Browse this topic

How to cube an item and calculate the VE of its actual weight

Here’s a step-by-step guide to cubing an item and calculating the volumetric equivalent (VE) of its actual weight.

1. Measure the item's dimensions

Measure your item's length, width, and height where these dimensions are greatest. Measure items of irregular shape in the same manner.

Your item's largest dimensions are the dimensions of the smallest box in which you can contain the item.

An example of a regular shaped mail item with length (A), width (B), and height (C) shown.

Regular shaped item

An example of an irregular shaped mail item with length (A), width (B), and height (C) shown.

Irregular shaped item

2. Cube the item

Calculate the item's cube by multiplying its length, width, and height (as measured in step 1).

Your item's cube (or cubic volume) is the amount of space it occupies, as if you contained it in the smallest box referred to in step 1.

3. Calculate the volumetric equivalent of the item's actual weight

Calculate the item's volumetric equivalent of its actual weight by dividing its cube (or cubic volume), as measured in step 2, by a density factor.

The formula we use to calculate the volumetric equivalent of the item's actual weight is:

Cubic volume / density factor = volumetric equivalent actual weight.

The density factor is a number that shows the fact that items weighing a certain amount are generally of a certain size or volume.

We apply a density factor of 5,000 (when measuring in cubic cm) or 139 (when measuring in cubic inches) to:

  • Priority™
  • Xpresspost™
  • Expedited services™
  • All U.S. and International services (excluding Tracked Packet™ and Small Packet™)

We apply a density factor of 6,000 (when measuring in cubic cm) or 166 (when measuring in cubic inches) for the Regular Parcel™ service

There are some examples of calculations of volumetric equivalent of actual weight on the next page. 

Please note:

Volumetric equivalent of actual weight isn’t a unit of measure, a mass, or a volume. It’s a tool developed according to an industry standard of typical parcel densities that helps to calculate a more accurate shipping price for an item's weight and the space it occupies in a truck or an airplane.