Dimensional weight, also known as DIM weight, is a pricing technique used by shipping carriers to account for the amount of space a package occupies in relation to its actual weight. It is particularly relevant in the shipping industry where carriers charge based on either the actual weight or the dimensional weight of a package, whichever is greater.
The purpose of dimensional weight pricing is to ensure that carriers are fairly compensated for the use of cargo space, especially when dealing with lightweight, but bulky items that take up a significant amount of room in the shipping vehicle.
If the dimensional weight is greater than the actual weight of the package, the carrier will use the dimensional weight for calculating shipping charges. This encourages shippers to optimize their packaging to reduce the dimensional weight and, in turn, shipping costs.