Zone 2 (0-150 miles)
Zone 3 (151-300 miles)
Zone 4 (301-600 miles)
Zone 5 (601-1000 miles)
Zone 6 (1001-1400 miles)
Zone 7 (1401-1800 miles)
Zone 8 (1800+ miles)
Next Day Air Early
Next Day Air
Next Day Air Saver
2nd Day Air (Requires heavy insulation)
Please fill in all dimensions and weight fields with valid numbers.
Estimated Rate Breakdown
Billable Weight (Greater of Actual vs Dim):0 lbs
Base Shipping Rate (Zone ):$0.00
Fuel Surcharge (Est. 14%):$0.00
Dry Ice / Hazmat Surcharge:$0.00
Residential Surcharge:$5.55
Total Estimated Cost:$0.00
*Note: This is an estimation tool based on standard commercial formulas. Actual rates depend on your specific UPS negotiated contract and daily fuel spot prices.
Understanding UPS Cold Shipping Rates
Shipping temperature-sensitive products involves more than just postage. Whether you are shipping frozen food, pharmaceuticals, or biological samples, calculating the "Total Landed Cost" of cold chain logistics requires understanding dimensional weight, surcharges, and the specific requirements of coolants like Dry Ice.
1. Billable Weight: Actual vs. Dimensional
UPS, like most major carriers, charges based on the Billable Weight. This is the greater of the package's actual scale weight or its Dimensional (DIM) weight. Because cold shipping requires bulky Styrofoam coolers and insulation, your DIM weight is often higher than the actual weight.
Formula: DIM Weight = (Length × Width × Height) / 139. Example: A 5lb box of steaks in a 12x12x12 cooler has a DIM weight of 13 lbs ((1728)/139). You pay for 13 lbs, not 5.
2. Service Levels for Cold Chain
Time is the enemy of temperature control. Most cold shipments require premium air services.
Next Day Air: The gold standard for frozen items. Ensures products arrive before coolants melt.
Next Day Air Saver: Slightly cheaper, arrives by end of day. Good for robustly packed frozen goods.
2nd Day Air: Risky for frozen items unless using Dry Ice. Often used for "cool" items (gel packs) or with heavy insulation (1.5″ – 2″ thick walls).
3. Dry Ice Regulations and Fees
Dry Ice (Carbon Dioxide Solid) is classified as a Dangerous Good (Class 9 Miscellaneous) when transported by air. If you tick the "Contains Dry Ice" box in our calculator, a surcharge applies.
Quantity Limits: Generally, packages with 5.5 lbs (2.5 kg) or less of dry ice require simpler marking.
Ventilation: Packages must not be airtight to allow CO2 gas to escape, otherwise, they may explode.
Surcharge: UPS charges a hazardous material handling fee for dry ice shipments, currently estimated around $7.00 – $7.50 per package for air shipments in the US.
4. Packaging Costs
Don't forget to factor in the cost of the packaging itself, which is not included in the shipping rate above. A standard EPS (Styrofoam) cooler inside a corrugated box costs between $8.00 and $25.00 depending on wall thickness and size. Gel packs and Dry Ice are additional costs that affect your bottom line.
Tips to Lower Cold Shipping Costs
Optimize Cooler Size: Use the smallest cooler possible that still fits your product and coolant. Reducing the box dimensions by just 2 inches can significantly drop the DIM weight.
Negotiate Rates: If you ship perishable goods regularly, contact a UPS representative. High-volume shippers can negotiate better divisors (e.g., 166 instead of 139) and lower base rates for Zone 2 and 3 deliveries.
