When shipping packages, it's essential to understand how courier companies calculate the final shipping weight, often referred to as the "Billable Weight and Last Weight." This weight is the greater of the Actual Weight (Scale Weight) and the Dimensional Weight (DIM Weight). Here's a detailed explanation of these terms and how the calculation works.
Actual Weight (Scale Weight)
The Actual Weight is simply the weight of the package measured on a scale. It's the most straightforward method of determining the weight of a package and is usually expressed in pounds or kilograms.
Dimensional Weight (DIM Weight)
Dimensional Weight, on the other hand, is a volumetric measurement that considers the package's size. It's calculated using a specific formula that takes into account the package's length, width, and height. DIM Weight is essential because large, lightweight packages can take up more space in a delivery truck or airplane than smaller, heavier packages. To account for this, courier companies use DIM Weight to ensure they are compensated for the space used.
The DIM Factor is a number set by the courier company. For example, FedEx, DHL, UPS, and many other major courier companies use a DIM Factor of 139 for shipments in pounds, and 166 for shipments in KG.
Calculating the Billable Weight
To determine the billable weight, courier companies compare the Actual Weight and the DIM Weight. The higher of the two weights is used as the billable weight.
For example, consider a package with the following dimensions and weight:
- Length: 20 inches
- Width: 15 inches
- Height: 10 inches
- Actual Weight: 10 pounds
In this case, the DIM Weight (21.58 pounds) is higher than the Actual Weight (10 lbs). Therefore, the Billable Weight / Last Weight for this package will be 21.58 lbs.