Chargeable weight: why the size of the box matters

International shipping is charged on chargeable weight: the greater of the parcel’s actual weight and its volumetric (dimensional) weight, which is worked out from the size of the box. Light but bulky goods — jackets, pillows, shoe boxes, wholesale cartons — are often charged by volume rather than by what they weigh. The final figure is only known after we pack and measure the parcel, which is why the price you see before packing is an estimate. To bring it down: combine items into one parcel, ask us to remove the sellers’ original boxes, choose vacuum packing for clothing and soft items, and compare lines at the parcel step — lines differ in how they charge bulky parcels.