Volumetric weight: what is it, how is it calculated and how does it affect the cost of your shipments?

Parcel delivery companies do not only look at the actual weight of the goods to determine the rate they charge their customers. In some cases, when the space occupied by the packages is proportionally much higher than the kilograms marked on the scale, companies take the volumetric weight as a basis.

A bad choice in the packaging of the products in your warehouse or your e-commerce can increase the volumetric weight and, therefore, considerably increase the cost of your shipments. Therefore, from Rajapack we want to show you what this variable is, how it is calculated and what you should take into account to control it. And keep the costs of your business at bay!

what is volume weight?

The volumetric weight or volume weight is a calculation of the space occupied by the goods in the vehicle (van, truck, train, plane, etc.) that is going to be used for shipping, taking into account its dimensions. Transport companies use this measurement as a guide to establish the shipping price when it comes to large packages that, proportionally, have a much lower weight in kilograms than their volume.

When pricing a parcel, both its actual weight and its volumetric weight are calculated, and the company will decide the applicable rate based on the higher of the two figures, which is why the cost of sending light but bulky goods can be exaggerated.

how to calculate the volumetric weight of a box?

Different formulas can be used to calculate the volumetric weight of a box, and each parcel delivery company has its own method, so it is key to check the standards followed by your suppliers to ensure you are choosing the most cost-effective option for your business.

Formulas for calculating the volume weight of a box

Most commonly, courier companies use one of the following methods to determine the volumetric weight of a shipment:

• Multiply the length by the width and height in centimetres, and divide the figure obtained by 5,000.

For example, a box 50 cm long, 30 cm wide and 20 cm high would be calculated:

• Multiply the length by the width and by the height in metres, and then multiply the result by a conversion factor. This factor is set by the parcel company itself depending on how many kilograms of weight a cubic metre of its containers can hold.

Following the same example as above, the formula would be as follows:

• Multiply the length by the width and height in centimetres and this figure, in turn, by the cubic capacity, which is obtained by dividing the weight of the package in kilograms by the cubic metres it occupies. The resulting number is divided by 1,000,000.

Following the same example, it would be as follows:

Courier firms work with weight ranges (usually in kilograms) to apply their rates. Therefore, when calculating the volumetric weight, when a figure with decimals is obtained, it is rounded up to assign the shipping price.

how does volume weight affect the cost of your shipments?

When you choose disproportionately large boxes to pack very lightweight items, the impact of volumetric weight on the cost of your shipments is clear: not only will you be paying for the space needed to fit the products you are shipping, but also for the extra air that accompanies them inside the box.

In this way, a decision that, a priori, seems trivial, can end up causing an incalculable waste of money in the transport item of a warehouse or online shop.

how to control the volumetric weight to save on your shipments?

You already know that excess packaging contributes to damage your brand image, but perhaps you did not know that it can also increase the cost of your shipments, increasing their volumetric weight unjustifiably. To avoid this, the solution is the most logical one: optimise the packaging of your business, bearing in mind that less is more.

At Rajapack we help you to declare war on the superfluous. We have the best packaging solutions to pack your products with two objectives in mind:

• That they travel correctly protected so that they arrive intact at their destination.
• And that they take up as little space as possible on the plane, lorry or train to reduce distribution costs.

Find in our catalogue:

• 154 different types of shipping boxes, all of which are available in different sizes, so you can choose boxes with the shapes, sizes and features best suited to your needs.
• A wide variety of packing materials, with light and safe options that protect the goods without multiplying their volume excessively.
• Height-adjustable boxesrajapack is the ideal solution for small e-commerces that want to save on their shipments without having to make the selection of their packaging too complicated.

Optimise the preparation of your packages and make sure that the volumetric weight is not a headache for you. With Rajapack it is possible!