Measure the outside of each packed carton
Make one group for each combination of dimensions and gross weight. Use the finished carton, including protective packaging. If two cartons have the same product inside but different external dimensions, put them in different groups.
DHL Express UK’s published example compares actual weight with dimensional weight for each package and uses a divisor of 5,000. DHL Global Forwarding publishes other mode-specific examples. These illustrate why you must confirm the selected service’s rule; 5,000 is not a universal divisor.
A two-carton example you can check
Assume a hypothetical parcel service calculates each package separately with a divisor of 5,000, no minimum and no rounding. These assumptions explain the maths only. They do not describe an RFQ tariff.
| Package | Gross kg | Packed cm | Volumetric kg | Greater kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A · bulky | 5 | 60 × 50 × 40 | 24 | 24 |
| B · dense | 20 | 30 × 20 × 20 | 2.4 | 20 |
| Total | 25 | 0.132 m³ | 26.4 | 44 |
For A, 60 × 50 × 40 ÷ 5,000 = 24 kg. For B, 30 × 20 × 20 ÷ 5,000 = 2.4 kg. Taking the greater figure for each package produces 24 + 20 = 44 kg before any tariff rounding. Comparing only the combined gross and dimensional totals would produce 26.4 kg, understating this hypothetical package-based result by 17.6 kg.
Apply the selected tariff, then the price
The imported parcel cards currently used by RFQ Consolidator specify their own divisor of 8,000. Under that divisor alone, the same example gives 15 kg for A and 1.5 kg for B, so the per-package greater-weight sum is 35 kg before service-specific minimums, increments or fees. This still is not a price: the destination, selected product, weight band and other tariff rules matter.
The public workspace supports different package groups. Enter each group’s count, dimensions and actual weight, then review the billing explanation for the selected parcel service. Confirm the live product’s conditions rather than applying the tutorial’s hypothetical divisor.
Do not transfer the parcel result into every freight mode
A bulk-freight offer may use shipment totals or a different charge basis. Confirm the quotation’s mode and unit before applying the parcel-group calculation. Pallets, crates and non-stackable cargo can change both the final dimensions and the handling assumptions.
If a measurement is missing, leave it unknown and ask the supplier for it. Entering zero to complete a calculator creates a precise-looking result from incomplete cargo information.
Ask your supplier for a usable measurement file
- Quantity for each carton or pallet group.
- External packed length, width and height, with units.
- Gross weight for each group, including packaging.
- Any stacking limit, overhang or special handling requirement.
- A final packing list after repacking or palletisation.
Sources and scope
First-party references checked on 29 October 2026. Carrier information explains the underlying concepts; it does not establish RFQ service availability or pricing. Worked examples and checklists are editorial illustrations.