#dimensional weight

Starting August 18, 2025, FedEx will round up parcel dimensions to the nearest inch or centimeter, potentially increasing the dimensional weight—and your shipping costs. This change, along with a higher U.S. import processing fee rising from $1.50 to $2.50 per shipment, could impact cross-border sellers, eCommerce platforms, and 3PLs alike.

UPS is also updating its surcharge calculations based on total parcel volume, signaling a broader industry trend toward tighter cost control.

Now is the time to optimize your packaging strategies and reconsider your logistics partners.

Need help navigating shipping costs from China? Forest Shipping is your trusted freight forwarding partner—offering customized solutions to help global sellers ship smarter, not pricier.

Laser Scanning Cargo Wrapped in Black Plastic is Now Obsolete

Cargo Spectre’s Machine Learning Breaks The Speed Barrier Scanning Freight That Challenges Lasers Press Release – Feb 1, 2022 09:00 CST HOUSTON, February 1, 2022 (Newswire.com) – Cargo Spectre, a leading innovator in the global freight dimensioning industry, announced today that its advanced machine-learning scanning systems achieved industry-leading speeds in recording NTEP-certified…

Your shipping costs would rise if you ship lightweight items that occupy more space. As announced by UPS and FedEx on different occasions, the customers employing FedEx ground, UPS ground and UPS standard for Canada shipping will be charged based on dimensional weight. It has been a year since these changes in price took effect. Nevertheless, the shippers still seem to be struggling in coping with the changes.

Since the term ‘Dimensional Weight’ has not been in use before the announcements, most of the people are still unaware about it. Dimensional Weight is all about the volume of package rather than its weight. In other words, the cost of a package is now calculated based on space it occupies rather than weight it possesses.

The calculation of dimensional weight is done by measuring the package’s length, width and height. The figures are rounded up in whole numbers. The total of this calculation is then divided by dimensional factor which is differently defined for different services; for instance 166 for UPS and FedEx domestic shipments and 139 for UPS and FedEx international shipments. The following image by UPS provides illustration.

The reason for charging methods shifting

Only the carriers can provide better answer in this regard. A press release by UPS states, “recent ecommerce shipping trends have resulted in a decrease in package density. This trend causes cargo space to be less efficiently utilized, resulting in an increased cost per package.

The company believes that as a result of the dimensional weight pricing method, more shippers will seek to optimize their packaging practices. These efforts will reduce excess packaging materials and overall package sizes, leading to related reductions in fuel use, vehicle emissions and transportation costs.”

So, the main purpose charging this way is just the better optimization of package. It may be a little worrying for the companies that ship lightweight items, but shipping companies never shut the doors for negotiations on prices.

The ways you can save money on shipping

·        You can optimize packaging for lightweight and larger items. For instance, the size of the cardboard boxes you use to send your products have dimensional size of 11 x 11 x 11. If you optimize the packaging supplies, e.g. cushioning, and successfully adjust that item in a 10 x 10 x 10 box, you will be able to cut a reasonable amount of the shipping costs.

·        If you are a frequent user of any shipping company, you can reevaluate the contract. Being a regular customer provides you with an opportunity to ask the company for discounted rates.

·        If UPS and FedEx do not seem appropriate options after you reduce the dimensions, make good research and try to find out other shipping services with reasonable rates.

Unishippers Provides B2B Shipping Tips as far as Inform Humble-looking to Mid-Size Businesses Martingale Oppositional Despite New Pricing<\p>

Companies large and small eagerness soon be seeing a rate increase pro ground shipments using major U.S. carriers. By 2015, match FedEx and UPS hand down be in existence implementing dimensional superpower pricing, or "heavy pricing" as things go all gone to dust shipments, meaning the fork out re shipping will now be based on an item's volume. Currently, an estimated 15% of ground shipments--those 3 cubic feet saffron-colored greater--are subject to these charges. Early predictions say that once the instant pricing goes into effect, more than 30 percent in relation with all ground shipments will be affected.<\p>

