Dimensions, Weight And Rates
Entering accurate dimensions and weight helps ensure you get the best rates and that your shipment arrives on time, without unexpected delays or extra charges.
How to measure dimensions and weight
Your Own Box
Use a tape measure to determine the following dimensions for your shipment: Length, Width and Height. Measure each dimension at the widest point; a measurement taken at the corners of a box, for example, may not reflect your shipment's true dimensions due to bulging. Length is always the longest side of the box or case.
Always round up any length, width or height measurement to the next unit. For example, you should enter a measurement of 12.25 inches as 13 inches, and you should enter a measurement of 13.7 cm as 14 cm.
Use a scale to measure your shipment's weight. Always round weight up to the next whole pound or kilogram. For example, you should enter 57.2 lb as 58 lb, and you should enter 33.3 kg as 34 kg.
For your convenience, our rate finder tool automatically rounds up dimensions and weight prior to searching for rates and returning results.
Popular Boxes and Cases
To make it easier to enter accurate dimensions on Bikeflights.com, we've pre-populated popular boxes and cases with which we've had good experiences shipping. If you will be shipping in one of these containers, simply select your box or case from the drop down menu when booking.
Your case may not be listed because 1) we haven't heard of it; 2) we don't have any experience with it; or 3) because it is not suitable for shipping based on our experience.
If you have any questions about dimensions and weight, or your case is not listed, please contact us.
Why It Matters
Accurate dimensions and weight are required. Bikeflights’ carriers audit every package’s measurements and weights multiple times during transit. Shippers who enter fraudulent dimensions and/or weights are subject to paying the difference in shipping costs plus a penalty of US$27. Repeat offenders will have their Bikeflights accounts suspended.
If you ship a package using Bikeflights.com exceeding the maximum allowed size or weight, you will be charged carrier penalties and fees totaling US$2,100 (or more during heavy demand/surge periods). Don’t do it! It’s not worth it to try to send it through the small parcel system when you can ship it cheaper and safer via freight.
How Dimensions and Weight Affect Your Rates
Shipping rates are based on the dimensions and the weight of your package(s). In general, the larger and/or heavier your box or case, the more expensive your shipment will be for any given set of shipping locations and shipping speed.
You will get the best shipping rates for packages with a length (longest side) that does not exceed 48 inches (122 cm), a second longest side that does not exceed 30 inches (76 cm) and a volume (Length x Width x Height) that does not exceed 8,640 cubic inches (141,584 cubic centimeters).
When shipping larger packages, like many bike boxes and bike cases, you’ll get better rates if you ship in a package with a volume that does not exceed 17,280 cubic inches (283,168 cubic centimeters).
Weight tends to influence pricing less than size for most bikes, which are relatively light for their size, but it is still a factor. You’ll get better shipping rates for packages not exceeding 110 lb (242 kg) and the best shipping rates for packages not exceeding 50 lb (23 kg).
Maximum Size and Weight
Carriers calculate a shipment's size based on its Length or longest side (L), Width (W) and Height (H) where:
You can NOT ship packages within the US with a shipment size larger than 165 inches (419 cm) or with a length larger than 108 inches (274 cm). The max size package you can ship internationally is typically 157 inches (399 cm) or less and varies by country.
You also can NOT ship packages weighing more than 150 lb (68 kg).