In a perfect world, everything that you want to ship would fit perfectly into flat rate boxes every time a delivery was to be made. If you’re an Ecommerce retailer though, you know that this is not the case much of the time. Though it may appear easy on the outside, shipping gets complicated, especially when dimensional weight is a concern.

Choosing the Right Package

Dimensional weight is used by shipping and freight companies to calculate cost based on length, width and height. There are new dimensional weight policies that will take effect at the end of this year for FedEx and UPS. They call for the right packaging, which, if not chosen correctly, could result in high volumetric rates. In order to avoid the dimensional weight charge, focus on boxes that are not too large. If shipping a package that weighs less than one pound, you would pay by the actual weight of the package. If your package does qualify for dimensional weight pricing, pack as efficiently as possible to maximize the amount of space in the box. You can divide your boxes into dimensional and non-dimensional weight categories. You should become familiar with sizing and you will want to learn what qualifies for dimensional weight. If for example, you have a box that is 4” long by 4” wide by 4” high, the size in cubic inches would be 64” and you would not be subject to dimensional weight charges. If you had a box that was 12” long by 12” wide by 6” high, that would come to 864 cubic inches and you would have to pay the new dimensional weight fees.

When choosing a box, measure the product next to the box. Find the box size that is just right and don’t use excessive amounts of packaging material, rather, only what is necessary to protect your items. It’s important to choose the right box sizes to avoid volumetric penalties. It’s important to note that the new policy change is only for FedEx and UPS. If you outsource your shipping needs to our expert fulfillment team at J.M. Field Marketing, we will ship your cargo most efficiently.