Adding product dimensions or measurements

[Sevenrice]

When adding a product under the shipping section of the product I can only add the weight and I am not able to add the product dimensions or measurements.

Is there a setting that has to be enabled? I have USPS calculated enabled and does not seem to matter.

Thanks.

[Ron-Anderson]

Hi @Sevenrice,

Shopify doesn't have input fields for separate product dimensions (L W H). Often dimensions are added as a single line of text, but this is more for information purposes. USPS will calculate dimensional weight using the package dimensions + the product weight, so you won't need product dimensions for their rates. Most carriers (e.g. FedEx, UPS, etc.) are the same.

Shipping Calculators such as Intuitive Shipping allow you to enter dimensions for each of your products. This is usually because of an enhanced dimensional shipping feature, such as our SmartBoxing™ system, which compares product dimensions with available box sizes to package the order in the most efficient way.

Is there something specific you need to do where product dimensions are required?

Best regards,

Ron

[Sevenrice]

@Ron-Anderson ,

I think it just a way of changing the way I think about shipping, my brain says when I am collecting data of our products to measure and weight it so I can get a close shipping cost so that I am not losing money on shipping. 

To be transparent I sell a lot of 1 of products, so for me it is not a set it and forget it.

So unless I have an app like yours I would have to figure out the DW then use that as the product weight, from my understanding you would use the DW unless the product actually weighs more than the DW.

Thanks

[Ron-Anderson · Accepted solution]

Hi @Sevenrice,

Understood, thanks for the additional info.

Just to clarify, carriers like USPS/FedEx/UPS will calculate the dimensional weight for you. All you need to provide them with are the total (actual) weight of the shipment and the package dimensions used for the order. So if you're sending them a dim weight, you may be over-charged for shipping.

For systems like our SmartBoxing­™ system, we make sure that the package(s) being used are the absolute best fit for the order, but we're still sending the carriers the actual weights and package dims to ensure you get the most accurate live rate possible. We don't calculate dimensional weight.

Best regards,

Ron

[tristanthomp]

So I have to pay extra for an app to be able to input package dimensions? That's ridiculous! That should be a native Shopify feature. My packages differ greatly in size which will cause huge price differences in shipping costs. I'm definitely moving to another shop hosting service because of that. 

[Wayne___Linda_H]

I have to agree with him. This is a big problem for small shops whos ell antiques and vintage. like I said before our other four shops the shipping dimensions are there to be filled in when you list the product but not on Shopify! Why? Etsy, Ruby Lane, Ebay, Shift4shop all have dimensions for shipping.

[stiltwalker]

It's great that we can pick our package size post sale and carriers can provide the merchant (us) with accurate shipping rates based on dimensional weight, but the problem lies with Shopify's inability to use the same dimensional weight to calculate the customers rates pre-sale.  For example, Shopify bases the estimated shipping cost to the customer based off of one Standard Package Dimension.  This becomes a serious problem when quoting the shipping rate to the customer and collecting enough shipping fees.  In our case, about 20 of our products ship in a 36" x 12" x 12" box and weight approximately 13-15 lbs, whereas another 29 products ship in a wide range of package sizes (6" x 6" x 4" , 8" x 8" X 8").  If I use the 36" x 12" x 12" box as the default package size, our smaller items are quoted about 3 times the actual shipping amount (way to high).  If I use the smaller box (say 8x8x8) as the default, we will not collect enough in shipping fees. 

[groovy61]

I know this is an old post but seems this is still a needed feature.  Most carriers charge based on the WEIGHT & SIZE of the package.  Once a package exceeds about 12" the price changes and is based on the L X W X H.  It changes again and about 17".  If the package size is not applied BEFORE shipping is calculated for the customer - the charges are going to be incorrect.  Here's a good example:  try a box 17 x 13 x 5.  The rates vary significantly between carriers.

Want to see more examples:  try 16 x 10 x 4 and change to 14 x 10 x 4.  The actual dimensions are important.  Back in the day, it didn't really matter - but now, ouch, it matters.

[404]

Shipping rates have gone up and up - never coming down after holidays with many.  This is a necessity - I get all messed up with canada shipments via USPS and often have to go back to the well. Customers don't like that. 

FIX IT SHOPIFY ! 

LXWXH

WEIGHT

Then give the options to customers. 

