international parcels use a 5000 cm³/kg divisor, while Korea Post and UPU EMS services use the more generous 6000 cm³/kg.
Take a 40 × 30 × 30 cm parcel weighing 5 kg. Its volume is 36,000 cm³. Under the 5000 divisor (DHL/FedEx/UPS/TNT) the volumetric weight is 7.2 kg, so you are billed on 7.2 kg. Under the 6000 divisor (Korea Post / EMS) it is 6.0 kg. In both cases the volumetric weight beats the 5 kg actual weight, which is exactly why low-density parcels cost more to ship by air courier.
USPS is handled separately because it is not a universal DIM rule. USPS applies dimensional weight only to Priority Mail packages larger than one cubic foot (1728 in³) in zones 5–9, using a 166 in³/lb divisor. Below that threshold — or on non-Priority services — USPS bills by actual weight only, so the calculator returns zero volumetric weight for small USPS parcels rather than overstating the charge.
FAQ
What divisor do DHL, FedEx, and UPS use?
For international parcels these carriers use 5000 cm³/kg: multiply length × width × height in centimeters and divide by 5000 to get the dimensional weight in kilograms.
Why does USPS sometimes show zero DIM weight?
USPS applies dimensional weight only to Priority Mail packages over one cubic foot (1728 in³) in zones 5–9. Smaller packages are billed on actual weight, so no DIM surcharge applies.
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Related Topics
- DIM weight calculator
- dimensional weight comparison
- DHL FedEx UPS weight