Dimensional Weight and Systems

As one of the most advanced dimensioning systems, the CubiScan dimensional weighers help you to function more efficiently as they become an essential part of your cubing efforts. Whether it be for logistical planning, storage space allocation, material sorting, manifesting, general material handling and warehousing processing, our dimensioners will play a critical role in your shipping and warehousing systems. By enabling you to quickly and accurately gather dimensional weight data, Interweigh's dimensioning systems will help you utilize precious space with the utmost efficiency, generate additional revenue by calculating valuable dimensional weight charges, and save you measurable amounts of time, effort and money. Click here if you're interested in our dimensioners and are located in Canada -

CubiScan 100L

What is Dimensional Weight?
Dimensional weight (sometimes called volumetric weight) is a term used in the shipping and freight industry referring to a billing, shipping and storage technique which takes into account the volume and not just the weight of a package. If a package takes up a lot of space but isn't that heavy, a shipping company might charge for the item's dimensional weight instead of its actual weight. Packages that take up a lot of room in a warehouse or shipping center can cost more to if they are charged based only on their actual weight.

There are two kinds of dimensional weighing: static and dynamic. Our static dimensional weight system, for instance, determines the dimensional weight of an item while it is at rest, i.e., statically. Our dnamic dimensional weight system, determines the dimensional weight of an object while it is moving on a conveyor line, i.e., or is in-motion. When your packages have a large size-to-weight ratio, you should think about calculating your package's dimensional weight when you calculate your shipping rates. Also see CubiScan.

No More Ruler, Tape Measure or Mistakes
While the dimensional weight of an item is a straightforward process, this time consuming task can result in big and expensive problems when errors occur. A ruler or tape measure is still a popular way measure boxes for shipping and storage. In an assembly production line or a conveyor environment, where objects on the conveyor are moving at a high rate of speed, this quickly becomes impractical. There is no way to measure these cubed shaped objects accurately and quickly unless you have a dimensioner. Presently, the responsibility to calculate the dim weight of the package has shifted to the shipper or carrier and in some cases even to the manufacturer. With the right dimensioning system this is no longer an issue.

Calulating Dimensional Weight
It is now possible to get millions of boxes weighed and measured properly so that they could be stored, located and delivered on time to the customer without under or over charging them. Most major shipping companies designate their charges for shipping packages based on what is called the dim weight or dimensional weight (DW) of the object being shipped. The standard formula for determining the dimensional weight of an item is (DW = length (L) x width (W) x height (H) divided by a dimensional weight conversion factor, usually 194 (USA) or 166 (Canada) for domestic shipping. Used by most shipping carriers for billing purposes, these calculations are used to calculate the amount of space a package will take up in relation to its weight. When these calculations are inaccurate due to poor dimensional measuring techniques, the result affects everyone involved. They can become a big problem by changing the way businesses handle both shipping and storage expenses.

How To Calculate the Dimensional Weight of Your Package
There are two kinds of dimensional weight: ground and air. At the moment, most couriers or shipping companies calculate dimensional weight by taking the volume of a package or box in inches and dividing it by 194 to arrive at a ground dimensional weight. To calcuate the air dimensional weight they take the volume and divide it by 166. For Example: a box that measures 26” x 32” x 13” has a volume of 10,816 cubic inches. When divided by 194, this package has a ground dimensional weight of 55.75 or 56 lbs. The same package would also have an air dimensional weight of 10,816 divided by 166 or 65.15 or 66 lbs. Note: any fraction over a pound is always rounded up to the higher pound weight.

Calculate the cubic size or volume of your package by multiplying the length by the width and by the height in inches. Round each measurement to the nearest whole inch and divide this result by the conversion factor, i.e., 194 or 166. The final total is the dimensional weight of your package.

L x W x H			= Ground Dimensional Weight
194

L x W x H			= Air Dimensional Weight
166

Dimensional Weight Applications
Dimensional weight is used by Fedex and UPS, air freight forwarders, some truck carriers, as well as all commercial airlines carriers around the world. With a dimensioning system any company that deals with large number of parcels can recover significant costs traditionally handled by manual systems of sorting, handling and storage.