Skip to content
Visit ShipperHQ.com
  • There are no suggestions because the search field is empty.

How to set up Dimensional Packing

Optimize shipping costs using dimensional weight calculations and packaging strategies

Overview

Dimensional Packing in ShipperHQ helps calculate accurate shipping rates based on the size and weight of your products. By enabling this feature, you offer carriers a clearer picture of your shipments, resulting in more precise shipping costs. This feature allows you to manage how products fit into packages, ensuring cost efficiency and customer satisfaction. 😊

Table of Contents

Enabling Dimensional Packing

  1. Go to Advanced Features in your dashboard and toggle Dimensional Packing to enable it.
  2. Click the Settings icon to choose carriers that will use Dimensional Packing and Boxes. Leave unchanged if all enabled carriers should use this feature.

Enabling Dimensional Packing calculates rates based on dimensional weight, not dead weight, ensuring more accurate rates for your customers. By adding Boxes to ShipperHQ, you align with your business logic and enhance rating accuracy.

Setup

For optimal use, gather the following for Dimensional Packing:

  • Product dimensions (as provided in your eCommerce platform)
  • Package dimensions you use for shipping (envelopes to pallets)
  • Products needing special handling, identified as Packing Rule Groups

Ensure dimensions less than one include a prefixed 0, e.g., "0.5" rather than ".5".

Strategies

Even without full product and package information, you can apply various dimensional packing strategies. Focus on "hard-to-ship" items first, like large but light objects. These items often incur losses when shipped based solely on weight.

Live Rate Carriers

With Live Rate carriers, ShipperHQ calculates the optimal box based on your product dimensions and chosen boxes in ShipperHQ. Packing Rules can set special handling instructions for specific products. Accurate package dimensions and weights provide precise carrier rates when combined with essential shipping details.

Custom Rate Carriers

For Custom Rate Carriers, rates are configured within ShipperHQ rather than through a carrier's API. For detailed steps, see our Dimensional Shipping with User-Defined Rates. 💡 Note: Dimensional Packing is unavailable for Free Shipping, In-Store Pickup, and Same Day Carriers.

Boxes & Packing

How ShipperHQ Packs Boxes

ShipperHQ uses the Best-Fit packing algorithm. The algorithm checks that product dimensions do not exceed box dimensions, and rotates boxes when needed. It assesses volume by comparing products to box volumes and considers weight and quantity limits. Learn more on our packing examples page.

Fallback Boxes: SHQ CUSTOM Box

If no boxes fit, ShipperHQ uses a fallback box named SHQ CUSTOM, sized to the largest product. Define enough boxes to avoid using the SHQ CUSTOM box, which affects rating accuracy.

Master Box Packing

You can set master packing boxes for specific SKUs. For example, if you sell wine in cases of 12 but also ship individually, use this feature to pack efficiently.

Further Reading

Modify packing quantities in boxes with detailed guides such as this article. If a product ships in multiple boxes, refer to how to set up multiple fixed boxes.

Options for Special Handling

Packing Rules

Packing Rules allow different handling for product sets within ShipperHQ. Options include separate shipping, multiple fixed boxes, and limited box choices. See Packing Rules Configuration for more details.

Less Common Options

Assigning Boxes Directly to Products

On supported platforms like Magento and Zoey, assign products directly to specific boxes, though using Packing Rules is generally preferred to reduce management overhead.

Setting Products as Malleable

On compatible platforms, set products as Malleable to account only for volume, ideal for foldable items like flags or t-shirts.

Advanced Settings

"Largest" Packing Algorithm

This algorithm, used when enabled, chooses the largest available box with extra space. Adjust settings in Advanced Features.

Limit Dimensional Shipping to Specific Carriers

Choose carriers for dimensional vs. weight-based ratings:

  1. Navigate to Advanced Features > Dimensional Packing.
  2. Click Settings and select carriers.

Dimensional Padding and Tolerance

Configure dimensional padding or tolerance settings to account for packaging materials. Adjust settings here.