DHL Express · Shipping
DHL Express volumetric weight calculator.
Enter each piece to see its volumetric weight, which weight DHL charges on, and the shipment total.
Quick answer: DHL volumetric weight (kg) = length (cm) × width (cm) × height (cm) ÷ 5,000. A 40 × 30 × 50 cm box is 12 kg, and DHL charges the greater of actual and volumetric weight.
Sources checked October 2026. Not affiliated with Royal Mail, Parcelforce, Evri, DPD or DHL.
Your pieces
Chargeable weight
Enter at least one piece, then press Calculate chargeable weight.
The DHL volumetric formula
DHL’s UK weight and dimensions page gives the rule: multiply length (cm) by height (cm) by width (cm) and divide by 5,000. Its example is a package that weighs 8 kg but measures 40 × 30 × 50 cm: 40 × 30 × 50 ÷ 5,000 = 12 kg, so the package is charged at the volumetric weight.
Per piece, then added up
DHL says to calculate each package separately and add them for the total chargeable weight, and that chargeable weight is always the greater of actual and volumetric weight. The calculator therefore compares each piece first, then multiplies by the number of identical pieces.
The same 5,000 factor everywhere in the table
DHL Express’s Weight & Dimensions sheet (valid from 1 January 2025) lists the volumetric calculation factor as 200 kg/m³, or 1/5000 m³, for every Express product it covers, including Express Worldwide, Express 12:00, Express 9:00, Economy Select and Same Day. 200 kg per cubic metre and 5,000 cm³ per kg are the same thing.
Rounding to half a kilo
DHL Express UK’s weighing guide says that parcel weight is rounded up to the nearest half kilo. The result shows the total rounded that way as well as the exact figure. Your quote and invoice are what count, and DHL can apply service-specific rules.
Inches and pounds
If you measure in inches, the tool converts to centimetres first (1 in = 2.54 cm). That is the same as dividing cubic inches by about 305.1.
Sources
- DHL UK: Weight and dimensions (volumetric weight) (retrieved October 2026)
- DHL Express: Weight & Dimensions, valid from 1 January 2025 (PDF) (retrieved October 2026)
- DHL Express UK: How to measure and weigh a parcel (retrieved October 2026)
Frequently asked questions
How does DHL calculate volumetric weight?
Length × width × height in centimetres, divided by 5,000, giving kilograms.
Does DHL charge actual or volumetric weight?
The greater of the two, calculated for each piece separately.
What divisor does DHL Express use?
5,000 (1/5000 m³ or 200 kg/m³), listed for every product in DHL Express’s 2025 Weight & Dimensions sheet.
Is DHL weight rounded?
DHL Express UK’s guide says parcel weight is rounded up to the nearest half kilo.
Is this the same as DHL Parcel (UK domestic)?
This page covers DHL Express, as sourced above. DHL’s other divisions publish their own rules, so check your contract if you ship with them.
A guide, not a quote
This page compares your measurements with limits the carriers publish. It does not query any carrier, cannot confirm acceptance or price, and collects no personal data. Carriers change limits and prices, so confirm with the carrier before you ship.