Post by PickyChicky on Sept 14, 2014 2:14:33 GMT -6
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS INFO PERTAINS TO USPS PACKAGES ONLY
For information about the dimensional weight requirements for UPS and Fedex,
see this thread on the subject that was posted back in June 2014.
We often hear reports of a shipping calculator coming up short on shipping, sometimes by rather large amounts. Now that I've learned about dimensional weight, balloon pricing, and oversized pricing, I have to wonder if the reason for the error was because the package dimensions were not entered for the item or not taken into account by the calculator.see this thread on the subject that was posted back in June 2014.
Some of you may have never even heard of dimensional weight, balloon pricing or oversized pricing, but it's really simple and is determined by the size of a package rather than its ACTUAL weight. However, which of the three you use varies based on the shipping method (Priority or Parcel Select) and the zone you're shipping to.
So I will break it down for you by the two shipping methods. First, let me give you the formulas for determining dimensional weight and balloon/oversized pricing:
Dimensional Weight
For packages measuring more than a cubic foot (1728 in3)
(LxWxH)/194
Balloon Pricing
L+2W+2H = 84 to 108 inches
Oversized Pricing
L+2W+2H = 108 to 130 inches
For packages measuring more than a cubic foot (1728 in3)
(LxWxH)/194
Balloon Pricing
L+2W+2H = 84 to 108 inches
Oversized Pricing
L+2W+2H = 108 to 130 inches
Priority Mail
DMM 223 Prices and Eligibility || pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/223.htm#1403989
Notice 123 || Page 9 of the PDF version
Zones 1-4 -- Balloon Pricing
If the combined length and girth (L+2W+2H) of a package measures more than 84 inches but less than or equal to 108 inches, then you must use the balloon pricing of 20 pounds, regardless of the actual weight of the package.
Zones 5-9 -- Dimensional Weight
For packages exceeding one cubic foot (1,728 in3), the pricing is based on the actual weight or the dimensional weight (as calculated in DMM 223.1.7.1 or 1.7.2), whichever is greater.
DMM 223.1.7.1 Determining Dimensional Weight for Rectangular Parcels
Follow these steps to determine the dimensional weight for a rectangular parcel:
- Measure the length, width, and height in inches. Round off each measurement to the nearest whole inch.
- Multiply the length by the width by the height.
- If the result exceeds 1,728 cubic inches, divide the result by 194 and round up to the next whole number to determine the dimensional weight in pounds.
EXAMPLE: A package measures 13x12x12
LxWxH (13x12x12) = 1,872 in3 (which exceeds the 1,728 in3 limit)
Calculated Dimensional Weight: 1,872/194 = 9.65 pounds (rounded up by the USPS = 10 pounds)
Therefore, if your package weighs less than 10 pounds, then you are required to use 10 pounds as the package's weight to calculate your shipping costs. If the package weighs more than 10 pounds, then you'd use the actual weight to calculate your shipping costs.
DMM 223.1.7.2 Determining Dimensional Weight for Non-rectangular Parcels
Follow these steps to determine the dimensional weight for a non-rectangular parcel:
- Measure the length, width, and height in inches at their extreme dimensions. Round off each measurement to the nearest whole inch.
- Multiply the length by the width by the height.
- Multiply the result by an adjustment factor of 0.785.
- If the final result exceeds 1,728 cubic inches, divide the result by 194 and round up to the next whole number to determine the dimensional weight in pounds.
- If the dimensional weight exceeds 70 pounds, the customer pays the 70-pound price.
EXAMPLE: A package measures 14x14x12
- LxWxH (14x14x12) = 2,352 in3
- 2,352 x 0.785 = 1,846.32 (which exceeds the 1,728 in3 limit)
- Calculated Dimensional Weight: 1,846.32/194 = 9.52 pounds (rounded up by the USPS = 10 pounds)
Therefore, if your package weighs less than 10 pounds, then you are required to use 10 pounds as the package's weight to calculate your shipping costs. If the package weighs more than 10 pounds, then you'd use the actual weight to calculate your shipping costs.
Parcel Select NonPresort
DMM 253 Prices and Eligibility || pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/253.htm
Notice 123 || Page 23 of the PDF version
Balloon Price
If a package weighs less than 20 pounds, but the combined length and girth (L+2W+2H) measures more than 84 inches but less than or equal to 108 inches, then you must use the balloon pricing of 20 pounds, regardless of the actual weight of the package.
Oversized Price
If the combined length and girth (L+2W+2H) of a package measures more than 108 inches but less than or equal to 130 inches, then you must use the oversized pricing, regardless of the actual weight of the package. To calculate the oversized price, use the Postal Explorer's Business Calculator at dbcalc.usps.com/Default.aspx.
Now, if the shipping calculator on your site uses dimensions to calculate the shipping and you actually enter those dimensions, then it SHOULD calculate properly on its own without you having to manually make these calculations. In that case, you would enter the package's ACTUAL weight -- not the dimensional weight.
If you find that the site's calculator still isn't calculating properly or you simply don't have the option to enter the dimensions, then you will need to manually enter the dimensional weight (10 pounds for the above example), 20 pounds for the balloon price, or whatever the Business Calculator determines is your oversized price. You should do some testing or ask your site's support team to determine which is the best route for you to go, depending on whether or not the site is properly calculating the shipping.
So, if you've been having problems with a site's calculator not calculating actual shipping costs correctly, then you should check to see if you're supposed to be using the dimensional weight rather than the actual weight. Even if a box doesn't seem too large, if it has long dimensions on any one side, chances are it will exceed 1,728 in3.
I know the above might be a lot to take in, but just read it carefully and you'll see just how simple it is. Of course feel free to ask any questions you might have. You can even view the USPS publications I used as sources to collect the above info in the post I created today (Oct. 7, 2014) to update the above. Simply CLICK HERE to jump to that post, which I copied the relevant bits to, or click the links within this post, including:
Notice 123 -- Price List
HTML version || pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/Notice123.htm
(view directly in browser, but doesn't display page numbers)
PDF version || pe.usps.com/cpim/ftp/manuals/dmm300/Notice123.pdf
(requires Adobe Reader and displays page numbers)