How Volumetric Weight feature works | Calcurates for Magento

How Volumetric Weight feature works

Video: How to Set Up Volumetric Weight in Calcurates?


General information

Volumetric Weight is available for the following shipping option types only:
  1. Table Rates
  2. Carriers
There are 2 basic steps for Volumetric Weight (VW) configuration:
  1. Step 1: VW calculation method settings
  2. Step 2: Shipping Option settings
Both the settings can be found in the Volumetric Weight grid.

Volumetric Weight grid

To see Volumetric Weight grid you should follow Menu > Volumetric Weight

All your Table Rates and Carrier shipping options are displayed in this grid. There are 6 columns:
  1. Shipping Option Name. Name of Table Rates or Carrier shipping option.
  2. Type. Table Rates or Carrier shipping option types are available for volumetric weight shipping.
  3. Calculation Method. One of the 3 calculation methods: Separate Dimensions, Volume and Volumetric Weight.
  4. Shipping Factor. Also known as "DIM Factor". The parameter is used for volumetric weight calculation. It varies from carrier to carrier. Read more about the shipping factor.
  5. Status. Enable or disable the volumetric weight algorithm for a certain shipping option.
  6. Action. Edit the volumetric weight algorithm for a certain shipping option.

Step 1: Volumetric Weight calculation method settings

By clicking the yellow "Settings" button above the grid you will get access to the method settings.
There are 3 methods available for Volumetric Weight calculation:
  1. Separate Dimensions Method. H*W*L = Volume. Volumetric Weight = Volume/Shipping Factor.
  2. Volume Method. Volumetric Weight = Volume/Shipping Factor.
  3. Volumetric Weight Method. Volumetric Weight = Volumetric Weight (from attribute).
Depending on what custom attributes you have in your e-commerce platform you can choose one of them. According to the chosen algorithm, Calcurates will use your custom attribute values in order to calculate Volumetric Weight. Calculated Volumetric Weight will be applied to the rate calculation if it is greater than regular Weight.


Separate Dimensions Method

This method requires separate custom attributes assigned to get product dimension values from your e-commerce platform, one for each dimension. 
1) Select the website and assign those custom attributes for separate dimensions:
  1. Height
  2. Width
  3. Length
Make sure your website is synced with Calcurates before you assign custom attributes to the method.
2) The following formula is stands behind this method:
  1. Volume = H*W*L
  2. Volumetric Weight = Volume/Shipping Factor

Volume Method

This method requires a single custom attribute assigned to get product volume values from your e-commerce platform. 
1) Select the website and assign custom attributes for volume
Make sure your website is synced with Calcurates before you assign custom attributes to the method.
2) The following formula stands behind this method:
  1. Volumetric Weight = Volume/Shipping Factor

Volumetric Weight Method

This method requires a single custom attribute assigned to get product volumetric weight values from your e-commerce platform. 
1) Select the website and assign a custom attributes to the volumetric weight
Make sure your website is synced with Calcurates before you assign custom attributes to the method.
2) The following stands behind this method:
  1. Volumetric Weight = Volumetric Weight (from the attribute).

Step 2: Shipping Options settings

When you select the right method for Volumetric Weight calculation method and assign the right custom attributes to it you are ready to activate Volumetric Weight for your shipping option.
Choose the shipping option 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 shipping factor (not applicable to Volumetric Weight method). Read more about the shipping factor. Read more about the shipping factor.
  3. Enable Volumetric Weight for your shipping option
  4. Save your settings


You're all set!

Volumetric Weight Behaviour

  1. Volumetric Weight will be calculated for your shipping option according to the selected method and assigned custom attributes.
  2. Calculated Volumetric Weight will be applied for the rate calculation if it is greater than regular Weight. Otherwise regular Weight will be used.
  3. Regular Weight of the product will be used if attributes are not selected or attribute values for the product are missing.

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