Other shipping methods
For CDEK (Belarus, Kazakhstan), USPS Priority, USPS EMS, FedEx Economy, DHL Express and GlobalPost, the shipping calculator shows the exact price.
Open the shipping calculatorWhat volumetric weight is and why it is calculated
Volumetric weight is the weight of a parcel calculated from its size. A plane is limited not only by weight but also by space: a big light box with a pillow takes as much room as a box of dumbbells. That is why carriers compare the size of a parcel with its weight.
If a box is light but very large, its volumetric weight is much higher than its actual weight — and the extra space is charged as a surcharge or the price is calculated by the volumetric weight.
Actual weight vs volumetric weight
The actual weight is what the warehouse scales show. The volumetric weight is a number calculated from the length, width and height of the box.
Shipping to Russia is charged by the actual weight; the volumetric weight only shows whether there is a surcharge for a box that is too large and light. For Middle East countries, the greater of the two weights is charged.
Volumetric weight formula
Volumetric weight (kg) = length × width × height (cm) / divisor
Dimensions are in centimeters, the result is in kilograms. The divisor depends on the shipping method:
- SuperFast, Fastbox, Express — divisor 5000;
- Econom and shipping to Middle East countries — divisor 6000.
If the dimensions are in inches, convert them to centimeters first: 1 inch = 2.54 cm. Weight in pounds: 1 lb = 0.45359237 kg. The calculator above does it for you.
When volumetric weight affects the price
- SuperFast, Fastbox, Express (Russia): divisor 5000. If the volumetric weight is 3 or more times the actual weight, the surcharge is $3 for every full kilogram of the difference — the difference is rounded up.
- Econom (Russia): divisor 6000, surcharge by the same rule — $3 per kilogram of the difference, only if the volumetric weight is 3 or more times the actual weight.
- Middle East countries (UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Oman, Jordan, Egypt): divisor 6000, the greater of the two weights is charged — actual or volumetric.
- CDEK (Belarus, Kazakhstan), USPS Priority, USPS EMS, FedEx Economy, DHL Express, GlobalPost: the shipping calculator shows the exact price.
Calculation examples
Box 40 × 30 × 20 cm, weight 2 kg
- 40 × 30 × 20 = 24,000.
- SuperFast, Fastbox, Express: 24,000 / 5000 = 4.8 kg. That is 2.4 times the actual 2 kg — less than 3 times, no surcharge.
- Econom: 24,000 / 6000 = 4 kg, 2 times the actual weight — no surcharge either.
- Shipping to Russia is charged by the actual weight of 2 kg.
Box 60 × 40 × 40 cm, weight 2 kg
- 60 × 40 × 40 = 96,000.
- SuperFast, Fastbox, Express: 96,000 / 5000 = 19.2 kg — 9.6 times the actual weight. The difference of 17.2 kg is rounded up to 18 kg: surcharge 18 × $3 = $54.
- Econom: 96,000 / 6000 = 16 kg — 8 times the actual weight. The difference is 14 kg: surcharge 14 × $3 = $42.
- Middle East countries: the volumetric weight of 16 kg is more than the actual 2 kg, so 16 kg is charged.
How to reduce volumetric weight
- Ask us to remove shoe boxes and extra packaging — the warehouse does it for free, and the parcel gets smaller.
- Combine several purchases into one parcel — consolidation is free too. The tighter the box is packed, the smaller the gap between volumetric and actual weight.
