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There are a couple of variables that go into determining UPS billable weight. So, shipping rates depend on three variables. You have the [service](https://www.lojistic.com/blog/service-level-optimization-getting-the-best-bang-for-your-buck) you are using such as Next Day Air versus 2 Day Air versus Ground. Next, you have the zone that the shipment is being shipped to. For example, this could be Zone 2 through Zone 6 in the domestic US. Then you have the billable weight. So, the higher the UPS billable weight the more expensive a UPS package is. How Do You Figure Out UPS Billable Weight? ------------------------------------------ Now, what goes into determining billable weight? For you to understand billable weight, we have to look at a couple more variables. First, you have to look at the [actual weight](https://www.lojistic.com/blog/shipping-costs-the-good-the-bad-and-the-best). This would be when you take a package and you place it on a scale. So, UPS dimensional weight is reflective of the packing density. UPS likes denser packages. They're trying to avoid you, as the shipper, shipping out light packages in big boxes that take up space. The way they account for this is by determining the dimensional weight. Now, let's say you have a package that is 12 x 12 x 12, and this package weighs nine pounds. This means the actual weight is nine pounds. UPS will then determine the dimensional weight of this package. Important Facts --------------- So, the dimensional weight of a 12 x 12 x 12 package using the standard DIM divisor of 139 is going to be 13 pounds. Next what UPS does is compare the actual weight of nine pounds and the dimensional weight of 13 pounds. They then will bill you the greater of the two. So in this case, the billable weight that's going to show up on your bill is the dimensional weight of 13 pounds. Now, there are a couple of different ways you, as a shipper, can address dimensional weight. You want to have the bill for the actual weight as often as possible. If you have the bill for the dimensional weight it is due to the dimensional weight being greater. So, one way you can account for this is by optimizing your packaging. This is a practice a lot of shippers look at as a way to address this issue. Ways To Save ------------ Another way you can address this is by [negotiating](https://www.lojistic.com/blog/five-tips-for-negotiating-anything-from-cars-to-parcel-carrier-contracts) an improved dimensional divisor. So, as I mentioned, the standard dimensional divisor for UPS is 139. The higher the DIM divisor, the more that benefits you. So, in the same example of a 12 x 12 x 12 package, if we had a DIM divisor of 166 you're going to have a lower-dimensional weight. With a DIM divisor of 166, the same package would be 11 pounds instead of 13 pounds. So, a two-pound difference. You're still getting the bill for a dimensional weight of 11 pounds versus the actual weight of 9 pounds. But, as you can see, you're paying at a lesser weight, which means you're paying less for that package. So another way you can address this is by negotiating a dimensional divisor. ![Rich Harkey Headshot](https://www.lojistic.com/assets/public/users/rich.png) Author Rich Harkey Rich Harkey Senior Strategy Manager Rich Harkey is a results-driven professional with extensive experience in the logistics and supply chain industry. As the Senior Strategy Manager at Lojistic, Rich leverages over three decades of expertise to help businesses improve their shipping strategies and reduce costs. With a deep understanding of the requirements of shippers and the operational intricacies of carriers, he excels in everything from optimizing business rules and managing carrier invoices to negotiating carrier contracts. Rich's comprehensive knowledge of the logistics industry, combined with his strategic insights and passion for data analysis, has enabled thousands of companies to gain visibility into their shipping expenses, driving impactful results. [« Previous Post](/blog/fedex-waivers-exposed-by-fooled-customers-this-year) [Next Post »](/blog/find-out-how-to-get-the-best-negotiated-rates-possible-this-year) **Lojistic Blog** [Recent Posts](https://www.lojistic.com/blog) | [Categories](https://www.lojistic.com/blog/categories) Why Lojistic ---------------- - [All-Inclusive. Zero Cost. ](https://www.lojistic.com/pricing) - [All Modes. All Carriers. 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