Volume Weight vs Actual Weight
When we want to send international mail, one of the most common questions we encounter is the relationship between volume weight and actual weight. Many customers are confused by these two terms when sending international mail. This article will explain the concepts of volume weight and actual weight and help readers understand their importance and impact in the shipping process.
When sending international mail, many people are confused about the difference between volume weight and actual weight. These two terms are crucial in the mailing process as they directly affect the calculation of postage and shipping costs. This blog post will explain the meanings of volume weight and actual weight and provide a commonly used calculation method to help readers better understand this concept.
Volume Weight vs Actual Weight:
In international mail shipping, volume weight and actual weight are two different but related concepts. Let's understand their definitions and roles in the mailing process.
1. Volume Weight:
Volume weight is a value calculated based on the length, width, and height of the package. The common calculation method is to multiply the length, width, and height of the package and then divide by 5000. The purpose of this calculation method is to determine the space occupied by the package and take into account the transportation company's need to place the package in the appropriate space. Volume weight is usually expressed in kilograms or pounds.
2. Actual Weight:
Actual weight refers to the actual weight of the package and is expressed in kilograms or pounds. Actual weight represents the true weight of the items contained in the package.
Volume weight is crucial in international mail shipping as it affects the calculation of postage and shipping costs. For example, if you are sending a bulky item with a lightweight, such as an inflatable toy, its volume weight may be higher than its actual weight. This is because the transportation company needs to consider the space occupied by the package and ensure that all packages can be efficiently placed and transported during the shipping process.
Calculation method for volume weight:
A commonly used method is to use length x width x height / 5000. For example, if a package has a length of 50 cm, width of 40 cm, and height of 30 cm, the volume weight would be (50 x 40 x 30) / 5000 = 24 kilograms.
Suppose you are sending a package from Hong Kong to the United States using a courier company such as FedEx, UPS, or DHL. The actual weight of your package is 5 kilograms, but due to its large volume, according to the volume weight calculation method, its volume weight is 8 kilograms. In this case, the transportation company would typically calculate the postage based on the higher value between the volume weight and actual weight. Therefore, you may be charged postage for 8 kilograms instead of the actual weight of 5 kilograms.
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