What Is Small Parcel FedEx?
April 28, 2023 •Deyman Doolittle
Small parcels are the lifeblood of both domestic and international logistics. People use small parcel shipping to send all kinds of items — from clothing and toiletries to electronics and magazines.
To the naked eye, it is clear what a 'small' parcel is. However, shipping carriers don't look at size alone when determining if a package is small. In this post, we will look at how FedEx defines small parcels, ships them, and determines rates.
What Is Small Parcel FedEx?
FedEx defines a small parcel as a package that weighs 75 lbs or less. Packages over 75 pounds are considered heavy packages, and FedEx requires that the shipper place yellow and black safety heavyweight labels over the diagonal corners of the package.
Other than small parcel size limits, below are FedEx's overall package size and weight limits, not just for small packages.
- · If you're using FedEx Ground services, you can ship packages that weigh no more than 150 lbs (68 kg) in weight, no more than 108" (274 cm) in length, and no more than 165" (419 cm) in length plus girth.
- · With FedEx Express Domestic services, you can ship packages up to 150lbs (68 kg) in weight, up to 119" (302cm) in length, and up to 165" (419 cm) in length and girth.
Check out FedEx General Packaging Guidelines for more info on measuring, weighing, and labeling your small package.
Other FedEx Package Classes: Standard vs. Oversized vs. Freight Shipping vs. Flat vs. Elongated
FedEx, like other small parcel carriers, has different package classifications depending on the size and weight of a package.
Starting with flat packages; a flat package is any package that satisfies the following criteria:
- · The shortest dimension is less than or equal to 10 inches.
- · The next shortest dimension is at least four times the length of the shortest dimension.
- · The volume of the whole package is at least 400 cubic inches.
Next, we have elongated packages, which are any parcels that:
- · Have the longest dimension being at least 24 inches long
- · Have the other two dimensions (width and height) measuring 20 percent or less than the longest dimension.
Any package that is not considered a Flat or Elongated package is classified as a Standard package.
The dimensions of a package determine whether it is oversized or not. FedEx Domestic Ground and Express services apply an oversized charge when your package has a girth of over 130 inches.
For freight, FedEx classifies packages that meet or exceed at least one of the following criteria as freight:
- · Weight heavier than 150 lbs.
- · Dimensions with a combined length and girth of more than 165 inches
Does FedEx Charge by Size or Weight?
Yes, FedEx uses size and weight, among other factors like package type and distance, to determine shipping rates. Let's look at how exactly FedEx uses size and weight to calculate shipping rates.
How FedEx Charges Shipping Using Size and Weight
The weight of a package is the primary factor that FedEx uses to come up with shipping rates. This is because an increase in the weight of a shipment causes an increase in the amount of energy (fuel) needed to transport it. Therefore the heavier your package is, the more FedEx will charge you.
Actual Weight vs. Dimensional Weight
The weight of a package, when measured on a scale, is called 'actual weight.' For most packages, you use actual weight to check rates on FedEx rate tables. However, sometimes the shape of a parcel may cause a carrier to use a different pricing-by-weight method known as dimensional weight.
Dimensional weight is a measure of how much space a package occupies in relation to its actual weight. DIM weight pricing is mostly used for large lightweight parcels. If a carrier charges such packages based on weight alone, they may make losses since they won't have accounted for the empty space in the boxes.
Benefits of Dimensional Weight
- · DIM weight pricing may offer lower shipping costs for customers who pack their parcels efficiently without dead space.
- · More efficient packing by customers also helps to reduce the waste of resources like boxes and cushioning material. Efficient packing is also eco-friendly since trucks will make fewer trips for the same amount of packages.
- · Finally, DIM weight pricing helps carriers mitigate losses from shipping large lightweight packages.
How To Get Your Dimensional Weight
Follow the following steps to calculate your FedEx dimensional weight:
- Measure your package's dimensions — length, width, and height — in inches. Then round up each measurement to the nearest whole inch.
- Multiply the length by width by height. The result of the multiplication is the cubic size of your parcel.
- Dividing the cubic size by 139, then round up the result to the nearest whole pound. The result is your package's dimensional weight.
If you cannot calculate manually, use the FedEx dimensional weight calculator.
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Frequently Asked Questions About FedEx Small Parcel Shipping
What happens if my FedEx package exceeds 75 pounds?
Packages over 75 pounds are classified as heavy packages by FedEx, not small parcels. FedEx requires the shipper to place yellow and black safety heavyweight labels over the diagonal corners of any heavy package. FedEx Ground and Express Domestic services accept packages up to 150 pounds before a shipment must move to freight handling.
How does FedEx calculate dimensional weight for a package?
Dimensional weight is calculated by multiplying the package's length by width by height in inches, dividing the result by 139, and rounding up to the nearest whole pound. FedEx uses dimensional weight pricing primarily for large, lightweight packages where the occupied space would otherwise cause the carrier to undercharge based on actual weight alone. The FedEx dimensional weight calculator is available online if manual calculation is not preferred.
At what size does FedEx classify a shipment as freight instead of parcel?
FedEx classifies a shipment as freight when it exceeds 150 pounds in weight or has a combined length and girth of more than 165 inches. Both FedEx Ground and FedEx Express Domestic parcel services accept packages up to 150 pounds and 165 inches of length plus girth. Packages meeting or exceeding either limit fall outside the parcel network and require freight handling.
When does FedEx charge an oversized package fee?
FedEx applies an oversized charge to any package whose girth exceeds 130 inches on both Domestic Ground and Express services. Shippers can avoid this fee by reducing packaging dimensions so that girth stays at or below the 130-inch threshold.
What is the difference between a flat and an elongated FedEx package?
A flat package has its shortest dimension at or below 10 inches, its next shortest dimension at least four times the shortest, and a total volume of at least 400 cubic inches. An elongated package has its longest dimension measuring at least 24 inches, with the other two dimensions each measuring 20 percent or less of that longest dimension. Any package that meets neither the flat nor the elongated criteria is classified as a standard package.