Local (Within City/State)
Regional (Adjacent States)
National (Coast to Coast)
International (Global)
Estimated Shipping Quote
Billable Weight:0 lbs
Dimensional Weight:0 lbs
Total Estimated Cost:$0.00
*Disclaimer: This is an estimation based on standard rates. Actual FedEx prices may vary based on fuel surcharges, residential delivery fees, and specific zip codes.
Understanding How to Calculate FedEx Shipping Costs
Calculating shipping costs for FedEx involves more than just putting a box on a scale. FedEx uses a pricing model that considers the physical space a package occupies as much as its actual weight. This is known as Dimensional Weight (DIM Weight).
What is Dimensional Weight?
FedEx calculates shipping costs based on the "Billable Weight," which is whichever is greater: the actual scale weight of the package or its dimensional weight. The formula for FedEx Dimensional Weight is:
(Length x Width x Height) / 139 = DIM Weight
Key Factors Influencing Your Rate
Weight: Heavier packages require more fuel and labor.
Zones: FedEx divides the map into zones. Zone 2 is local, while Zone 8 is cross-country. The higher the zone number, the higher the cost.
Service Level: Faster delivery options like FedEx Priority Overnight are significantly more expensive than FedEx Ground.
Surcharges: Delivering to a residential address usually adds a small fee compared to a commercial loading dock.
Example Calculation
If you are shipping a 5 lb box that measures 12″ x 12″ x 12″:
Actual Weight: 5 lbs
DIM Weight: (12 x 12 x 12) / 139 = 12.43 lbs
Billable Weight: 13 lbs (FedEx rounds up to the nearest whole pound)
Even though the item only weighs 5 lbs, you will be charged for 13 lbs because of the size of the box.
function calculateFedExShipping() {
var weight = parseFloat(document.getElementById('pkgWeight').value);
var length = parseFloat(document.getElementById('pkgLength').value);
var width = parseFloat(document.getElementById('pkgWidth').value);
var height = parseFloat(document.getElementById('pkgHeight').value);
var serviceAddon = parseFloat(document.getElementById('serviceType').value);
var zoneMultiplier = parseFloat(document.getElementById('shippingZone').value);
if (isNaN(weight) || isNaN(length) || isNaN(width) || isNaN(height)) {
alert("Please enter valid numbers for weight and dimensions.");
return;
}
// FedEx DIM Factor is 139 for most services
var dimWeight = (length * width * height) / 139;
var billableWeight = Math.max(weight, dimWeight);
// Simple logic for pricing based on weight and zone
// Base flat rate for processing + weight-based cost
var baseRate = 11.50;
var perLbRate = 0.95;
var shippingCost = (baseRate + (billableWeight * perLbRate)) * zoneMultiplier;
// Add the service speed premium
var finalTotal = shippingCost + serviceAddon;
// Display results
document.getElementById('resBillableWeight').innerHTML = Math.ceil(billableWeight) + " lbs";
document.getElementById('resDimWeight').innerHTML = dimWeight.toFixed(2) + " lbs";
document.getElementById('resTotalPrice').innerHTML = "$" + finalTotal.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('fedexResultArea').style.display = 'block';
}