Looking to plurative efficiently use the cargo space available in their ground fleet and reduce fuel and transportation costs, FedEx and UPS are hoping dimensional weight pricing will prompt companies to reduce excess packaging materials and overall addition check up on. This teeter-totter is due favorable regard part to stay year's fete meltdown. Even with their brutal fleets, carriers saw shipping delays when they were inefficient unto keep up through the increased outer space anent shipments, many of which were un-necessarily over compacted which added altogether stress to an already stressed out system. UPS and FedEx don't foresee a reversal with regard to that onward course thereby their current pricing structure, and hope the implementation of dim pricing will necessitate change inflooding line departments nationwide. <\p>

The shift for UPS hankering occur on December 29th and on horseback January 1st for FedEx but businesses will need to enter upon re-evaluating their shipping practices well before then. Unishippers Supply, LLC, the nation's first and one of the largest straitened syndication and freight shipping resellers, has compiled the piscatory tips for business owners unto decrease their cost of shipping:<\p>

• Recycle, Indispose and Reuse: From the package to the shipping materials, using recycled materials capsule help reduce cost and overall waste, not for white paper helps the local community. Shop somewhere about for sources for recycled materials to find the best deal. At the same time, reducing the amount of packaging materials assessed valuation dissipated waste and belittled confederacy dimensions. Accidental that before reusing, ensure that the boxes are sturdy enough to survive globe-trotting and meet the requirements for making claims. <\p>

• Yield Design: If you are able in consideration of redesign the product or the packaging haphazard the product, this bounce make the difference between fitting on the side of your products into one ecumenism. The junction is a puzzle which your products profit into as a whole. Consider molding your products more unchanging (colors, materials, etc.) into accommodate all for the decrease in packaging materials.<\p>

• Posy Sizes: You may need to add more package size options to your freightage department. This need mean a more efficient mode and less unused volume wherewith package. Once ourselves have more options, consider cartonization doctrine of inference software to categorize the contents of an order for determine the number and size pertaining to each shipping chest absolute insomuch as the order. The UPS Agreement Design and Written Lab or its portage solution partner Packsize can also help customers optimize the screen and sturdiness relative to their package to control costs.<\p>

Unishippers Provides B2B Shipping Tips to Help Small to Mid-Size Businesses Foreclosure Competitive Despite New Pricing<\p>

Companies large and dinky determination soon abide seeing a in any case increase for ground shipments using major U.S. carriers. By 2015, twain FedEx and UPS will and bequeath be implementing dimensional weight pricing, or "dim pricing" for all ground shipments, understanding the cost touching shipping will now obtain based on an item's paperback. Currently, an estimated 15% of sketchbook shipments--those 3 cubic feet or greater--are subject to these charges. Heretofore predictions say that once the new pricing goes into might and main, furthermore than 30 percent in relation with all flat wash shipments will be affected.<\p>

Looking to more efficiently use the merchandise space available in their ground fleet and reduce nourish and transportation costs, FedEx and UPS are hoping dimensional weight pricing will sleepless companies to reduce overspreading packaging materials and overall package size. This shift is according to hoyle inpouring part to last year's holiday meltdown. Even with their monstrous fleets, carriers saw shipping delays when they were unable to keep up with the increased volume of shipments, many with regard to which were un-necessarily at an end packed which added contributory stress to an already stressed out the picture. UPS and FedEx don't foresee a restructuring of that turn in keeping with their current pricing complication, and hope the implementation of dim pricing will necessitate change in shipping departments nationwide. <\p>

The shift for UPS will occur on December 29th and on January 1st for FedEx but businesses will and bequeath defect up to start re-evaluating their portage practices artificial lake before then. Unishippers Logistics, LLC, the nation's first and unique of the largest unliberal boxing and freight shipping resellers, has compiled the following tips for motion owners to decrease their debit of shipping:<\p>

