What is volumetric weight and how does it impact your shipping cost in India?
A complete guide to volumetric weight, the 5000-divisor formula and how Indian D2C brands can cut shipping bills.
What is volumetric weight?
Volumetric weight (also called dimensional weight) is a calculated weight that reflects how much space a parcel occupies on a courier's vehicle. In India, almost every domestic courier uses the formula:
Volumetric weight (kg) = (Length × Breadth × Height in cm) / 5000
Couriers charge you for whichever is higher — the actual weight or the volumetric weight.
Why it matters
A 2 kg parcel that is 40 × 30 × 30 cm has a volumetric weight of 7.2 kg. You will be charged for 7.2 kg, not 2 kg. For a D2C brand shipping 10,000 lightweight-but-bulky parcels a month, this difference can mean ₹4-6 lakh of extra shipping spend.
How to reduce volumetric weight
- Use right-sized packaging instead of standard cartons.
- Switch from bubble-wrap to honeycomb paper.
- Flat-pack apparel or accessories.
- Audit your top 50 SKUs for over-packaging.
How ShipyBox helps
Our shipping cost calculator and weight reconciliation engine surface every parcel where volumetric weight is hurting your unit economics — and we automatically claim refunds from courier partners when you've been wrongly charged.