What is the difference between actual weight and dimensional weight in shipping?

Actual weight is the physical weight of a package, while dimensional weight is a calculated shipping weight based on package size. Carriers usually charge by whichever value is higher to reflect both weight and occupied space.

When do carriers charge by dimensional weight instead of actual weight?

Carriers charge by dimensional weight when a package is large relative to its physical weight and takes up more transport space. This ensures bulky shipments are priced more accurately.

How does package size affect dimensional shipping rates?

Package size affects dimensional shipping rates because larger packages increase the calculated dimensional weight, even if they are lightweight. This can lead to higher shipping cost than actual weight alone.

Can dimensional weight shipping improve margin accuracy for bulky products?

Yes, dimensional weight shipping helps merchants price bulky products more accurately and avoid undercharging for large but lightweight shipments. This improves checkout accuracy and protects shipping margins.

Is the Volumetric / Dimensional Weight feature available for Shopify?

Yes, the Volumetric / Dimensional Weight feature is included into Calcurates app for Shopify and available with any subscription plan. Enable dimensional weight calculator for your Shopify store to display more accurate real-time rates from carriers at Shopify checkout or to calculate your own rates based on volumetric weight.

Is the Volumetric / Dimensional Weight feature available for WooCommerce?

Yes, the Volumetric / Dimensional Weight feature is included into Calcurates plugin for WooCommerce and available with any subscription plan. Enable dimensional weight calculator for your WooCommerce store to display more accurate real-time rates from carriers at WooCommerce checkout or to calculate your own rates based on volumetric weight.

Is the Volumetric / Dimensional Weight feature available for Magento 2?

Yes, the Volumetric / Dimensional Weight feature is included into Calcurates extension for Magento 2 and available with any subscription plan. Enable dimensional weight calculator for your Magento 2 store to display more accurate real-time rates from carriers at Magento 2 checkout or to calculate your own rates based on volumetric weight.

Is the Volumetric / Dimensional Weight feature available for Adobe Commerce?

Yes, the Volumetric / Dimensional Weight feature is included into Calcurates extension for Adobe Commerce and available with any subscription plan. Enable dimensional weight calculator for your Adobe Commerce store to display more accurate real-time rates from carriers at Adobe Commerce checkout or to calculate your own rates based on volumetric weight.

How do I set product dimensions for volumetric weight calculation?

It is possible to select the corresponding product attribute (product length, width and height or volume) from your Magento, Shopify or WooCommerce after the store is synced with Calcurates. Make sure that products have the attribute values specified accordingly. Learn more about Volumetric Weight settings from our user guide here.

Where do I get the Shipping Factor?

Shipping Factor is generally provided by the shipping side and is various from carrier to carrier. Please get in touch with your carrier to learn more about the Shipping Factor.

How is Dimensional Weight Calculated?

It uses a formula of length multiplied by width and height, divided by shipping factor (LxWxH)/Shipping Factor. Attribute values are taken from CMS with integration and SF is provided by the carrier.

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Volumetric or Dimensional Weight

Volumetric or Dimensional Weight
& Dimensional Weight Calculator

Q: What is Dimensional Weight?

Dimensional (also known as Volumetric) weight is a value adopted by carriers worldwide for calculating shipping rates. It uses a formula of length multiplied by width and height, divided by shipping factor (LxWxH)/SF, which can vary from carrier to carrier.

Increase the accuracy of real-time rates from major carriers by enabling Volumetric or Dimensional Weight algorithms in Calcurates and take advantage of more cost-effective shipping.

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What is Dimensional Weight?

Dimensional weight (also known as volumetric weight) is a value adopted by carriers worldwide for calculating shipping rates. It uses a formula of length multiplied by width and height, divided by shipping factor (LxWxH)/SF, which can vary from carrier to carrier. Therefore dimensional shipping rates or volume based shipping rates are more accurate then rates based on weight only.

How Dimensional Weight Works

Increase the accuracy of real-time shipping rates from major carriers

Add Product Dimensions

Our Volumetric Weight algorithm requires one of the following product attributes from your catalog: product dimensions (length x width x height), product volume or product volumetric weight.
Choose a Dimensional Weight Algorithm

Choose one of three Dimensional Weight algorithms (separate dimensions, volume, or volumetric weight) depending on the product data in your catalog.
Activate Dim Weight for Shipping Options

Set the dim factor and enable the Dimensional Weight algorithm for configured Carriers or Table Rates options in your Calcurates account.
Get Rates Based on Dim Weight

We calculate Dim Weight for the order in the real-time and compare it with actual order weight. We apply higher value when requesting real-time shipping rates or calculating your own rates. This increases accuracy of shipping rates.

