Package Dimensions, Size Limits and Weight Guide

Measuring your package is simple. By checking dimensions and weight up front, you’ll avoid additional charges and make sure your package qualifies for UPS services.

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How To Correctly Measure a Package

  • Determine Length, Width and Height
    Measure the longest side first (this is the length). Rotate the package 90° and measure the next longest side (the width). Rotate again and measure the remaining side (the height).
  • Round Up Your Package Dimensions
    Round to the nearest whole number when taking your measurements. For example, 1 to 1.49 will be considered 1, and 1.5 to 1.99 will be considered 2.
  • Keep Measurements Handy
    You’ll need these when you create your shipment.
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Measure a Package

UPS Package Size and Weight Limits

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  • UPS packages can weight up to a maximum 150 lbs.
  • The maximum length for UPS packages is 108 inches.
  • Your specific shipment may have different package size and weight limits.
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Size and Weight Limits

FAQ

What is the maximum size combination for small package services?
Packages can be up to 165 inches in length and girth combined. To determine girth, use the formula: 2x Width + 2x Height. Then add the length (longest side) to get the total size. Remember, the longest side of your package is your length.
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How do I measure an irregularly-shaped package?
Measure irregularly-shaped packages as if they were in a rectangular box. Measure length, width and height of the theoretical package from its extreme points to determine the package’s dimensions.
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How do I determine the actual weight of my package?
Use a scale to determine the weight of the package. Round any fraction of a pound to the next whole pound for UPS Express® Envelopes (letters) over eight ounces and all other packages.
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What is billable weight and how do I calculate it?
For more details on how UPS calculates billable weight, refer to the Determine the Weight and Size section of the Rate and Service Guide.
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What is dimensional weight and how do I calculate it?

Dimensional weight is the amount of space a package occupies compared to its actual weight. UPS uses dimensional weight to calculate shipping costs when a package is large relative to its weight. Dimensional weight may apply to all UPS domestic and international package services.

To calculate dimensional weight: Dimensional Weight = (L x W x H) ÷ Divisor

First, determine the package measurement in inches. For each measurement, start at the longest point, rounding each measurement to the nearest whole number.

Next, multiply the package length (longest side of the package) by the width and by the height. The result is the cubic size in inches.

Then, divide the cubic size in inches by the DIM factor (also called divisor) to calculate the dimensional weight in pounds. Increase any fraction to the next whole pound. Note: The divisor varies by rate type: 139 for Daily Rates; 166 for Retail Rates.

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I have a freight shipment (a shipment weighing over 150 lbs). How do I ship it?

Our “less-than-truckload” (LTL) carrier, UPS Freight, can take on your heavy shipments. LTL typically refers to pallet freight weighing over 150 lbs. UPS Freight handles LTL shipping throughout the United States, Canada and Mexico.

If you want to ship multiple packages weighing a total of 151 lbs or more without a pallet, UPS Ground with Freight Pricing may be a good option for you.

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How do I use my electronic scale for online shipments?

You can connect and use your UPS-approved scale via your laptop or desktop computer.
Follow the step-by-step guide below to weigh your package and complete your online shipment:

  1. Update shipping preferences

    • Sign in using the link here and mark the checkbox ’Weigh My Packages With My USB-Connected Scale,’ then click ’Save.’
    • After logging in, select ’Shipping Preferences’ on the left-hand side and click on ’View/Edit’ to expand your Shipping Options.
    • Mark the checkbox for Use My USB Scale and finish by clicking ’Update.’

    Note: UPS CampusShip users will need to update their preferences on the CampusShip site.

  2. Authorize scale

    • Go back to the ‘Create a Shipment’ page and authorize the installation of the downloaded UPS Weight Scale app component.

    UPS Weight Scale App: Download for Windows Users* | Download for Mac or Linux Users**
    *If you receive a message saying your browser doesn’t support this function, run the installer (the file above). This will place the UPS Weight Scale App in the Startup folder, running the application each time you start your computer.
    ** To use the file above, download the .zip file and extract the script file (make sure to note what folder you extracted it to). After extracting, find and run the script file.

  3. Capture the weight

    • Once the download is finished, the package weight will show up in the weight field.
    • The ’Weigh It’ button will then capture the current scale reading.
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