{"id":25922,"date":"2019-06-17T21:00:54","date_gmt":"2019-06-17T21:00:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/shippingeasy.com\/?p=25922"},"modified":"2023-01-20T12:42:43","modified_gmt":"2023-01-20T18:42:43","slug":"2019-dimensional-weight-changes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shippingeasy.com\/blog\/2019-dimensional-weight-changes\/","title":{"rendered":"Dimensional Weight and 2019 USPS Shipping Rates Changes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The rates in this blog are the 2019 USPS shipping rates<\/strong>. For the current 2023 USPS rates, visit our USPS 2023 Shipping Rate Changes: Flat Rate, Priority, First Class, w\/Tables<\/a> blog!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

We\u2019re continuing to dissect the upcoming 2019 USPS shipping rates changes. If you haven\u2019t seen our summary of all USPS shipping rates changes, check that out here<\/a>. We\u2019ve also touched specifically on the changes to Commercial Base Pricing<\/a>. Today, we\u2019re diving into the major 2019 Dimensional Weight changes for USPS.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note: As of October 19, 2022, ShippingEasy now offers the lowest USPS\u24c7 shipping rates in the industry, and the rates reflected in this blog are prior to this change and may not be accurate. For more information on these new rates, check out our blog!<\/a><\/mark><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n

What is Dimensional Weight (DIM Weight)?<\/h2>\n\n\n

Dimensional Weight pricing applies to larger packages with lower weights. The general idea behind it is that e-commerce merchants pay for the space these packages take up on a truck, rather than the physical weight of the package. If the calculated Dimensional Weight is higher than the physical weight of a package, you are required to pay the higher of the two.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dimensional Weight changes in pricing for 2019 apply to all domestic Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, and non-Lightweight Parcel Select packages over one cubic foot.<\/p>\n\n\n

How is Dimensional Weight Calculated?<\/h2>\n\n\n

First, you need to find out if the package is larger than one cubic foot. The equation for that is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(L x W x H)\/1728<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The 1,728 is because there are 1,728 inches in a cubic foot. If the result of the above equation is greater than 1, you need to find out the Dimensional Weight of a package. To do that, you need the Dimensional Weight divisor, which for USPS is now 166 (for FedEx and UPS the divisor is 139 for all sizes).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(L x W x H)\/166 = Dimensional weight<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If the result of the above equation yields a higher weight than the actual weight of the package you are shipping, you must pay the Dimensional Weight instead. It\u2019s also important to note here that Dimensional Weight will replace what was formerly referred to as Balloon Rate<\/strong> on Priority Mail packages (Priority Mail pieces weighing less than 20 pounds and measuring more than 84 inches, but 108 inches or less, in combined length and girth, charged the price for a piece weighing 20 pounds.).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Let\u2019s look at a couple of examples where this would and would not apply.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Example 1:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n