When you enter a weight for your parcel (letters and packages weighing less than 150 pounds), be sure to include the weight of the box and all packing materials. Only an accurate weight will yield an accurate shipping charge. Always round up to the next nearest pound. For shipments of more than 150 pounds, however, a weight estimate is acceptable.

When you enter dimensions for your package, dimensions less than 1/2″ are rounded down to the nearest inch, dimensions greater than 1/2″ are rounded up to the nearest inch. Be sure to measure carefully, because inaccurate measurements will result in inaccurate rates.

GETTING AN ACCURATE WEIGHT

If you don’t have an accurate shipping scale, you can use a kitchen or bathroom scale. A kitchen scale will yield a more accurate weight for packages of two pounds or less. For heavier packages, use a bathroom scale:

  • Stand on the scale and record your weight
  • Pick up your package and then record the combined weight of you and your package
  • Subtract your weight (1) from the combined weight (2)
  • Round up to the nearest pound
Dimensional Weight

To keep your shipping charges down, it is best to select a shipping box that is big enough to hold your item and the packaging materials you need to protect it. Even if your item is very light, if you use an excessively large box, you may incur additional shipping costs due to dimensional weight.

Dimensional weight provides a way for carriers to assign an appropriate rate to bulky packages by converting dimensions into a weight equivalent. Dimensional weight applies to packages of less than 150 pounds that are larger than one cubic foot (the volume is equal to that of a cube one foot long on each side) when the package is very light relative to its size.

Dimensional weight is calculated by:

  • Dividing the volume (Length times width times height) by 194.L x W x H / 194 If the result is a fraction, it is rounded up to the next pound.
  • Comparing the package’s actual weight to the dimensional weight result.
  • The larger of the two weights is used to calculate shipping rates.
Packaging Types

Select one of the two packaging types for your item: Carrier Letter or Other Packaging. Some things to remember:

  • Proper packaging is essential for the safe arrival of your item to its destination. Nothing should shake, rattle, or roll inside the packaging. You can package the item yourself or ask a packaging provider to do it. Carriers can deny claims for damage if an item is improperly packaged.
  • Letter Packaging: Special weight rules apply when you use the special letter packaging provided by the carriers (for example, UPS Next Day Air or FedEx Standard Overnight envelopes) and your letter weighs 8 ounces or less. To see these special services, select “Carrier Letter” as the packaging type and enter 8 oz or less as the weight of your package. To display a more complete listing of services, enter 1 lb. for the weight even if your letter weighs less. Some carriers, such as FedEx, do not allow a weight of more than 8 ounces for Carrier Letter packaging. If you select Carrier Letter packaging and a weight of more than 8 ounces, FedEx will not display on the rate grid.
  • If your packaging is not a standard box or crate – when, for example, the item is not fully encased in an outside shipping container or the item is encased in an outside shipping container made of metal or wood – then select the “The packaging is irregular or is not standard” check box.

Carrier/Service Allowed Weight Maximum Dimensions Comments
FedEx Express Up to 150 pounds 119 inches in length

165 inches length + girth

  
FedEx Ground Up to 150 pounds

Up to 70 pounds for Home Delivery Service

 108 inches in length

165 inches length + girth

 Oversized rates apply to Ground packages if length + girth is greater than 84 inches and weight is less than 30 pounds or if length + girth is greater than 108 inches and weight is less than 70 pounds.
UPS Up to 150 pounds 108 inches length

165 inches length + girth

Packages over 70 pounds require a special label.

Oversized rates apply to Ground packages if length + girth is greater than 84 inches and weight is less than 30 pounds or if length + girth is greater than 108 inches and weight is less than 70 pounds.