As a business owner, understanding shipping costs can be crucial for your bottom line. One of the key factors that can influence these costs is cubic weight, also known as dimensional weight. But what exactly is cubic weight, and why is it used over just physical weight alone?
What is Cubic Weight?
Cubic weight is a method of calculating the weight of a package based on its size rather than its actual physical weight. This calculation is essential because shipping companies need to account not only for the weight of a package but also for the amount of space it takes up in a vehicle. This approach ensures that shipping costs reflect the space and weight that a package occupies during transport.
Why Use Cubic Weight?
Shipping companies like Australia Post typically use the greater of a package’s cubic weight or actual weight to determine shipping charges.
This practice helps to balance the cost of shipping between heavy, compact items and large, lightweight items. For example, a large but light package such as a pillow can take up the same amount of space as a smaller, heavier package, and cubic weight ensures that both are fairly priced for the space they occupy.
This is particularly important for interstate and international postage parcels as the physical space within the trucks and cargo aircraft is limited.
How to Calculate Cubic Weight
Calculating cubic weight is straightforward. Here’s how you can do it:
Measure the Dimensions: Measure the length, height, and width of the parcel in meters.
Multiply the Dimensions: Multiply these three measurements together to get the volume in cubic meters.
Apply the Conversion Factor: Multiply the result by a cubic weight conversion factor. At Australia Post, this factor is 250 kg per cubic meter.
For example, to calculate the cubic weight of a parcel measuring 50 cm long, 40 cm wide and 30 cm high:
(length * width * height) * cubic conversion factor
(0.5 * 0.4 * 0.3) X 250kg = 15kgAlternatively you can use a tool such as online calculator such as AusPost Cubic Weight Calculator
This means that if your box would cost the equivalent of 15kg regardless of if the box weighs 1kg or 15kg.
Australia Post will charge based on the higher value between the actual weight and the cubic weight. For instance, if your parcel weighs 10 kg but has a cubic weight of 15 kg, the shipping charges will be calculated using the cubic weight of 15kg.
When is Cubic Weight Used?
Cubic weight is often used when using your own packaging or any packaging not eligible for national flat rates.
It is not typically used for flat-rate parcel boxes with the couriers branding or pre-paid satchels.
Minimising Shipping Costs
If your shipments are attracting a premium due to cubic weighting there are solutions.
- Have multiple sizes of boxes available to select from
- Consider if vacuum packing the item is cost effective will reduce size
- Research more compact packaging materials and methods
- Investigate if flat-rate packaging is an option
- Contact your account manager and ask if there is a more suitable shipping type
Understanding and calculating cubic weight as-well as your shipping manager can help you make more informed decisions about your shipping practices, ultimately saving you money and ensuring fair pricing for the space your packages occupy during transit.
What packing tips do you have? Let us know in the comments below