Everything rounds up, twice
Each side goes up to the next whole inch. The resulting DIM weight goes up to the next whole pound. A side at 4.125 in bills as 5 in.
UPS and FedEx service guidesDimensional weight calculator
Enter your package size and weight to see what UPS, FedEx, USPS and DHL Express will bill it as. One line under the H1 is the whole answer: carriers bill the greater of actual weight and dimensional weight, and this page works out both for every carrier at once. If a bill already changed after delivery, the adjustments guide shows how to check it.
Your package
in
in
in
lb
Fractions work: 27½ or 3-1/8. Results update as you type.
⚠ Height looks like centimeters.
Lowest billable weightEstimate
16 lb
Lowest at UPS Retail
Threshold meter
Estimate only. Your carrier's measurement governs billing. Weight only, never a price.
Dispute evidence checklist
If the carrier's bill differs from this estimate, gather this evidence before you dispute:
- Photo of the packed box or pallet with a tape measure across each side
- Photo of the package on a scale showing the weight
- The label or bill of lading copy with the dimensions and weight you entered
- The carrier's adjustment notice with the recorded dimensions
- A screenshot or printout of this result, with the date
- Photos of all six sides if the carrier claims damage or a nonrectangular shape
- Your scale and tape calibration notes, if you have them
How we got there
Working for FedEx. Select another carrier card above to see its steps.
Worked examples
Four fixed packages, computed from the same rules as the calculator. The measuring guide explains why carriers round the way these examples assume.
| Package | FedEx | UPS Retail | USPS |
|---|
The rules that change your bill
USPS starts at 1 cubic foot
At or under 1,728 in³, USPS bills actual weight. Over it, DIM weight applies at divisor 139. Flat Rate packaging is exempt.
USPS Domestic Mail Manual 223.1.4Your account sets the divisor
UPS Daily accounts divide by 139. UPS Retail divides by 166, which gives a lower DIM weight. Labels bought through a platform can follow yet another program; see how platform labels differ.
UPS Rate and Service GuideDivisors by carrier
The figures this calculator uses, with rounding and applicability for each. The full dataset, including USPS rules by service, is on the divisors dataset page.
| Carrier | Divisor | Rounding | Applies to |
|---|---|---|---|
| FedEx | 139 in³/lb | Each side up to a whole inch; DIM up to a whole lb | All packages in your own packaging |
| UPS Daily | 139 in³/lb | Each side up to a whole inch; DIM up to a whole lb | Daily-rate accounts |
| UPS Retail | 166 in³/lb | Each side up to a whole inch; DIM up to a whole lb | Retail and counter rates, domestic |
| USPS | 139 in³/lb | Each side up per DMM 604.7.0; DIM up to a whole lb | Only above 1 cu ft (1,728 in³); Flat Rate exempt |
| DHL Express | 139 in³/lb · 5,000 cm³/kg | Per piece, per the service guide | Express services shipped from the US |
Saved results
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Questions
What is dimensional weight?
Dimensional (DIM) weight is a package's volume converted to pounds with a carrier's divisor. Carriers bill the greater of actual weight and DIM weight, so a large, light box can bill for more than the scale shows.
Does USPS use dimensional weight?
Yes, but only for packages over 1 cubic foot (1,728 in³) on Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, Ground Advantage and Parcel Select. Flat Rate packaging is exempt. USPS moved its divisor from 166 to 139 on July 12, 2026.
Why do UPS Daily and UPS Retail differ?
UPS applies a divisor of 139 to Daily-rate accounts and 166 to Retail rates. A higher divisor gives a lower DIM weight, so the same box can bill fewer pounds at Retail.
Why did my bill change after the package was delivered?
The carrier measured the package again on its own dimensioner. If its numbers are bigger than yours, it bills on its numbers and posts the difference as an adjustment. Our guide to shipping bill adjustments walks through how to check and dispute one.
Sources
- UPS Rate and Service Guide 2026, Daily Rates and Retail Rates (dimensional weight and divisor sections)
- FedEx Service Guide 2026 (effective January 5, 2026), dimensional weight section
- USPS Domestic Mail Manual 223.1.4 and 604.7.0 (dimensional weight and rounding)
- DHL US Service and Rate Guide 2026, volumetric weight provisions
Rules last checked November 12, 2026 · How we check every figure