.ups-insurance-calculator-container {
font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, "Segoe UI", Roboto, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;
max-width: 800px;
margin: 0 auto;
padding: 20px;
background: #f9f9f9;
border: 1px solid #e0e0e0;
border-radius: 8px;
}
.ups-calc-header {
text-align: center;
margin-bottom: 30px;
}
.ups-calc-header h2 {
margin: 0;
color: #333;
font-size: 24px;
}
.ups-calc-row {
display: flex;
flex-wrap: wrap;
gap: 20px;
margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.ups-calc-col {
flex: 1;
min-width: 250px;
}
.ups-label {
display: block;
margin-bottom: 8px;
font-weight: 600;
color: #444;
}
.ups-input {
width: 100%;
padding: 12px;
border: 1px solid #ccc;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 16px;
}
.ups-input:focus {
border-color: #007bff;
outline: none;
}
.ups-btn {
width: 100%;
padding: 14px;
background-color: #382E2C; /* UPS-like dark brown */
color: white;
border: none;
border-radius: 4px;
font-size: 16px;
font-weight: bold;
cursor: pointer;
transition: background 0.3s;
}
.ups-btn:hover {
background-color: #594946;
}
.ups-results {
margin-top: 30px;
padding: 20px;
background: white;
border-left: 5px solid #ffb500; /* UPS-like gold */
box-shadow: 0 2px 10px rgba(0,0,0,0.05);
display: none;
}
.ups-result-row {
display: flex;
justify-content: space-between;
padding: 10px 0;
border-bottom: 1px solid #eee;
}
.ups-result-row:last-child {
border-bottom: none;
font-weight: bold;
font-size: 1.1em;
color: #333;
}
.ups-note {
font-size: 12px;
color: #666;
margin-top: 10px;
font-style: italic;
}
.article-section {
margin-top: 50px;
padding-top: 30px;
border-top: 1px solid #ddd;
line-height: 1.6;
color: #333;
}
.article-section h3 {
color: #382E2C;
margin-top: 25px;
}
.article-section ul {
padding-left: 20px;
}
.article-section li {
margin-bottom: 10px;
}
.info-box {
background-color: #fff8e1;
padding: 15px;
border-radius: 4px;
border-left: 4px solid #ffb500;
margin: 20px 0;
}
Declared Value:
$0.00
Included Liability ($0-$100):
FREE
Additional Fee Applied:
—
Total Declared Value Cost:
$0.00
*This calculator estimates the "Declared Value" charges. UPS does not offer "insurance" but limits liability based on the declared value. Rates are subject to change by the carrier.
function calculateUpsInsurance() {
// Get input values
var valueInput = document.getElementById('packageValue').value;
var rateInput = document.getElementById('declaredRate').value;
var minChargeInput = document.getElementById('minCharge').value;
// Validate inputs
if (valueInput === "" || isNaN(valueInput)) {
alert("Please enter a valid package value.");
return;
}
// Parse numbers
var totalValue = parseFloat(valueInput);
var ratePer100 = parseFloat(rateInput);
var minCharge = parseFloat(minChargeInput);
// Logic Constants
var freeThreshold = 100;
var calculatedFee = 0;
var breakdownText = "";
// Calculation Logic
// 1. If value is $100 or less, fee is $0.
if (totalValue $100, calculate cost.
// UPS typically charges for every $100 or fraction thereof of the TOTAL declared value.
// Example: Value $450. Portions of $100 = 5. Fee = 5 * Rate.
var portions = Math.ceil(totalValue / 100);
var rawFee = portions * ratePer100;
// 3. Apply Minimum Charge Rule
// If the calculated raw fee is less than the minimum charge, use the minimum charge.
if (rawFee < minCharge) {
calculatedFee = minCharge;
breakdownText = "Minimum charge applied";
} else {
calculatedFee = rawFee;
breakdownText = portions + " units of $100 @ $" + ratePer100.toFixed(2) + "/unit";
}
}
// Display Results
document.getElementById('displayValue').innerHTML = "$" + totalValue.toLocaleString('en-US', {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
document.getElementById('feeBreakdown').innerHTML = breakdownText;
document.getElementById('totalCost').innerHTML = "$" + calculatedFee.toLocaleString('en-US', {minimumFractionDigits: 2, maximumFractionDigits: 2});
// Show result box
document.getElementById('upsResultBox').style.display = 'block';
}
Understanding UPS Declared Value vs. Shipping Insurance
When shipping valuable items via UPS, it is crucial to understand the distinction between "Declared Value" and traditional shipping insurance. Many shippers use the terms interchangeably, but they function differently in the event of a claim.
Key Concept: UPS provides the first $100 of liability coverage for free on most packages. If your item is worth more than $100, you must declare a higher value and pay an additional fee to increase the carrier's liability limit.
How Declared Value Costs Are Calculated
The cost to declare a higher value is not a percentage of the item's worth in the traditional sense, but rather a fee based on blocks of $100. Here is how the logic generally applies:
- $0 – $100: No additional charge. The carrier covers up to $100 automatically.
- $100.01 – $300: A minimum declared value charge usually applies (often between $3.90 and $4.50 depending on current rates).
- Over $300: The fee is calculated based on the total value. For every $100 (or fraction thereof) of the declared value, a specific rate is charged (e.g., $1.25 or $1.30).
Example Calculation
Imagine you are shipping a laptop worth $950.
- Determine $100 units: $950 is divided by 100, which equals 9.5.
- Round Up: Since the carrier charges for every portion of $100, 9.5 is rounded up to 10 units.
- Apply Rate: If the rate is $1.30 per unit, the calculation is 10 x $1.30 = $13.00.
In this scenario, you would pay $13.00 on top of your standard shipping rate to ensure UPS is liable for the full $950 in the event of damage or loss.
Important Limitations
Declaring a value does not guarantee payment. You must still prove:
- The value of the item (invoice or receipt).
- That the item was packed according to UPS packaging guidelines.
- That the damage occurred during transit.
For extremely high-value items (often over $50,000) or specific goods like jewelry or antiques, special restrictions or third-party cargo insurance might be necessary.