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How to set up Dimensional Packing

Optimize shipping costs using dimensional weight calculations and packaging strategies

Overview

Dimensional Packing ensures your shipping rates reflect real-world packing behavior by determining which boxes your products will ship in based on dimensions, weight, and packing rules. This results in far more accurate rates for carriers like UPS, FedEx, USPS, and others that use dimensional weight.

Table of Contents

Setup

  1. Go to Advanced Features in your dashboard and toggle Dimensional Packing to enable it.
    Enabling Dimensional Packing
  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.
    Screenshot 2025-12-05 at 15.17.51

Once done click apply to save your changes.
 
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.

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".

Go to Boxes → Add New Box


Adding a new box-1

(Keep it simple — start with 3–5 common box sizes.)Additionally for more information defining box sizes please see the guide below:
How to Define Box Sizes

Once you have defined your box sizes, you can can test them inside ShipperHQ 

Live Rate & Custom 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.

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 the following custom carriers:

- Free Shipping
- In-Store Pickup
- Same Day Carriers

Dimensional Packing Advanced Settings

"Largest" Packing Algorithm

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

Dimensional Padding and Tolerance

Configure dimensional padding or tolerance settings to account for packaging materials. Adjust settings within the Dimensional Packing Advanced Feature settings:

CleanShot 2025-09-23 at 09.02.03@2x

Miscellaneous

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.

NOTE: For multi-item orders, ShipperHQ does not dynamically create boxes based on the combined dimensions of the items. Box packing must be predefined using set box sizes and packing rules.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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