DHL Express ServicesDHL Express dimensional weight and surcharges
Every DHL Express shipment is priced on the greater of actual and volumetric weight. How it's calculated and how to keep it down.
Updated 1 min read
Air freight is limited by space as much as weight, so DHL Express charges the greater of the actual weight and the volumetric (dimensional) weight on every shipment — no minimum size.
| Units | Formula |
|---|---|
| Inches and pounds | L × W × H ÷ 139 |
| Centimeters and kilograms | L × W × H ÷ 5000 |
Example: a 12 × 10 × 8 in box is 960 cubic inches. Divided by 139, that's 6.9 lb — billed as 7 lb, even if the contents weigh 2 lb. Swap it for a 10 × 8 × 4 in box (320 cubic inches, 2.3 lb) and you're billed for 2.5 lb instead. DHL rounds up to the next half pound (or half kilogram).
Common surcharges
- Fuel surcharge — a percentage that changes monthly. Included in the rates Octoship shows.
- Remote area delivery — for some rural or hard-to-reach postcodes.
- Duties and taxes paid — a small service fee on DDP shipments.
- Address correction — if DHL has to fix an address. Validate first with address validation.
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