How Volumetric Weight feature works | Calcurates for Magento

Volumetric Weight: get carrier rates or calculate own rates based on dim weight

Video: How to Set Up Volumetric Weight in Calcurates?


Overview

Wit this feature you may request real-time carrier rates or calculate your own rates based on the pre-calculated Volumetric Weight. Cart's Volumetric Weight will be compared with the Cart's regular weight. The higher value will be used for shipping rates calculation. 

There are 3 Volumetric Weight calculation methods are available:
  1. Dimensions Method. Height * Width * Length = Volume. Volumetric Weight = Volume/DIM Factor
  2. Volume Method. Volumetric Weight = Volume / DIM Factor.
  3. Volumetric Weight Method. Volumetric Weight = Volumetric Weight.
Volumetric Weight is available for the following shipping option types only: Table Rates, Carriers

Volumetric Weight: Popular Scenarios

Check some popular scenarios perfectly solved with Volumetric Weight:
  1. Calculate Volumetric Weight for getting Carrier Rates
  2. Calculate Volumetric Weight and apply it to Table Rates

Volumetric Weight: Configuration Steps

Before you start:
Product’s dimensions, volume or pre-calculated volumetric weight (depending on the selected algorithm) must be set in your Store admin.
- Shopify: use decimal or integer metafields
- Magento: use decimal or integer product attributes
- WooCommerce: use decimal or integer product parameters

Step 1: Complete Volumetric Weight mapping settings for at least one calculation method
Step 2: Select Volumetric Weight calculation method for your Shipping Option
Step 3: Enable Volumetric Weight for your Shipping Option

After you finish: check shipping method's Volumetric Weight status in the Activity Feed while testing.
If you see "true" next to the Volumetric Weight, then Volumetric Weight has been applied.
If you see "false", then the Regular Weight has been applied.

Step 1: Complete Volumetric Weight Mapping Settings

Navigate to the "Volumetric Weight" section. By clicking the yellow "Settings" button above the grid you will get access to the Volumetric Weight mapping settings per Website.
There you will see 3 methods for Volumetric Weight calculation and attribute fields for each of them.
Depending on custom attributes you have in your e-commerce platform you should choose one of them.
According to the chosen algorithm, Calcurates will use your custom attribute values of the products in the Cart to calculate Volumetric Weight.
Cart's calculated Volumetric Weight will be applied to the rate calculation if it is greater than the cart's Regular Weight.
Make sure your Website is synced with Calcurates before you assign custom attributes to the method.
Shopify: use decimal or integer metafields
Magento: use decimal or integer product attributes
WooCommerce: use decimal or integer product parameters
Complete mapping settings for each Website.




Separate Dimensions Method

This method requires separate custom attributes assigned to get product dimension values from your e-commerce platform, one for each dimension. 

Select the website and assign those custom attributes for separate dimensions
  1. Height
  2. Width
  3. Length
The following formula stands behind this method:
  1. Volume = H*W*L
  2. Volumetric Weight = Volume/DIM Factor

Volume Method

This method requires a single custom attribute assigned to get products' volume values from your e-commerce platform. 

Select the website and assign custom attributes for volume

The following formula stands behind this method:
  1. Volumetric Weight = Volume/DIM Factor

Volumetric Weight Method

This method requires a single custom attribute assigned to get products' volumetric weight values from your e-commerce platform. 

Select the website and assign a custom attributes to the volumetric weight

The following stands behind this method:
  1. Volumetric Weight = Volumetric Weight (from the attribute).

Step 2: Select Volumetric Weight calculation method for your Shipping Option

Once you selected the right method for Volumetric Weight calculation method and mapped the right custom attributes you are ready to activate Volumetric Weight for your Shipping Option(s).

Choose Shipping Option(s) that requires Volumetric Weight algorithm to be activated from the Volumetric Weight grid and press "Edit" in "Action" column.

Volumetric Weight settings page for the Shipping Option will be opened:
  1. Select one of the 3 available calculation methods (Separate Dimensions, Volume, Volumetric Weight).
  2. Set the DIM factor (not applicable to Volumetric Weight method). Learn more about the DIM factor.

Step 3: Enable Volumetric Weight for your Shipping Option

  1. Get back to the the "Volumetric Weight" section
  2. Enable Volumetric Weight for your Shipping Option(s)
You're all set!

Carrier Dimensional (DIM) Factor 

The DIM Factor is calculated by a mathematical equation used to determine the dimensional weight of an object. This equation is standard within the shipping industry. DIM Factor represents the volume of a shipment allowed per unit of weight.
The DIM Factor varies from carrier to carrier. These are DIM Factors of major carriers:

Carrier
DIM Factor: KG
DIM Factor: LB
Sources
FedEx
5000
139
Source
UPS
5000 (Daily Rates)

6000 (Retail Rates)
139 (Daily Rates) 

166 (Retail Rates)
Source
USPS
6000
166
Source
DHL
5000
166

Source 1
Source 2
Canada Post
5000 (Priority™, Xpresspost™, Expedited services™, All U.S. and International services (excluding Tracked Packet™ and Small Packet™))

6000 (Regular Parcel™ service)
139 (Priority™, Xpresspost™, Expedited services™, All U.S. and International services (excluding Tracked Packet™ and Small Packet™))

166 (Regular Parcel™ service)
Source

Volumetric Weight Behaviour

  1. Volumetric Weight will be calculated for your Shipping Option according to the selected caclulation method and mapped product attributes / metafields.
  2. Calculated cart's Volumetric Weight will be applied for the rate calculation if it is greater than the cart's Regular Weight. Otherwise the cart's regular Weight will be applied.
  3. Cart's Regular Weight will be applied if attributes (metafields) are not selected or attribute (metafield) values for the product are missing.