[mj200]

This is the most frustrating part of Shopify for me.  I have one item that is very small and when not purchased in combination with other items, my customers are WAY overcharged for shipping.  It would be great to set up profiles that allow us to link a box size with an item so the customer isn't overcharged for shipping.  I get that I won't pay too much since I can adjust the package and weight when purchasing the label, but that doesn't help my customer from being overcharged.

[Jamailah]

In my case, I often have customers asking for the product dimension, e.g. Length of a cutting board.
I guess I have to write this in the product description. But why is there a product site feature called 'dimensions'? This would be a great option to enter each product's dimension individually.

[James_TGP]

if you wanted to add dimensions you can always download a metafields app and store this info internally.

youll be able to create custom fields for public and/or private.

you can the use https://apps.shopify.com/specification-charts to display the public custom fields on the product pages.

[Echotonemusicau]

I agree , this is wrong in all ways. Everyone that's been a seller knows the dimensions of the box are what really determines the price. To not have this on an e-commerce site that strictly ships goods is ridiculous. It could even be made simpler even yet by just putting a field box to put the shipping cost like every site on the internet. Except shopify of course. SMH. 

[Wayne___Linda_H]

Yes, I agree with you. Why they haven't is a mystery to me.

[Wayne___Linda_H]

Hi Ron: We have a store here on Shopify also on Ruby Lane, Etsy, EBay and Shift4shop. All the other store we use have us put in the weight and size of the package we will use for shipping that way the customer gets to pick which shipping company and price they want. We do offer free but sometimes people what it faster. This is one problem that I wish shopify would fix. A large picture is not going to fit in a standard size box.  Thanks, Wayne

[ShipVista_COM]

is Shopify ever going to fix this ?

Merchants are being hit with shipping adjustments as the weight pricing is different from dimensional pricing

any timeline?

[TerrorTrolls]

I literally JUST signed up for Shopify and my mind is boggled that Shopify doesn't support weight/dimensions for shipping. Literally no business sells only ONE item or a bunch of items that all have the same shipping weight and dimensions. This makes absolutely no sense. Might cancel.

[Echotonemusicau]

yea out of millions of shopping sites on the internet they are the only
ones that dont support weight and dims and a meta field for shipping cost.
insane really

[TerrorTrolls]

Update.... You can in fact do this. You have to go to settings, shipping and delivery, then create custom shipping rate profiles. I created a profile for each box size I have. Then add which items will ship in which box. Then in Products on each individual product you add the shipping weight. It's a bit clunky but it'll do. 

[Ron-Anderson]

This is a great workaround - probably a bit of work to set up by what you said, but it sounds like it's working well and will probably work for others, too. Where it may get tricky is when you have products that can go in various box sizes. Since Profiles are grouped by product, it should work well for merchants - presumably like yourself, if I'm understanding correctly - who pack the same products in the same boxes all the time. If, however, a merchant has products that can go in different boxes depending on the mix of products in the cart, it may create other issues.

It's been a long time since the original question and my subsequent replies were posted. I think there has been some confusion - though, maybe just how I interpreted it - about product dims vs package dims. The discussion seems to have evolved somewhat over time. Just to clarify for anyone coming into this thread now, carriers don't require product dims for calculating dimensional shipping. They use package dims and package weight (weight which comes from the combined product weight in the package). Speaking for our app and how it works, that's what we send to carriers for calculations, as does Shopify if you're using them for live rates. Carriers use an algorithm based on actual package size and weight to calculate dimensional weight, so we always advise our users not to attempt to calculate dim weight themselves when doing their setups, as it's going to result in over-charging. The carrier is doing it for you.

Shopify does provide a field for product weights, and you can set up multiple package dims in Shopify as well. The issue with Shopify and packages has always been that for some reason they only let you use a single default package for the rate calculation, which often doesn't represent what is actually being shipped out. And just to clarify, if you are using Shopify's default package size, they are still sending the "actual" size to the carrier. It just may not be the "correct" size based on the order. But the carrier is still calculating dimensional weight based on what they think is the actual package size. The problem with a default size is you're either over-charging or under-charging. That's where third-party apps like Intuitive Shipping can offer more options and flexibility, since we let users not only enter multiple package sizes, but assign the ones they want to the shipping method, so the package set is always the right one. I understand that a third-party solution isn't always feasible for everyone, I'm just indicating that we have this functionality to overcome the built-in limitation. 