// Global variable to toggle input visibility
function toggleDryIce() {
var checkbox = document.getElementById("dryIceInclude");
var weightGroup = document.getElementById("dryIceWeightGroup");
if (checkbox.checked) {
weightGroup.style.display = "block";
} else {
weightGroup.style.display = "none";
document.getElementById("dryIceWeight").value = "";
}
}
function calculateColdShipping() {
// 1. Get Inputs
var len = parseFloat(document.getElementById("pkgLength").value);
var wid = parseFloat(document.getElementById("pkgWidth").value);
var hgt = parseFloat(document.getElementById("pkgHeight").value);
var weight = parseFloat(document.getElementById("actualWeight").value);
var zone = parseInt(document.getElementById("shipZone").value);
var service = document.getElementById("serviceType").value;
var hasDryIce = document.getElementById("dryIceInclude").checked;
// Error Handling
var errorBox = document.getElementById("errorMsg");
var resultBox = document.getElementById("results");
if (isNaN(len) || isNaN(wid) || isNaN(hgt) || isNaN(weight) || len <= 0 || wid <= 0 || hgt <= 0 || weight <= 0) {
errorBox.style.display = "block";
resultBox.style.display = "none";
return;
}
errorBox.style.display = "none";
resultBox.style.display = "block";
// 2. Calculate Dimensional Weight (UPS Standard Divisor 139)
var dimWeight = (len * wid * hgt) / 139;
var billableWeight = Math.ceil(Math.max(weight, dimWeight));
// 3. Define Base Rates (Simulated Rate Table Logic)
// Note: Real API integration required for exact penny-perfect rates.
// These are algorithmic approximations for estimation.
// Base cost per lb based on Zone
var zoneBaseRatePerLb = 0;
switch(zone) {
case 2: zoneBaseRatePerLb = 1.25; break;
case 3: zoneBaseRatePerLb = 1.65; break;
case 4: zoneBaseRatePerLb = 2.40; break;
case 5: zoneBaseRatePerLb = 3.30; break;
case 6: zoneBaseRatePerLb = 4.10; break;
case 7: zoneBaseRatePerLb = 4.80; break;
case 8: zoneBaseRatePerLb = 5.50; break;
default: zoneBaseRatePerLb = 3.00;
}
// Service Level Multipliers
var serviceMultiplier = 1.0;
var minBaseCharge = 0; // Minimum package charge
if (service === "next_day_early") {
serviceMultiplier = 3.5;
minBaseCharge = 65.00;
} else if (service === "next_day") {
serviceMultiplier = 2.2;
minBaseCharge = 45.00;
} else if (service === "next_day_saver") {
serviceMultiplier = 1.8;
minBaseCharge = 38.00;
} else if (service === "2nd_day") {
serviceMultiplier = 1.2;
minBaseCharge = 22.00;
}
// Calculate Base Shipping Cost
var calculatedBase = billableWeight * zoneBaseRatePerLb * serviceMultiplier;
// Ensure minimums are met
if (calculatedBase < minBaseCharge) {
calculatedBase = minBaseCharge;
}
// 4. Calculate Surcharges
// Fuel Surcharge (Variable, using 14.5% estimate)
var fuelSurcharge = calculatedBase * 0.145;
// Residential Surcharge (Fixed estimate)
var residentialFee = 5.55;
// Dry Ice Surcharge
var dryIceFee = 0;
if (hasDryIce) {
// UPS Dry Ice Fee is approx $7.00
dryIceFee = 7.00;
}
// 5. Total
var totalCost = calculatedBase + fuelSurcharge + residentialFee + dryIceFee;
// 6. Update UI
document.getElementById("resBillableWeight").innerText = billableWeight + " lbs";
document.getElementById("resZone").innerText = zone;
document.getElementById("resBaseRate").innerText = "$" + calculatedBase.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("resFuel").innerText = "$" + fuelSurcharge.toFixed(2);
// Toggle Dry Ice Row visibility
var rowDryIce = document.getElementById("rowDryIce");
if (hasDryIce) {
rowDryIce.style.display = "flex";
document.getElementById("resDryIce").innerText = "$" + dryIceFee.toFixed(2);
} else {
rowDryIce.style.display = "none";
}
document.getElementById("resTotal").innerText = "$" + totalCost.toFixed(2);
}