Weigh and measure every package before you buy the label.

Why the numbers matter

When you buy a label, the price depends on the weight and dimensions you enter. Carriers check packages as they move through their networks. If the real weight or size comes out higher than what you entered, the carrier charges an adjustment after the package ships.

At Anillion, we bill those adjustments to you. An accurate entry at the packing table keeps them off your weekly bill.

Weigh the packed box

Weigh the package after you pack it, with the box, filler and any inserts inside. If you weigh only the product, you miss weight the carrier will count.

• +Use a scale rated for the heaviest packages you ship.
• +Check the scale against an item of known weight from time to time.
• +Round up when the reading falls between units.

Measure the outside of the box

Measure length, width and height on the outside of the sealed box, at its widest points. An overfilled box bulges, and it measures bigger than the size printed on it.

• +Length is the longest side.
• +Measure after you tape the box shut.
• +If you reuse boxes, measure each one instead of trusting the printed size.

Know about dimensional weight

Major carriers price many services by dimensional weight as well as actual weight. Dimensional weight estimates a package's weight from its size, and the carrier bills whichever figure is higher. A light product in a big box can cost more to ship than its weight suggests.

Each carrier publishes how it calculates dimensional weight. To keep it down, use the smallest box that protects the item.

Save your standard boxes

If you ship a few box sizes over and over, save each one with its dimensions and empty weight. You'll enter packages faster, and you'll enter the same numbers each time.