Volumetric weight: why a light parcel can cost more than it weighs
Couriers do not bill purely on what a parcel weighs. They bill on chargeable weight — the greater of the actual weight and a figure calculated from the box's size. For anything bulky and light, the size figure wins, and that is where unexpected shipping costs come from.
How it is calculated
Multiply the length, width and height of the box in centimetres, then divide by the carrier's divisor. The result is the volumetric weight in kilograms. If it is higher than what the scales say, that is what you are charged for.
A 60 × 40 × 40 cm box of plush toys might weigh 3 kg on the scales and 19.2 kg volumetrically at a divisor of 5,000. You would be billed for 19.2 kg.
Which services do it
Courier services such as FedEx apply volumetric weight. Japan Post services generally bill on actual weight, which is why they are often dramatically cheaper for large, light shipments even when their headline rate looks similar.
That single difference is usually the deciding factor for figures, plush, bedding and clothing.
What we do about it
We repack. Japanese retail packaging is generous, and the outer box a shop ships in is sized for its own convenience rather than for air freight. Removing that empty space is often the single largest saving available on a parcel, and it costs you nothing.
Where an item's own box is collectible — a sealed figure, a boxed game — tell us and we will pack to protect it instead, and quote accordingly.
| Service | Divisor | A 60×40×40 cm box is billed as |
|---|---|---|
| FedEx · International Connect Plus | 5,000 | 19.2 kg |
| FedEx · International Economy | 5,000 | 19.2 kg |
| FedEx · International Priority | 5,000 | 19.2 kg |
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