As for product dims, Shopify does not provide dedicated LxWxH dim properties to the best of my knowledge, which I know is a source of frustration for many. There may be various reasons why product dims are required that I'm not aware of. I just wanted to reiterate that in the original post, this was mainly raised due to some confusion about dimensional shipping. For most third-party apps like Intuitive Shipping, our users only need to enter product dimensions for specific reasons - mainly when using advance boxing features like our SmartBoxing™ packing algorithm, or rules that are based on single dimensions, stacked dimensions or product volume. For general live carrier rates, products dims are usually not required, nor are they required for flat rates/rate tables/free shipping, etc. - again, unless there are specific dimension-based rules that affect those types of rates.

Hopefully I've provided some clarity to this ongoing thread and not inadvertently muddied the waters.

Best regards,

Ron

[Echotonemusicau]

Since we have been shipping parcel shipments and Freight shipments for
over 20 years I can say Ron is simply incorrect. Shipping carriers
calculate the price of parcels mainly on size due to the fact there is only
so much room in a truck or plane and regulations to go along with that. So
simply put, size matters.
To prove this even further every ecommerce site (millions) has a meta field
for packed shipping dims and price and there are no exceptions , except you
guessed it, shopify.

Dimensions of the packed box are the MAIN factor in determining the cost
and for it to be accurate. All shipping carriers need to follow
Transportation laws and regulations and base there prices and duties on
size. Your welcome to ask any shipping supervisor in the world and they
will agree 100% with my statement here.
Then trying to massage and manipulate an awkward app that does not
understand how shipping really works is not a professional solution. This
eats up hours and hours of your time and creates frustration with in the
work place and in the end is still not accurate. Simply to many variables.
Shipping is very expensive these days. Like many ecommerce companies that
ship goods, we know the shipping costs of our products and that the
carriers change prices regularly and we still lose thousands of dollars a
year. Its a tough cycle.

The solution is simple. Do what all the millions of other shopping websites
did (except shopify) Simply include a meta field for the shipping price.
You wont find any other website on the internet with out this feature.

Why? Its simply the standard in professional ecommerce and has been for
more than 26 years now. It also allows the seller to adjust the price as
shipping cost rise quickly these days. Sometimes literally overnight. Or
simply go in and lower it a bit to give the customer a deal on the fly.
Promoting a ton more sales. A huge benefit for the customer, the shipper
and shopify themselves. Its a win win for everyone!

[Ron-Anderson]

Hi @Echotonemusicau,

Thank you for your feedback and for sharing your experience. I just wanted to clarify something you said about shipping carriers and parcel sizes. I absolutely agree with you that rates are based on parcel sizes, for the reasons you stated. This is why every major carrier uses a dimensional shipping algorithm, because you can ship a large package that doesn't weigh very much, or you can ship a small package that weighs a lot. Dimensional shipping allows carriers to calculate what is essentially package density. While package dimensions are very important, they are part of the equation. It's true there is only so much cargo space in a shipping vehicle, so package size is critical. Weight is also a key to the equation since there is only so much weight a shipping vehicle can hold, and weight affects fuel costs, especially on planes.

The issue at hand seems to be what information can be input into Shopify in relation to shipping - in particular, dimensional shipping, and how that information is used. Shopify does provide a weight field for products. That's the first part of the carriers' dimensional shipping requirements, because product weight is added to the order and it becomes package weight. Shopify also provides the ability to add package dimensions. That's the second part of the carriers' dimensional shipping requirements. Assuming these 2 pieces of information are available, then the carrier has everything they need to calculate rates based on their dim weight method. This is true whether the package info is from Shopify or a third-party rate calculator.

The problem is Shopify only lets you use a single  "default" package size for rate calculation. Therein lies the frustration for a lot of merchants because a single package is, in most cases, simply not reality. That doesn't mean the carrier isn't getting what they need. They are. They are getting an "actual" package size and weight. It's just the the package size is, in many cases, not the correct size.  The carrier doesn't know that.

Carriers do not require product dimensions. Neither Shopify, nor third-party rate providers, use product dimensions to calculate shipping. Since products are, in most cases, packaged, only package dimensions are needed. If a product doesn't have packaging, then its physical dimensions become the "shipping" dimensions - which is essentially the same thing as package dimensions. Where product dimensions matter, at a shipping level, is on the logistics side, so that warehouse staff or 3PLs know which packages an order fits into.

