Estimate shipping costs based on weight, dimensions, and destination.
North America
Europe (EU & UK)
Asia & Pacific
South America & Africa
Economy (10-15 days)
Standard (5-7 days)
Express (2-3 days)
Physical Weight:0 kg
Volumetric Weight:0 kg
Billable Weight:0 kg
Zone Charge:$0.00
Total Estimated Postage: $0.00
How International Postage Rates are Calculated
Sending parcels overseas involves complex logistics. Carriers use two primary methods to determine the cost: actual physical weight and volumetric (dimensional) weight. The calculator above uses the industry-standard "Greater Of" rule to ensure accuracy.
Understanding Volumetric Weight
A large box filled with feathers takes up more space in a cargo plane than a small, heavy box of lead. To account for this, carriers use the volumetric weight formula:
(Length × Width × Height) ÷ 5000 = Volumetric Weight in kg
Postage Examples
Destination
Weight
Service
Est. Price
London, UK
1.0 kg
Standard
$28.50
New York, USA
5.0 kg
Express
$82.00
Tokyo, Japan
2.0 kg
Economy
$34.20
Top Tips for Reducing Shipping Costs
Use smaller boxes: Since volumetric weight can increase costs, avoid using oversized boxes for lightweight items.
Consolidate items: Shipping one larger box is often cheaper than two smaller ones due to base handling fees.
Choose Economy: If time is not a factor, economy surface mail can save up to 40% compared to air express.
function calculatePostage() {
var weight = parseFloat(document.getElementById('weight_kg').value);
var length = parseFloat(document.getElementById('pkg_length').value);
var width = parseFloat(document.getElementById('pkg_width').value);
var height = parseFloat(document.getElementById('pkg_height').value);
var zone = document.getElementById('dest_zone').value;
var speed = document.getElementById('service_speed').value;
if (isNaN(weight) || isNaN(length) || isNaN(width) || isNaN(height)) {
alert("Please enter valid numbers for weight and dimensions.");
return;
}
// 1. Calculate Volumetric Weight (Standard Factor 5000)
var volWeight = (length * width * height) / 5000;
// 2. Determine Chargeable (Billable) Weight
var billableWeight = Math.max(weight, volWeight);
// 3. Define Rate Tables (Base Price + Price Per Kg)
var basePrice = 0;
var pricePerKg = 0;
if (zone === "1") { // North America
basePrice = 15.00;
pricePerKg = 9.50;
} else if (zone === "2") { // Europe
basePrice = 18.50;
pricePerKg = 11.20;
} else if (zone === "3") { // Asia
basePrice = 20.00;
pricePerKg = 13.00;
} else { // ROW
basePrice = 25.00;
pricePerKg = 16.50;
}
// 4. Apply Speed Multipliers
var multiplier = 1.0;
if (speed === "economy") multiplier = 0.85;
if (speed === "express") multiplier = 1.65;
// 5. Final Calculation
var subTotal = basePrice + (billableWeight * pricePerKg);
var finalTotal = subTotal * multiplier;
// Display Results
document.getElementById('res_phys_weight').innerText = weight.toFixed(2) + " kg";
document.getElementById('res_vol_weight').innerText = volWeight.toFixed(2) + " kg";
document.getElementById('res_bill_weight').innerText = billableWeight.toFixed(2) + " kg";
document.getElementById('res_zone_base').innerText = "$" + basePrice.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('res_total_cost').innerText = "Total Estimated Postage: $" + finalTotal.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('postage-result-area').style.display = 'block';
}