What is volumetric weight?
Volumetric weight, also called dimensional weight, prices a parcel by the space it takes up. A large, light box fills a truck just like a small, heavy one, so couriers and marketplaces charge on whichever is higher.
In centimetres: volumetric weight (kg) = length × breadth × height (cm) ÷ 5,000
In inches: volumetric weight (kg) = length × breadth × height (in) × 16.387 ÷ 5,000
One inch is 2.54 cm, so one cubic inch is 16.387 cm³. Dividing cubic inches by about 305.1 gives the same answer. Amazon.in uses a divisor of 5,000. Other couriers set their own, so check your courier’s rate card for the divisor it uses.
Chargeable weight
Chargeable weight is the higher of actual weight and volumetric weight. It decides the fee slab your parcel falls in. A dense product such as a glass bottle is usually charged on actual weight. A light product in a big box is charged on volumetric weight, and you pay for the empty space.
Worked example: a 350 g product in a 25 × 20 × 8 cm box
- Volume: 25 × 20 × 8 = 4,000 cm³, or 0.141 cubic feet.
- Volumetric weight: 4,000 ÷ 5,000 = 0.8 kg.
- Actual weight: 350 g, or 0.35 kg.
- Chargeable weight: 0.8 kg, because volumetric weight is higher.
- On Amazon.in at the Standard STEP level, 0.8 kg falls in the 500 g–1 kg slab: ₹54 FBA regional, ₹85 FBA national, ₹75 Easy Ship and ₹71 Seller Flex, plus ₹17 FBA pick and pack.
Cut the box height to 5 cm and volumetric weight becomes 25 × 20 × 5 ÷ 5,000 = 0.5 kg. The parcel moves to the first 500 g slab and FBA national drops to ₹65, saving ₹20 per order. Across 1,000 orders that is ₹20,000 before GST.
| Box | Volumetric weight | Chargeable weight | Amazon slab | FBA national |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 25 × 20 × 8 cm | 0.8 kg | 0.8 kg | 500 g–1 kg | ₹85 |
| 25 × 20 × 5 cm | 0.5 kg | 0.5 kg | first 500 g | ₹65 |
Amazon.in weight handling slabs
Amazon charges the weight handling fee per shipment on chargeable weight, using the 5,000 divisor. Rates below are for the Standard STEP level and took effect on 16 March 2026. All fees exclude 18% GST. Self Ship has no weight handling fee because you pay the courier.
| Shipping weight | FBA regional | FBA national | Easy Ship | Seller Flex |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First 500 g | ₹39 | ₹65 | ₹55 | ₹51 |
| 500 g to 1 kg | ₹54 | ₹85 | ₹75 | ₹71 |
| 1 kg to 2 kg | ₹78 | ₹122 | ₹112 | ₹108 |
| Each extra kg, 2 to 5 kg | ₹24 | ₹34 | ₹34 | ₹34 |
| Each extra kg above 5 kg | ₹13 | ₹18 | ₹18 | ₹18 |
FBA also charges a pick and pack fee per unit: ₹17 up to 1 kg, ₹5 for each extra kg up to 5 kg, then ₹2 for each extra 5 kg.
Packaging changes that cut volumetric weight
Right-size your boxes
Pick a carton that fits the product with just enough room for protection. Keep a few box sizes for your best sellers instead of one large carton for everything.
Use polymailers for soft goods
Clothing, textiles and other items that cannot break ship well in a polymailer. A mailer takes the shape of the product, so there is little empty space to pay for. Measure the filled mailer the way it will ship.
Avoid oversized cartons
Empty space and filler add volume on every order. Before you order packaging in bulk, run the box size through this calculator and check how close it sits to a slab edge.
Fold or nest products
Fold textiles flat, nest cups or bowls inside each other, and ship flat-pack items unassembled where the product allows it. Every centimetre off the smallest side counts, because volume is length × breadth × height.
Free PDFGet the Amazon India Playbook10 chapters on fees, listings, ads, ranking and inventory, with a 90-day plan.Frequently asked questions
How is volumetric weight calculated?
Multiply the length, breadth and height of the packed box in centimetres, then divide by the divisor. Amazon.in uses 5,000, so a 25 × 20 × 8 cm box has a volumetric weight of 4,000 ÷ 5,000 = 0.8 kg. Measure the outer box after packing, at its widest points.
What divisor does Amazon India use for volumetric weight?
Amazon.in uses a divisor of 5,000, so volumetric weight in kg is length × breadth × height in cm ÷ 5,000. Amazon charges its weight handling fee on the higher of actual weight and volumetric weight. PrimeScale checked this against Amazon’s official fees page on 14 September 2026.
What is chargeable weight?
Chargeable weight is the weight you pay shipping fees on: the higher of the actual weight and the volumetric weight. A 350 g product in a 25 × 20 × 8 cm box is charged as 0.8 kg on Amazon.in, because its volumetric weight is higher. A heavy product in a small box is charged on its actual weight.
How do I calculate volumetric weight in inches?
Multiply each dimension in inches by 2.54 to get centimetres, then use the usual formula. A 10 × 8 × 4 inch box is 25.4 × 20.32 × 10.16 cm, or 5,243.86 cm³, which is 1.049 kg on the 5,000 divisor. You get the same answer by dividing cubic inches by about 305.1.
Does Flipkart use volumetric weight?
Yes. Flipkart says its shipping fee is charged on the higher of actual weight and volumetric weight. Check Flipkart’s seller rate card for the divisor and weight slabs that apply to your listings.
How can I reduce volumetric weight?
Use the smallest box that still protects the product, and ship soft goods such as clothing in polymailers. Fold or nest products so they take less space, and avoid oversized cartons packed with filler. Check each box size against the slab edges, because a small cut in height can move a parcel into a cheaper slab.
Which divisor should I use for other couriers?
Check your courier’s rate card for the divisor it uses, because each courier sets its own. A smaller divisor gives a higher volumetric weight: the same 4,000 cm³ box is 1 kg on a 4,000 divisor and 0.667 kg on a 6,000 divisor. Only the 5,000 divisor for Amazon.in is verified on this page.
How does Amazon charge parcels above 2 kg?
Amazon.in charges a fixed fee up to 2 kg, then adds a charge for each extra kilogram or part of one. At the Standard STEP level, FBA national costs ₹122 up to 2 kg, ₹34 for each extra kg up to 5 kg and ₹18 for each extra kg above 5 kg. These fees exclude 18% GST.