Again, there may be reasons I'm not aware of why merchants need to input product dimensions in Shopify. At a basic level, though, it doesn't directly affect shipping because the carrier only needs the product weight - which is available and contributes to package weight - and the package size - which is available, albeit in a very limited capacity. Speaking only for our technology, we only require product dimensions (LxWxH) for things like advanced packing methods. Our system can compare the total product volume with any available package size to determine the best fit for the order. That way, the package set we send to the carrier - who in turn calculate dimensional shipping - is as accurate as possible. It also helps warehouse staff choose the same package set when they pack the order. This packing method isn't appropriate for everyone and isn't a requirement for carrier rates.

My apologies for any confusion caused by my earlier post.

Best regards,
Ron

[Echotonemusicau]

For anyone reading this Ron is simply flat out wrong. Freight carrier
accounts use dimensional shipping and item density. However your average
box shipped by USPS or UPS requires the REAL size of the packed box and the
weight for accurate and normal shipping that is used on millions of
websites across the internet and has been the standard since 1996. Period
and end of story.

And to tell people that putting in any size box is ok is wrong because all
carriers have a scanner that scans the real size and when those adjustments
are made you are hit with a $10 fee for example ,you will have to pay.
adjustments are levied on a regular bases and really ad up fast. Ron is
simply wrong in everyway! Accurate packed dimensions are a must!

Either way the point originally was not dims although you ran with the side
note.. Shopify has simply handicapped everyone and is out of touch by not
having a meta field for the shipping price like every product listing and
shopping website across the internet. Its interesting how you have
completely ignored this. Hoping to smoke and screen with the dim stuff to
get away from the real issue.

To have this type of convoluted insane default fake box size and
complicated web of zone nonsense etc etc to calculate shipping is simply
unprofessional and a major insult to any one starting a ecommerce store A
major cause of unneeded complication and frustration. To the point where
you have to write multiple paragraphs to defend this awful system
SIMPLY ADD THE META FIELD AND ITS OVER! that's all that needs to be done.
To eliminate packed dims and a meta field for the cost or shipping is
simply unprofessional, and a hard slap in the face to small business who
set up stores in shopify.

[Ron-Anderson]

Hi @Echotonemusicau, 

Thank you again for your feedback.

I found these links from FedEx, UPS, USPS and DHL, each of which explains how they utilize dimensional shipping, just in case I have misrepresented the process. It makes more sense to have the info directly from the source.

FedEx - https://www.fedex.com/en-us/shipping/packaging/what-is-dimensional-weight.html

UPS - https://www.ups.com/re/en/help-center/packaging-and-supplies/determine-billable-weight.page

USPS - https://faq.usps.com/s/article/How-is-the-size-and-weight-of-a-parcel-determined

DHL - https://www.dhl.com/us-en/home/ecommerce-solutions/business-help-center/chargeable-weight.html

With regards to the box size, I agree with you. Using just any box size is not ok, and it's unfortunate that the default box limitation in Shopify is the current reality, as it causes so much frustration for merchants with live rates, especially those who are more cost sensitive about shipping costs and app costs, and for whom the use of a third-party solution just isn't feasible.

You make some valid points regarding metafields. I would encourage you, if you haven't already done so, to reach out to Shopify support and let them know about your concerns. Hopefully their team will take note and make suitable changes. I wish you the best of luck with your business.

Best regards,

Ron

[Lashenchantment]

Unfortunately this doesn’t fix my problem - tried it 

I have 15cm x 15 x 2cm products among other sizes products, in the uk flat parcels are charged a much lower rate then small parcels 

so I did as you did I have a setting for flat and a setting for small and one for medium 

however…. If someone buys 6+ trays it then can’t fit in a flat parcel it turns into a small parcel but shopify charges it as a flat so I’m out of pocket 

so frustrating can’t seem to find a way around it 

[Echotonemusicau]

do what we did leave and go to Big Commerce where you wont to have these
problems.
You just type in the shipping amount you want and that's it! Like every
site on the internet. Except Shopify of course. What nonsense

[ShipVista_COM]

We can all agree that there's a significant bottleneck here on Shopify and shipping Dimension and we hope that Shopify can fix this from a platform point of view really soon. Nevertheless in the main time, as earlier promised, My team has incorporated Dimensions and SKU into our Shopify 'Live Shipping Cost Calculator'. This should really be helpful in the main time. It's completely Complementary/Free. You may need a Shopify advanced store to use with Shopify's recent Webhooks Changes.

