How Shipping Cost Is Calculated

1 min read

When you get a quote on the Pricing Page, your cost is based on your package's chargeable weight. We and our shipping partners — including DHL, UPS, FedEx, and DPD — use this standard industry measurement to price international shipments. Here's how it works, and how you can keep your costs down.

Chargeable Weight Is the Greater of Two Weights

Your chargeable weight is always the greater of these two figures:

  • Actual weight — the physical weight of the package on a scale (in kg or lbs).
  • Volumetric (dimensional) weight — a figure that reflects how much space the package takes up.

Volumetric weight exists so that large, lightweight packages (say, a box of pillows) are priced fairly against small, heavy ones (a box of books). Whichever figure is higher becomes the chargeable weight used for your quote.

How Volumetric Weight Is Worked Out

Volumetric weight is based on your package's dimensions:

Length × Width × Height ÷ [divisor]

Lowering Your Cost with Combine & Repack

If your package "volumes out" — meaning its volumetric weight is higher than its actual weight — you can reduce the cost with our Combine & Repack service. Our team repacks your items into the smallest suitable box and removes unnecessary air and padding. Smaller dimensions mean a lower volumetric weight, which can noticeably drop your final price.

For how to request it, see How to Request Combine & Repack 

Terms You'll See on the Pricing Page

  • Chargeable Weight — the final weight figure your quote is based on (see above).
  • Available Weight — if a courier charges the same price across a weight band (for example, anything from 5 kg to 10 kg) and your package is 7 kg, you have 3 kg of "available weight." You could add more items without increasing the shipping cost. 
  • Multi-Piece Shipments — some couriers let you send several boxes as a single shipment, which can be cheaper than sending them separately.

Multi-Piece by Courier

Courier ServiceMulti-Piece Allowed?Max Pieces
DHL ExpressYes15
FedEx ExpressYes15*
UPS ExpressYes15*
UPS StandardNo1
DPDNo1
FedEx ConnectNo1

If you have further questions, please contact our Customer Experience team.

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