Estimate shipping costs based on package volume and speed
UPS Ground
UPS 3 Day Select
UPS 2nd Day Air
UPS Next Day Air Saver
Calculated Volume:0 cu in
Package Size Category:Small
Service Level:Ground
Estimated Shipping Cost:$0.00
How the UPS Flat Rate Shipping Calculator Works
The UPS Simple Rate program allows shippers to pay a flat fee for shipping based on the size of the package and the speed of delivery, rather than the weight or destination distance (within the contiguous U.S.). This calculator helps you determine the size category of your box based on its dimensions and provides an estimated cost.
Determining Package Size
UPS determines the flat rate "size" by calculating the cubic volume of your package. The formula is simply Length x Width x Height. Once the volume is calculated, your package falls into one of five categories:
Size Category
Volume Range (Cubic Inches)
Common Box Examples
Extra Small (XS)
1 – 100
Mugs, small electronics, jewelry (e.g., 6x4x4)
Small (S)
101 – 250
Books, t-shirts, tissue boxes (e.g., 8x6x5)
Medium (M)
251 – 650
Shoes, small appliances, toys (e.g., 12x9x6)
Large (L)
651 – 1,050
Laptops, multiple shoe boxes (e.g., 14x10x7)
Extra Large (XL)
1,051 – 1,728
Sports equipment, large coats (e.g., 18x12x8)
Shipping Speed Options
Once you have identified your package size, the price is determined by how fast you need the item to arrive. UPS Simple Rate offers four main service levels:
UPS Ground: The most economical option, typically taking 1-5 business days depending on distance.
UPS 3 Day Select: Guaranteed delivery within three business days.
UPS 2nd Day Air: Guaranteed delivery by the end of the second business day.
UPS Next Day Air Saver: Guaranteed delivery by the end of the next business day.
Important Rules and Limitations
To qualify for UPS Simple Rate, your shipment must meet specific criteria:
Maximum Weight: 50 lbs per package.
Maximum Volume: 1,728 cubic inches. If your package exceeds this, standard weight/dimensional pricing applies.
Packaging: You can use your own packaging (boxes or poly mailers). You do not need to use UPS-branded boxes, unlike USPS Flat Rate.
Destination: Rates apply to the 50 U.S. states. Shipments to Alaska and Hawaii may have surcharges or different service availability.
Comparison: UPS Simple Rate vs. USPS Flat Rate
While USPS Flat Rate requires you to use specific USPS-provided boxes, UPS Simple Rate allows you to use your own custom packaging as long as it fits within the volume tier. This is ideal for branding purposes or for items that don't fit well in standard USPS box dimensions.
function calculateShipping() {
// 1. Get Input Values
var lenInput = document.getElementById('pkg-length');
var widInput = document.getElementById('pkg-width');
var heiInput = document.getElementById('pkg-height');
var speedInput = document.getElementById('shipping-speed');
var len = parseFloat(lenInput.value);
var wid = parseFloat(widInput.value);
var hei = parseFloat(heiInput.value);
var speed = speedInput.value;
// 2. Clear previous errors
var errorBox = document.getElementById('error-message');
var resultBox = document.getElementById('result-box');
errorBox.style.display = 'none';
resultBox.style.display = 'none';
// 3. Validation
if (isNaN(len) || isNaN(wid) || isNaN(hei) || len <= 0 || wid <= 0 || hei <= 0) {
errorBox.innerHTML = "Please enter valid positive numbers for Length, Width, and Height.";
errorBox.style.display = 'block';
return;
}
// 4. Calculate Volume
var volume = len * wid * hei;
volume = Math.ceil(volume); // UPS typically rounds up or uses strict integer cutoffs
// 5. Determine Size Category
var sizeCategory = "";
var sizeCode = ""; // internal code for pricing logic
if (volume <= 100) {
sizeCategory = "Extra Small (XS)";
sizeCode = "XS";
} else if (volume <= 250) {
sizeCategory = "Small (S)";
sizeCode = "S";
} else if (volume <= 650) {
sizeCategory = "Medium (M)";
sizeCode = "M";
} else if (volume <= 1050) {
sizeCategory = "Large (L)";
sizeCode = "L";
} else if (volume <= 1728) {
sizeCategory = "Extra Large (XL)";
sizeCode = "XL";
} else {
errorBox.innerHTML = "Volume (" + volume + " cu in) exceeds the maximum limit of 1,728 cubic inches for UPS Simple Rate.";
errorBox.style.display = 'block';
return;
}
// 6. Pricing Matrix (Estimated Retail Rates for 2024/2025 context)
// Structure: { Size: { Speed: Price } }
var rates = {
"XS": { "ground": 10.85, "3day": 18.25, "2day": 23.40, "nextday": 33.50 },
"S": { "ground": 14.35, "3day": 23.15, "2day": 28.60, "nextday": 40.75 },
"M": { "ground": 17.85, "3day": 30.50, "2day": 40.80, "nextday": 55.25 },
"L": { "ground": 23.35, "3day": 42.15, "2day": 58.40, "nextday": 75.60 },
"XL": { "ground": 28.85, "3day": 53.75, "2day": 73.10, "nextday": 93.90 }
};
var estimatedPrice = rates[sizeCode][speed];
// 7. Get Readable Service Name
var serviceName = "";
if (speed === "ground") serviceName = "UPS Ground";
if (speed === "3day") serviceName = "UPS 3 Day Select";
if (speed === "2day") serviceName = "UPS 2nd Day Air";
if (speed === "nextday") serviceName = "UPS Next Day Air Saver";
// 8. Display Results
document.getElementById('res-volume').innerHTML = volume + " cubic inches";
document.getElementById('res-category').innerHTML = sizeCategory;
document.getElementById('res-service').innerHTML = serviceName;
document.getElementById('res-price').innerHTML = "$" + estimatedPrice.toFixed(2);
resultBox.style.display = 'block';
}