FedEx, DHL and USPS Terms at a Glance
This table summarizes terms published by each carrier, checked in October 2026. Carriers change terms often, so confirm current details with each one.
| Item | FedEx | DHL | USPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimensional weight | Length x width x height in inches, divided by 139. Each dimension is rounded to the nearest whole inch, and the greater of dimensional and actual weight is charged | DHL eCommerce divides by 166 for domestic packages over one cubic foot. DHL's international Express guide cites 5000 cubic centimeters per kilogram and says to confirm the current figure | Retail Ground parcels over one cubic foot (1,728 cubic inches) are divided by 166, and the result is rounded up to the next pound |
| Announced changes | Standard list rates rise an average of 5.9% on January 4, 2027 | DHL Express announced a 5.9% general average price adjustment for U.S. account holders, effective January 1, 2027 | On August 25, 2026, USPS announced a temporary price change for Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, Ground Advantage and Parcel Select, from October 4, 2026 to January 17, 2027, pending regulatory review at that time |
These are averages and announcements, not predictions of your own change. Your rate depends on your agreement, services and parcels.
Why the Same Box Can Have Different Billable Weights
Take a box measuring 20 by 15 by 10 inches, which is 3,000 cubic inches. Divided by 139, that is about 21.58. Divided by 166, it is about 18.07, which a rule that rounds up would call 19 pounds. FedEx's page does not state how its final figure is rounded.
If the box weighs 5 pounds, the dimensional figure applies under either rule, yet the two billable weights differ. This is simple arithmetic and not a rate from any carrier. Run your own parcel through the calculator, and read our guide to dimensional weight.
What Else to Compare Beyond the Base Rate
The base rate is one line on the invoice. These items often decide the final cost:
- Service level. Our quote form lists Overnight, 2-Day, Ground and International. Compare like with like.
- Extra charges. FedEx lists fees such as Additional Handling, Delivery Area Surcharge, Residential Delivery Charge and Address Correction. Every carrier publishes its own list.
- Peak season. FedEx publishes per-package demand surcharges, with the main service surcharges running from October 26, 2026 to January 17, 2027. See our bulk shipping discounts page for the amounts.
- Volume and discounts. FedEx says some of its discounts are based on shipping volume. Ask every provider how volume affects your rate.
Questions to Ask Before You Choose
Use the same questions with every carrier or provider, including us:
- Which service level and parcel size does this rate cover?
- How is billable weight calculated, and how is the final figure rounded?
- Which extra charges are not included?
- What happens to my rate when the annual changes take effect?
- Is the price based on my volume, and what if my volume changes?
- How do labels and tracking connect to my store or system?
Where Unival Fits In
Unival offers volume-based FedEx pricing built around long-term shipping volume. The pricing described on our site is for FedEx. DHL and USPS appear on this page only through their own published terms, so you can compare on equal footing.
Request a quote to see the FedEx rate for your own parcels, then run the same numbers through your other options. We do not publish a fixed discount, because savings depend on your parcels, destinations, services and volume.
- Rates are quoted through our quote form.
- Smaller shipper? See our small business shipping rates.
- Selling online? See our API and Shopify integration and ecommerce shipping rates.
- For the wider range, see discounted FedEx rates and discounted shipping.
- Shipping high-value goods? See our insured high-value shipping.
FedEx, DHL and USPS are trademarks or names of their owners. They are named here to identify the carriers and services described, as checked in October 2026. Unival is not FedEx, DHL or USPS, and this page does not imply endorsement by any of them.
