Shipping Guidelines: Small Parcel vs LTL Freight

Shipping Guidelines: Small Parcel vs LTL Freight

Understanding Billable Weight

Billable weight is a pricing technique used by UPS to calculate shipping rates per package, taking into account both Dimensional Weight (the length, width, and height of a package) and the actual weight of the shipment.


Whichever weight is greater will be used as the billable weight for your shipment, leading to the actual shipping rate. For multiple-package shipments, total the billable weight of all packges in the shipment.



  • How to calculate the Dimensional Weight of my package?

    Dimensional weight reflects package density, which is the amount of space a package occupies compared to its actual weight. Dimensional weight may apply to all UPS domestic and international package services.

Determine the package measurement in centimeters. For each measurement, start at the longest point, rounding each measurement to the nearest whole number.

Multiply the package length (longest side of the package) by the width by the height. The result is the cubic size in inches.

Divide the cubic size in inches by the divisor to calculate the dimensional weight in pounds. Increase any fraction to the next whole pound.


The UPS divisor is 166.

So, Dimensional Weight =
(L x W x H) ÷ 166.



How To Calculate the Length & Girth of your parcel manually

Follow the guidelines to calculate the Length and Girth of your package manually: 

1. Measure the three parcel dimensions in exact inches (Remember: round each side to 

the nearest inch) 

- Example: 33 (length) x 30 (Width) x 30 (Height) 

2. Add the measurements of the two smallest dimensions together. Multiply the result by two. This is the girth of your package. 

- Example: 30 (Width) + 30 (Height) = 60 inches b. 60 inches x 2 = 120 inches ←- This is the girth of your package 

3. Now simply take the longest dimension and add this to the package girth. The result is the combined length and girth of your parcel. 

- Example: 33 (Length) + 120 (Girth) = 153 inches ←- This is the combined length 

& girth of your package. 

When should I ship via LTL Freight?

Packages exceeding the following criteria should be shipped via Freight: 

● Individual packages can be up to 150 lbs 

● Each package can be up to 165 inches in length and girth combined 

● Packages can be up to 108 inches in length 

Small Parcel vs LTL: Why is it imperative to follow the shipping guideline dimensions?

You will be subject to the following fees if your package(s) do not abide by the shipping guideline dimensions: 

● Additional Handling Fee 

● LPS (Large Package Surcharge) Fee 

● Over Maximum Limits Surcharge 

Additional Handling Fee (shipped via small package) 

● Longest side exceeds 48 inches 

- Note: Ship this package via Freight. Do not ship as Small Parcel. 


● Has an actual weight greater than 70 lbs per package 

-  Note: Ship this package via Freight. Do not ship as Small Parcel. 

Large Package Surcharge:
U.S Domestic shipments delivered to a residential address are subject to a LPS (Large Package Surcharge) fee if:

● The combined length and girth falls from 130 inches to 165 inches, or its length exceeds 96 inches 

Over Maximum Limits Surcharge:
You will be subject to an Over Maximum Limits Surcharge for packages in the UPS small package system if:

● Your UPS small package(s) exceed 108 inches in length, or 165 inches in combined length and girth 

- Note: If this is true for your package, you must ship via Freight.

● Your UPS small package exceeds 150lbs. 

- Note: If this is true for your package, you must ship via Freight.



Small Parcel:
Typically, small parcel shipments are as follows:

● Under 70lbs (per package) 

- This is per individual box. Not total combined weight.

● Shipped in your own packaging or carrier supplied boxes

● Not sent on pallets

● There are no limits to the combined total weight of your shipment 

-  Example: If you are shipping 10 packages, it is acceptable for the total combined weight to be over 150lbs. However, each individual package must be under 70lbs and follow the dimensions listed above.

● There are no limits to the combined total packages in your shipment 

- Example: You can ship 5 or more individual boxes. However, each individual box has to be under 70lbs and must follow the dimensions listed above 




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