Zone 1 (Local/Close)
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 (1801+ miles)
Zone 9 (Territories)
Required for Dimensional Weight calculation.
Billable Weight:0 lbs
Base Shipping Rate:$0.00
Dimensional Surcharge:$0.00
Length/Volume Surcharges:$0.00
Estimated Total:$0.00
*Rates are estimates based on standard commercial ground pricing curves. Actual USPS counter rates may vary.
Understanding USPS Parcel Select Ground
USPS Parcel Select Ground (often utilized by high-volume shippers and consolidated into USPS Ground Advantage for retail customers) is one of the most economical ways to ship packages within the United States. This service is designed for large or heavy packages that do not require expedited delivery.
Shipping costs are primarily determined by three factors: the Weight of the package, the Shipping Zone (distance the package travels), and the Dimensions (which determine the Dimensional Weight).
How is the Rate Calculated?
Our calculator uses a logic similar to the official USPS pricing structure:
Zones: The US is divided into zones based on the distance from the origin zip code. Zone 1 is local, while Zone 8 represents coast-to-coast shipping.
Dimensional Weight (DIM): Carriers charge based on the space a package occupies. If your package is light but large, you will be charged for the "Dimensional Weight" rather than the actual scale weight. The formula is (Length x Width x Height) / 166.
Surcharges: Packages exceeding 22 inches or 30 inches in length often incur additional handling fees.
Dimensional Weight Explained
If you ship a large box of pillows, it weighs very little but takes up significant space in the truck. USPS applies a divisor (typically 166 for commercial ground) to the cubic volume. If the calculated Dimensional Weight is higher than the actual weight, the shipping rate is based on the Dimensional Weight.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Parcel Select Ground cheaper than Priority Mail?
Yes, typically. It is a slower service (2-8 business days) compared to Priority Mail (1-3 business days), offering lower rates for heavier items.
What is the maximum weight?
The maximum weight for USPS Parcel Select Ground is 70 lbs. Packages heavier than this cannot be shipped via this service.
What are the size limits?
The combined length and girth (Length + 2xWidth + 2xHeight) must not exceed 130 inches.
function calculateShipping() {
// 1. Get Inputs
var weightInput = document.getElementById('packageWeight').value;
var zoneInput = document.getElementById('shippingZone').value;
var lenInput = document.getElementById('dimLength').value;
var widInput = document.getElementById('dimWidth').value;
var hgtInput = document.getElementById('dimHeight').value;
var warningEl = document.getElementById('warningMsg');
var resultEl = document.getElementById('result');
// 2. Validate Inputs
if (!weightInput || weightInput 0 && width > 0 && height > 0) {
dimWeight = (length * width * height) / 166;
}
// Billable weight is the greater of Actual vs Dim. Rounded up to nearest lb.
var billableWeightRaw = Math.max(weight, dimWeight);
var billableWeight = Math.ceil(billableWeightRaw);
if (billableWeight > 70) {
warningEl.innerHTML = "Warning: The billable weight (" + billableWeight + " lbs) exceeds the USPS limit of 70 lbs.";
warningEl.style.display = 'block';
resultEl.style.display = 'none';
return;
}
// 4. Rate Approximation Logic (Simplified Commercial Ground Curve)
// Base Rates roughly: Zone 1 start $7.50, Zone 8 start $10.00
// Cost per lb increases with Zone.
// Base starting price per zone (for 1 lb)
var zoneBaseMap = {
1: 7.60, 2: 7.80, 3: 8.50, 4: 9.30,
5: 10.50, 6: 12.50, 7: 14.00, 8: 15.50, 9: 25.00
};
// Cost per additional pound per zone
var zonePerLbMap = {
1: 0.35, 2: 0.40, 3: 0.55, 4: 0.85,
5: 1.15, 6: 1.65, 7: 2.10, 8: 2.75, 9: 3.50
};
var basePrice = zoneBaseMap[zone];
var perLbRate = zonePerLbMap[zone];
// Calculate raw shipping cost based on billable weight
// Formula: Base for 1st lb + (Additional lbs * Rate per lb)
var shippingCost = basePrice + ((billableWeight – 1) * perLbRate);
// 5. Surcharges
var lengthSurcharge = 0;
var volumeSurcharge = 0; // Not fully implementing Cubic here to keep simple, focusing on length
// Non-standard Length Fees (Approx 2024 rates)
if (length > 30) {
lengthSurcharge += 15.00; // Length > 30″
} else if (length > 22) {
lengthSurcharge += 4.00; // Length > 22″
}
// Cuboid surcharge checks
if (length > 0 && width > 0 && height > 0) {
var cubicVolume = (length * width * height) / 1728; // cubic feet
if (cubicVolume > 2) {
lengthSurcharge += 25.00; // Large volume surcharge estimate
}
}
// 6. Calculate breakdown for display
// We separate the "Base Rate" (calculated on actual weight) vs "Dim Surcharge" (extra cost due to volume)
var costBasedOnActual = basePrice + ((Math.ceil(weight) – 1) * perLbRate);
var costBasedOnBillable = shippingCost;
// Determine the monetary value of the DIM surcharge
var dimCostDifference = 0;
if (costBasedOnBillable > costBasedOnActual) {
dimCostDifference = costBasedOnBillable – costBasedOnActual;
} else {
// If actual weight was higher or equal, base rate is the full rate
costBasedOnActual = costBasedOnBillable;
}
var total = shippingCost + lengthSurcharge;
// 7. Output Results
document.getElementById('displayBillableWeight').innerText = billableWeight + " lbs";
document.getElementById('displayBaseRate').innerText = "$" + costBasedOnActual.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('displayDimSurcharge').innerText = "$" + dimCostDifference.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('displayLengthSurcharge').innerText = "$" + lengthSurcharge.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById('displayTotal').innerText = "$" + total.toFixed(2);
resultEl.style.display = 'block';
// Show warning if DIM weight significantly affected price
if (dimCostDifference > 0) {
warningEl.innerHTML = "Note: Your package is being charged by Dimensional Weight (" + Math.ceil(dimWeight) + " lbs) because it is large relative to its actual weight.";
warningEl.style.display = 'block';
}
}