Why is Dimension L*W*H ? and Why Shopify has to Fix this?

Dimensional weight(DIM), also known as volumetric weight, is a pricing technique for commercial freight transport, which uses an estimated weight calculated from the length, width, and height of a package. The shipping fee is based on the dimensional or actual weight, whichever is greater. The formula to calculate a DIM weight (length x width x height / 166)

To create a shipment  you need the following details

1) Ship From Address (Including Postal/Zip Code)
2) Ship To Address (Including Postal/Zip Code)
3) Dimension and weight (Metrics/Imperial depending on your region)
4) Possible "Content and value"

Say you have a shipment with a length, width, and height of 10 x 10 x 10 Inches and a weight is 3.7 Ib

Based on DIM the weight is (10 x 10 x 10 / 166) = 6.02 lbs.

The Problem here is if the dimension were not imputed(there's no option in Shopify), The Carrier in this case USPS will value this parcel as a 3.7 Ib in the shipping rates calculator, which it actually is but once it shipped with the carrier, they will be a revised pricing base on the volumetric weight (Adjustments) That is the carrier will send you a bill for 6.02 lbs. shipment. which in my opinion Shopify can fix by inputting dimension and weight in the product page like everyone else in eCommerce.

This ShipVista  'Live Shipping Cost Calculator' should help you with all your dimensional inputs.

Let me know if any questions.

[addicttackle]

Why is this only available to stores in the USA?

[Reggie79]

How can I remove the default package dimenions in shipping under package boxes?

[Echotonemusicau]

you can't. Shopify in their unwise decision has locked a shipping box that
you can not ever change. Makes no sense at all. It turn you will get
screwed when people compute a shipping cost and then when you go to ship it
you will pay way more than they paid.
I highly recommend going to any other platform on the internet where this
will never happen and you can simply just put in the shipping cost and
bypass hours and months on end of unneeded frustration.

[ShipVista_COM]

Try This ShipVista  'Live Shipping Cost Calculator' should help you with all your dimensional inputs.

Let me know if any questions.

[kateyesofblue]

We sell on eBay and also our Shopify store.  With eBay we can enter estimated box dimensions for each listing/product along with estimated weight with packaging.  That information is used to give the customer their actual shipping charge.   Also with eBay we can make combined shipping rules that will be used to calculate weight and dimensions when a customer buys more than one item.  You choose what combined shipping rule would be used for each listing/product you have on the site.

We use shipping rules that adds the weights together and subtracts off the packaging weight we estimated for those items and then adds back an estimated packaging weight for just one item.  This makes it very close and we rarely lose money on shipping.

Using these options that eBay provides the shipping calculator can be quite accurate.  We have a few issues here and there, but mostly from our estimates used.

We sell items with huge variations.   We sell everything from screws & washers up to complete outboard motors.  At present we do not put our large items on our Shopify store as we can't fit those into the one "standard size box" that Shopify allows.  To use that size box in their shipping calculators kills us!  We either have to cancel orders where dimensional shipping puts us at a loss or not put these items in our store.

We really think Shopify should do something that helps with dimensional shipping rates that should be shown to our customers as a feature offered by them and not have pay extra every month for an app to do that for us.

I keep check back here to see if they've listened to any of us, but nope, not yet!

[Echotonemusicau]

yes ebay has a shipping price meta field and is easy to use. We were not
talking about ebay we were ONLY talking about shopify. Which is a big hot
mess. But thats why most people leave for Big Commerce or any other site
which allows you to simply put in the shipping cost of your items. Which
would be thousands of sites on the web except shopify of course

[Reggie79]

Thanks

[kateyesofblue]

If a site that has as many problems as eBay can do it then Shopify could do it as well.  

I don't want to put the shipping cost of my items in.  I want a shipping calculator that works without me having to update it whenever the rates go up.   

In 12 years on eBay I've never had to put in a shipping cost on any item.  Would love to say that for Shopify.

[Reggie79]

Thanks

[BrunoBerezaga]

Until today that is an important issue in the platform. Is not ready for international markets like Brazil where dimensions in products are mandatory for all carriers and flat dimensions are not a solution for a country with continental dimensions.

Today, some apps create metafields for that use but is not the best solution