Volumetric weight is a metric system used to calculate the cost of a shipment based on the volume of the package that you are sending.
This measurement attempts to standardise the cost of shipments, where the size is proportionally greater than the actual weight; i.e., it refers to the space occupied by the goods in a delivery vehicle.
Each carrier calculate the volumetric weight in a different way to set their rates, especially in case parcels are transported by plane. You always need to take into account the highest value between the real weight and the volumetric weight.
How to calculate the volumetric weight
Volumetric weight calculations are made by multiplying the width, height and length of a parcel to get the cubic size:
(Length x Width x Height)/N*
*The value of "N" will vary depending on each transport company.
Example: if parcels dimensions are 120cm X 40 cm X 10 cm, then the volume will be 0,05 m3.
You don't have to calculate the volumetric weight, as Packlink PayPal will automatically generate this information, once you have entered both weight and measurements of your parcel and you have also selected the carrier.
Why the volumetric weight?
It’s very easy: do you think that 1 kg of iron occupies the same space as 1 kg of straw? They weigh the same, but the volume is different.