Length Plus Girth Calculator for USPS, UPS and FedEx

Updated October 26, 2026USPS, UPS, FedExGirth, DIM weight, surcharges

Length plus girth is the longest side of the package plus the distance around its thickest point: L + 2W + 2H. USPS caps it at 108 inches, or 130 inches by Ground Advantage, and UPS and FedEx cap it at 165 inches. Enter your packed box below to see its girth, cubic size and DIM weight, and which carrier limits and surcharges it hits.

84 inlength + girth
60 ingirth
24 inlength, longest side
5,184 in³cubic inches
38 lbDIM weight at 139

Service Accepted Size and weight flags Billable weight

Dimensions are rounded up to the next whole inch, the way carriers measure. Measure the sealed, packed box on the outside, including any bulge.

How to calculate length plus girth

Lay the sealed box down and measure all three sides on the outside. The longest side is the length, whatever its orientation in the box. Girth is the distance around the box at its thickest point, which for a rectangular carton is two times the width plus two times the height. Add the length to the girth.

Length = longest side Girth = 2 x width + 2 x height
  • Box: 24 x 18 x 12 in.
  • Girth: 2 × 18 + 2 × 12 = 60 in.
  • Length plus girth: 24 + 60 = 84 in.

Carriers round every side up to the next whole inch before they measure, so a 23.4 inch side counts as 24. Use the outside of the packed box, including any bulge from the contents, because the dimensioner at the hub measures the outside.

Carrier size and weight limits

Published domestic parcel maximums, checked October 2026
Service Max weight Max length Max length + girth
USPS Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express 70 lb Within the combined limit 108 in
USPS Ground Advantage 70 lb Within the combined limit 130 in, oversized price over 108 in
UPS Ground and air 150 lb 108 in 165 in
FedEx Ground and Home Delivery 150 lb 108 in 165 in
FedEx Express 150 lb 119 in 165 in

Surcharges start well before those maximums. USPS adds a nonstandard length fee over 22 inches, a larger one over 30 inches, and a volume fee over 2 cubic feet. UPS and FedEx add additional handling when the longest side passes 48 inches, the second-longest side passes 30 inches or the package passes 50 lb, and a Large Package Surcharge or Oversize charge over 96 inches long or 130 inches in length plus girth. UPS also counts any package over 17,280 cubic inches as a large package. The package size and weight limits reference lists the sources and the length plus girth of 60 stocked box sizes.

Worked examples

Length plus girth and carrier results for common long and bulky packages
Box (in) Weight Girth Length + girth USPS UPS and FedEx
24 x 18 x 12 30 lb 60 in 84 in Any USPS service; length fee over 22 in; volume fee over 2 cu ft Standard
36 x 24 x 24 40 lb 96 in 132 in Not mailable Large Package or Oversize
48 x 12 x 12 25 lb 48 in 96 in Any USPS service; length fee over 30 in; volume fee over 2 cu ft Standard
48 x 6 x 6 8 lb 24 in 72 in Any USPS service; length fee over 30 in Standard
50 x 10 x 10 20 lb 40 in 90 in Any USPS service; length fee over 30 in; volume fee over 2 cu ft Additional handling, side over 48 in
30 x 30 x 30 60 lb 120 in 150 in Not mailable Large Package or Oversize
60 x 8 x 8 15 lb 32 in 92 in Any USPS service; length fee over 30 in; volume fee over 2 cu ft Additional handling, side over 48 in
20 x 20 x 20 35 lb 80 in 100 in Any USPS service; volume fee over 2 cu ft Standard

How to bring a package under a limit

  • Make the length about twice the width and height. For a fixed volume that shape gives the lowest length plus girth: a 20 x 10 x 10 inch box holds 2,000 cubic inches at 60 inches combined, while a 40 x 10 x 5 inch box with the same volume measures 70 inches.
  • Keep the longest side at 48 inches or less to stay clear of additional handling at UPS and FedEx, and at 22 inches or less to avoid the USPS nonstandard length fee.
  • Right-size the carton. Every inch of empty space adds to both girth and DIM weight. The box size finder picks the smallest stocked box that fits your item with cushioning.
  • Split or palletize. Over 150 lb or 165 inches, a package moves as LTL freight. The boxes per pallet table shows case counts by size.

Boxes and tubes for long and oversized items

Frequently asked questions

How do you calculate length plus girth?

Measure the longest side for the length. Girth is two times the width plus two times the height. Add them: a 24 x 18 x 12 inch box has a girth of 60 inches and a length plus girth of 84 inches.

What is the maximum length plus girth for USPS?

108 inches for Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express, and 130 inches for USPS Ground Advantage, where parcels between 108 and 130 inches pay the oversized price. Every USPS parcel service stops at 70 lb.

What is the maximum length plus girth for UPS?

165 inches, with a maximum length of 108 inches and a maximum weight of 150 lb. Packages over 96 inches long or 130 inches in length plus girth pay the Large Package Surcharge.

What is the maximum length plus girth for FedEx?

165 inches and 150 lb. FedEx Ground allows 108 inches of length and FedEx Express allows 119 inches. Oversize charges start at 96 inches long or 130 inches in length plus girth.

Does girth include the length?

No. Girth is only the distance around the package: two times the width plus two times the height. Length plus girth adds the longest side to that figure.

Which side is the length on a box?

Always the longest side, no matter how the box is labeled or which way it opens. A box sold as 12 x 18 x 6 has a length of 18 inches for carrier measurement.

Do I use inside or outside dimensions?

Outside. Carriers measure the sealed, packed box, so use exterior dimensions rounded up to the next whole inch.

Related tools and charts

Limits are the published domestic maximums for October 2026 from the USPS Domestic Mail Manual and Notice 123, the UPS dimensions and weight page and the FedEx Service Guide. Contract accounts can carry different surcharge amounts. DIM weight uses divisor 139.