When shipping internationally with Easy Delivery, it's important to understand that the cost of transport does not depend solely on the weight on the scales. Depending on the carrier, it is sometimes the volume of the parcel that drives up the price.
What is actual weight?
The actual weight is simply the weight of the package measured in kilos on a scale. This is the method used by Colissimo for shipments towards Europe and the French Overseas Territories. If your parcel weighs 2 kg, this is the weight used to calculate the rate.
What about volumetric weight?
Volumetric weight takes into account the space the package takes up in the plane or truck. It is calculated using a standard formula:
(Length x Width x Height in cm) ÷ 5000
The result is compared with the actual weight. The higher of the two will be used to calculate the rate.
This calculation method is used by FedEx, Chronopost, UPS and Colissimo, which we use for shipments all over the world.
A concrete example
Let's imagine two packages:
- Package A : a small box measuring 20 x 20 x 20 cm and weighing 5 kg
- Package B : a large cardboard box measuring 80 x 60 x 40 cm and weighing just 2 kg
For Package B, the volumetric weight is :
(80 x 60 x 40) ÷ 5000 = 38,4 kg
➡️ Even if this parcel is very light (2 kg), it will be billed as if it weighed 38,4 kg with FedEx, Chronopost or UPS, as it takes up a lot of space in transit.
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