Parcel Size Calculator
Enter the three sides of your parcel and its weight. The calculator finds the longest side, the girth and the length plus girth, shows which size band it falls in and works out the billable weight.
- Length plus girth
- Size band
- Billable weight
The longest side is always the length. Common limits are 120 cm long and 300 cm length plus girth for standard parcels.
Couriers limit parcels by length plus girth, not just by the longest side. Girth is the distance round the parcel: twice the width plus twice the height. A 60 × 40 × 30 cm parcel has a girth of 140 cm and a length plus girth of 200 cm, well inside the common 300 cm standard limit.
Length plus girth chart
Common parcel sizes. Search for a size.
| Parcel (cm) | Girth | Length plus girth | Band |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30 × 20 × 10 | 60 | 90 | Standard |
| 45 × 35 × 16 | 102 | 147 | Standard |
| 60 × 40 × 30 | 140 | 200 | Standard |
| 80 × 50 × 40 | 180 | 260 | Standard |
| 100 × 50 × 50 | 200 | 300 | Standard |
| 120 × 60 × 60 | 240 | 360 | Oversize |
| 150 × 50 × 50 | 200 | 350 | Oversize |
| 200 × 60 × 40 | 200 | 400 | Oversize |
Girth = 2 × (width + height).
Length and band
A parcel 40 × 30 cm in section. Slide the longest side.
The dashed ring round the parcel is its girth.
How to measure a parcel
Length plus girth. Step through it.
Longest side
That is the length.
Soft parcels bulge, so measure the girth with a tape round the fattest part, not from the flat sides.
Standard, oversize or freight
Common bands. Compare them.
Most services.
Surcharge.
Pallet service.
Over the oversize limit most couriers want the item on a pallet as freight.
Before you post
Parcel checks. Tick each item.
Tick each item as you go.
Billable weight can be the volumetric weight, so a big light parcel may cost more than a small heavy one.
What you get
Parcel sizing. Each tile explains one result.
Main limit.
Standard or oversize.
Before the next band.
Weight.
What you pay on.
Shaving a few centimetres off the girth can keep a parcel in a cheaper band.
Frequently Asked Questions
No question matches that search.
What is length plus girth?
The longest side plus twice the width plus twice the height.
How do I measure girth?
Measure round the parcel at its thickest point, at right angles to the length.
What is the usual parcel size limit?
Many standard services allow up to about one hundred and twenty centimetres long and three hundred centimetres length plus girth.
What is billable weight?
The larger of the actual weight and the volumetric weight. Couriers charge on whichever is bigger.
How do I lower my length plus girth?
Use a slimmer box. Girth counts twice, so cutting width and height helps most.
What happens if my parcel is oversize?
Most couriers add a surcharge, and above their largest limit you need a freight service.
Which side is the length?
Always the longest side, whichever way the parcel sits.
Know the size before you post
Check length plus girth and billable weight first, and you avoid surcharges and rejected parcels.
More size calculators
Each one has its own calculator, worked examples and answers to common questions.