DHL volumetric weight calculator

Enter your box sizes and weights to see the volumetric weight DHL Express uses (cm × cm × cm ÷ 5000 = kg) and the chargeable weight: the higher of the volumetric and the actual weight.

Units cm / kg inch / lb

Your own divisor (optional)

Total volume–

Total actual weight–

Divisors are the carriers' published standards: DHL Express and FedEx ÷5000 cm³/kg, FedEx and UPS daily rates ÷139 in³/lb, UPS retail rates ÷166, air cargo 1:6, rail 1:3, sea LCL 1 m³ = 1,000 kg. Chargeable weights are rounded up to the next 0.5 kg or whole pound; carriers' own rounding and contract divisors can differ, so check your quote.

How volumetric weight works: A 60 × 40 × 50 cm box weighing 8 kg is 120,000 cm³. By express courier: 120,000 ÷ 5000 = 24 kg, so you pay for 24 kg, not 8 kg. By air cargo: 120,000 ÷ 6000 = 20 kg. By sea LCL the box is 0.12 m³, so it is charged as 0.12 revenue tonnes (W/M).

Volumetric weight by carrier

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How DHL Express works out the chargeable weight

DHL Express measures each piece in centimetres, multiplies length × width × height and divides by 5000 to get a volumetric weight in kilograms. It then charges the higher of that figure and the actual weight. A light but bulky box therefore costs more than its weight suggests. Contract rates can use a different divisor, so check your DHL account or quote.

Worked example

A 60 × 40 × 50 cm box weighing 8 kg is 120,000 cm³. By express courier: 120,000 ÷ 5000 = 24 kg, so you pay for 24 kg, not 8 kg. By air cargo: 120,000 ÷ 6000 = 20 kg. By sea LCL the box is 0.12 m³, so it is charged as 0.12 revenue tonnes (W/M).

How to lower the chargeable weight

Use the smallest box that still protects the goods, avoid oversized outer cartons and empty space, and combine several small boxes into one where you can. For heavier shipments compare air cargo with express courier, and for large volumes compare sea LCL or a full container.

Common questions

What divisor does DHL Express use for volumetric weight?

For international express shipments measured in centimetres and kilograms, DHL Express divides length × width × height by 5000. Example: a 60 × 40 × 50 cm box has a volumetric weight of 24 kg. Contract rates can differ.

Is volumetric weight the same as chargeable weight?

No. Volumetric weight comes from the size of the box. The chargeable weight is what the carrier bills: the higher of the actual weight and the volumetric weight, after the carrier's rounding.

Why does air cargo use 6000 but courier 5000?

Air cargo generally uses the IATA ratio of 1:6, 6000 cm³ per kg (about 167 kg per m³). Express couriers use 5000, so the same box counts as 20% heavier by courier than by air cargo.

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