Why doesn't the packing list work out the gross weight from the items?
Because gross weight is what the scale reads for the cartons once packed and sealed, including the box itself, padding, bags and tape. The tool knows neither the weight of your items nor of your packaging, so it prints the figure you type. Weigh the shipment, enter the number, then compare it with the volumetric weight, since carriers usually charge the higher of the two.
Goods weight versus shipment weight
If the tool added up item weights, it would need the weight of every shirt and belt, and it would then give you something close to a net weight. But the carrier is not carrying just shirts: a corrugated carton can add noticeable weight, and bubble wrap, paper and poly bags add more. Weights on product labels are often approximate too. The scale is the only reference that gets this right.
So Gross weight in the Packing-list generator is a number you type, and it is optional: left empty, a dash is printed. It accepts any figure above zero, with kg or lb chosen as the unit label.
Example: three cartons of clothing
Three cartons at 40 x 30 x 25 cm, each weighing 6.2 kg once sealed. We entered the size and weight in the Volumetric shipping-weight calculator with a quantity of 3 and, purely as an example, a divisor of 5000:
- Volumetric weight per carton is 6 kg, below the actual 6.2 kg, so the actual weight applies.
- Total actual weight for the three cartons is 18.6 kg, which is also the chargeable weight.
18.6 is the figure to type as the gross weight. Had the cartons been much bigger than their contents, the volumetric weight would have been the higher one, and the gross weight on the list would stay the same, because it describes what is on the scale, not what you will be billed on.
Weighing so the figure holds up
- Weigh after sealing and taping, not before the padding goes in.
- Without a parcel scale, weigh yourself holding the carton and subtract your own weight, accepting that the result is approximate.
- Add up the cartons, or weigh them together if the scale is big enough.
- Enter the total to one or two decimals, and do not round it down.
- If you want per-carton weights on record, put them in the notes, such as 'C1: 6.2 kg, C2: 6.2 kg, C3: 6.2 kg'.
What if your figure differs from the carrier's?
The carrier weighs on its own scale, and if there is a gap it will usually bill on its figure. But a packing list with an accurate weight helps when you dispute a charge, and it helps the receiver spot a carton that was opened in transit if it arrives clearly lighter.
Common questions
Is there a field for net weight?
No, there is one gross weight field. If you need net weight, put it in the notes.
Can I enter a weight per item?
There is no field for it, but you can add it to the item description; the tool will not add it up.