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Cubic Shipping

Take advantage of discounted postage for your shipments with cubic shipping!

Did you know that there’s a simple way to save even more with Chit Chats?

You may already be saving on postage without even realizing it. Depending on the size of your U.S. shipments, you may qualify for special pricing from our partner carrier, USPS. 

This is the benefit of cubic shipping, an additional discounted rate from USPS for packages up to 20 lb but no more than 0.5 cubic feet in volume, 1.0 cubic feet in volume for Chit Chats U.S. Edge. Chit Chats directly passes on this discount from USPS to you so that you can always save big on your small, heavy packages!

What is cubic shipping?

Cubic shipping is a cost-effective option that helps you save with pricing that’s not based on shipment weight. Two things impact cubic shipping rates: the shipment’s destination and its cubic dimensions. This discount gives major savings for your compact and heavy shipments.

For example, if you want to ship an 18 lb kettlebell to the United States, you would typically pay for postage by the pound. However, if after packaging your kettlebell, it measured less than 0.5 cubic feet in volume or 1.0 cubic feet in volume for Chit Chats U.S. Edge, it would qualify for the cubic shipping discount. Your postage would then cost the same as any other shipment with this cubic volume and destination.

Cubic shipping differs slightly from some flat-rate services where weight and destination do not influence the postage rates but the item must fit within specific measurements or packaging.

Does your shipment qualify for cubic shipping?

To qualify for cubic pricing, your shipments will need to meet all of the following criteria:

  • Shipments must weigh 20 lb or less
  • Shipments must measure 0.50 cubic feet or less (1.0 or less for Chit Chats U.S. Edge)
  • The longest dimension may not exceed 18 inches
  • The shipment must not be a roll or tube

If you use a thick envelope (softpack) to ship your items, then there are additional requirements:

  • Take the measurements of your envelope prior to packaging your items 
  • The shortest dimension may not exceed 2 inches
  • The sum of the two longest dimensions may not exceed 36 inches
  • Your packaging must be flexible and fit tight to the contents 

You can reference USPS’ guide on cubic pricing qualifications for more information.

Calculating cubic volume

To calculate the cubic volume of your shipment, first carefully measure the length, width and height of your shipment in inches. If needed, round your measurements down to the nearest ¼ inch. Then use the following formula:

(L X W X H) / 1,728 = Cubic feet

For example, you can calculate the cubic volume of a shipment with the dimensions 6, 5 ¾, 6 ¼ inches as below:

(6″ x 5-3/4″ x 6-1/4″)/1728 = 0.125″

Access cubic shipping from your Chit Chats account

To make it as easy as possible for you to save money on postage, our platform takes the guesswork out of cubic shipping. 

Your Chit Chats account will automatically apply cubic pricing to your USPS or Chit Chats U.S. Tracked postage based on the destination and dimensions you enter. While creating your shipments, be sure to select either the parcel or thick envelope option under Package Type and don’t forget to include all of the dimensions.

Cubic volume tiers available for parcels measuring:

  • Up to .10 cubic foot
  • Between .10 and .20 cubic foot
  • Between .20 and .30 cubic foot
  • Between .30 and .40 cubic foot
  • And from .40 to .50 cubic foot

For example, if you had two parcels weighing 4 lb and another at 15 lb, each with a cubic volume between 0.30 and 0.4 cubic feet, both will receive the same cubic pricing.

Please note, even if a shipment qualifies for cubic pricing, it does not guarantee it will be priced that way. USPS determines whether a cubic eligible package will be charged based on its cubic dimensions or its weight on a scale, whichever results in the lower rate.

Package your shipments for the best rates

When taking advantage of cubic shipping, only the dimensions and the distance of where your shipment is going are taken into account. This is why properly packaging your shipments is extremely important.

It is important to take care with your shipments’ packaging. Here are our packaging recommendations to maximize your savings:

  1. Pack your items as small as possible
    As long as your items have sufficient padding, the smaller the shipment, the better.
  2. Don’t worry about the weight
    If your shipment is less than 20 lb, your postage will only be based on the dimensions and destination.
  3. Test out different shapes
    You may be surprised by all the different box shapes that share the same cubic volume.
  4. Ditch the box altogether!
    If you can’t find a suitable box you can also use well-padded poly mailers, plastic or vinyl envelopes. Just remember the additional requirements for softpack shipments.
  5. Avoid tubes and rolls
    These types of packaging do not qualify for cubic shipping even if put inside a poly mailer as softpack shipments must be flexible.

We love being able to help you save money on postage. If there’s another topic you’d like us to dive into next, please let us know by reaching out to support@chitchats.com.

Start saving with Chit Chats today!

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