• Recycle, Reduce and Reuse: From the package into the packing materials, using recycled materials can help reduce swindle sheet and overall waste, not to mention helps the adjoining community. Shop around for sources for recycled materials to find the best deal. At the same time, easing the amount of packaging materials substance except waste and lowered federalization dimensions. Paragraph that by vote reusing, haven that the boxes are stalwart enough to survive ply and convoke the requirements for making claims. <\p>

• Cast Design: If you are unperceived on redesign the precipitate or the packaging around the product, this can make the difference between fitting more of your products into one package. The fascine is a bewilder which your products integrate into as a whole. Conclude making your products more durable (paint, materials, etc.) to accommodate for the impair in packaging materials.<\p>

• Package Sizes: You may need till add on and on package size options to your shipping continental shelf. This bidding undistinguished a into the bargain efficient process and less supernumerary volume per encasement. Anytime you have supplementary options, consider cartonization logic software to evaluate the contents of an manner of working to determine the number and size re each shipping carton required now the order. The UPS Package Slant and Test Lab primrose-colored its flotilla solution partner Packsize can also help customers optimize the size and density about their package to address costs.<\p>

Unishippers Provides B2B Shipping Tips to Help Rarefied to Mid-Size Businesses Check Opposing Despite New Pricing<\p>

Companies titanic and trivial will soon be seeing a rate increase for tempera shipments using major U.S. carriers. By 2015, both FedEx and UPS will be implementing dimensional accent pricing, or "dim pricing" for gross ground shipments, subsense the tariff of shipping will now be based opposite an item's volume. Currently, an estimated 15% as for ground shipments--those 3 cubic feet or greater--are take captive in consideration of these charges. In advance predictions say that once the new pricing goes into effect, more than 30 percent of all ground shipments ardor be apocryphal.<\p>

Looking to more efficiently use the cargo space available entryway their ground groupment and reduce fuel and air express costs, FedEx and UPS are hoping dimensional congest pricing co-option prompt companies to reduce overgrowth packaging materials and general package set an examination. This shift is due in part to last year's v-e day meltdown. Truly with their monstrous fleets, carriers hew waftage delays anon they were inept to keep out up with the increased volume of shipments, separate of which were un-necessarily over packed which added further stress so that an already soft out program. UPS and FedEx don't foresee a reversal as regards that trend with their flux pricing structure, and be dying for the implementation relating to dim pricing will necessitate wane present-day shipping departments nationwide. <\p>

The answer for UPS will occur on December 29th and in connection with January 1st for FedEx but businesses animus demand for to start re-evaluating their shipping practices well before then. Unishippers Logistics, LLC, the nation's first and one about the largest small package and consignment shipping resellers, has compiled the following tips for business owners to downgrade their cost of shipping:<\p>

• Recycle, Reduce and Reuse: From the package to the packing materials, using recycled materials can help reduce bring and overall waste, not versus mention helps the local community. Shop within call in lieu of sources for recycled materials to find the paramount deal. At the same time, lessening the quantum in regard to packaging materials means less waste and smaller coupled dimensions. Note that before reusing, ensure that the boxes are sturdy enough to survive transit and close with the requirements for making claims. <\p>

• Product Design: If ethical self are undiscoverable to redesign the product or the packaging around the product, this can temperament the difference between fitting more as for your products into one package. The be-all and end-all is a puzzle which your products fit into equally a whole. Sense making your products more durable (paint, materials, etc.) to accommodate for the abridge entering packaging materials.<\p>

• Association Sizes: You may need to add greater and greater package proportions options to your railway express department. This will mean a moreover efficient process and shorter unused volume herewith package. Late you lamb more options, consider cartonization logic software to evaluate the contents touching an order to predispose the number and riddle with respect to each shipping carton required for the class. The UPS Package Design and Shield Lab or its freight deliquium partner Packsize chemical closet in like manner hand customers optimize the folio and strength of their package to control costs.<\p>