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Integration with Major Carriers

Connect your own carrier accounts to Calcurates and use Dimensional Weight to customize your shipping.
Calcurates integrates with major shipping carries such as UPS, FedEx, USPS, DHL, Canada Post, Purolator, Australia Post, Aramex and more.

When Do You Need Volumetric or Dimensional Weight?

Increase your shipping profitability and cost efficiency by using dimensional weight to calculate rates. All you need is the weight of a product and a database containing the product's dimensions, volume, or calculated volumetric weight.

How Real-Time Rates Accuracy Grows

depending on the data and features you use

low accuracy

Actual Weight
(No Features)

Real-time rates from carriers based on an order's actual weight. Requires the products' weight.

medium accuracy

Volumetric / Dimensional Weight

Real-time rates based on volumetric (dimensional) weight. Requires products' weight and one of the following parameters: products' dimensions, volume, or volumetric weight.

high accuracy

Smart Packaging & Dimensional Shipping

Real-time rates based on the weight and dimensions of packages shipped in an order. Requires a list of packaging options, packaging dimensions, products' weight, and products' dimensions. Learn more.

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Dimensional Weight Shipping Calculator – Accurate Ecommerce Rates

Use a dimensional weight calculator for every shipment you make. Carriers worldwide use dimensional shipping factors to calculate the shipping cost of every package. Dimensional weight is used when the shipment takes more space in the vehicle than its actual weight.

Compare shipping of packages based only on weight to the dimensional weight shipping and see which one helps you save on shipping cost more.
Use a dimensional weight calculator to calculate dimensional weight for the major carriers like UPS, FedEx, USPS, Canada Post, and DHL.

DIMENSIONAL WEIGHT CALCULATOR

Supported E-commerce Platforms

Magento 2 and Adobe Commerce

Display more accurate real-time rates from major carriers or set up custom shipping rates calculations at Magento 2 or Adobe Commerce checkout using Volumetric Weight.

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Shopify

Display more accurate real-time rates from major carriers or set up custom shipping rates calculations at Shopify checkout using Volumetric Weight available with Calcurates app for Shopify.

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WooCommerce

Display more accurate real-time rates from major carriers or set up custom shipping rates calculations at Shopify checkout using Volumetric Weight available with Calcurates plugin for WooCommerce.

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Volumetric or Dimensional Weight - Usage Scenario

Protection against undercharging on light but bulky items

Profile

A store shipping light products that take up a lot of space — a category where actual weight tells you almost nothing about cost.
Challenge

Shipping was quoted on actual weight, while carriers billed these orders on dimensional weight — length × width × height divided by the carrier's shipping factor. The rate shown at checkout was routinely lower than what the carrier later charged, and the gap came out of margin.
Solution

With Calcurates Volumetric or Dimensional Weight, the store mapped its catalogue data, set the dim factor for each carrier, and enabled the algorithm on its Carrier Rates and Table Rates options. Calcurates calculates dimensional weight for every order in real time, compares it against the actual weight, and uses the higher of the two when requesting rates. Because the algorithm accepts product dimensions, product volume, or a pre-calculated volumetric weight, the catalogue did not need full length × width × height on every SKU to switch it on.
Stack

Calcurates Volumetric or Dimensional Weight + Shopify / Magento 2 (Adobe Commerce) / WooCommerce + product dimensions, volume or volumetric weight + per-carrier dim factor + real-time Carrier Rates and Table Rates.
Outcome

Checkout pricing accounts for the space an order occupies rather than its weight alone, closing the gap between the quoted rate and the carrier's invoice — and removing a recurring source of manual adjustments.
Timeline

3–4 business days for setup, once the requirements are confirmed and the customer has provided all the required information.

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I needed an app that was compatible with the other customizations we've made to our site, and that could determine the dimensional weight of the items in the shopping cart, as well as recommend the correct package for the items ordered. This app does all that and more. The developers even added an additional functionality at my request that made it even better. 5 Stars.

5.0

Picture It Customs

5.0

The only app you need if you have more then one shipping carrier !! We also have complex shipping prices based on weight, postal code, country and volume which the calcurates app handels with ease. I can even import csv files with more then 3000 lines of prices in a few seconds to update everything. Just great to work with. Big thanks to Nik to help me out everytime i have a question, much appreciated.

Tubeo

5.0

Excellent service, quick to respond and always there to help. They have even accommodated changes we've requested and jumped on calls to deliver training.

mtc

5.0

We've had dimensional rate issues for some time now and Nik from Calcurates understood what we needed. The set up was simple and seamless. I would recommend this app to anyone looking accurate rates.