How to measure and weigh luggage for a shipping quote

Pack the contents you intend to send, then add the protective packaging you will actually use. Close the case or box without forcing it. If a soft bag bulges or the carton bows outward, those protrusions form part of its outside size; the printed box dimensions do not account for them.

Take an initial measurement while choosing packaging if useful, but repeat it once everything is finished. Adding a winter coat, a heavier box or extra padding afterwards can change both weight and dimensions. Keep the tape and scale nearby until the final check is complete.

Place the package on a stable surface. Identify the longest outside side as the length, then measure the other two sides as width and height. Include wheels, fixed handles and any part that extends beyond the main body. Record the units beside the numbers as you go.

Keep the tape straight between the outside points rather than following a curved surface. For an uneven shape, use two flat objects as temporary guides to find the widest extent. Do not squeeze the luggage smaller while measuring it; it must remain within the declared size when you let go.

Check the scale's unit and rated capacity before weighing. Position the package so it is fully supported and not leaning against a wall or resting partly on the floor. Wait for the reading to settle, remove the item, and weigh it again if the result seems inconsistent.

If you cannot obtain a reliable reading at home, arrange access to a suitable parcel scale before booking. Guessing from the contents, or dividing a combined total equally between several bags, does not establish the weight of each individual piece.

BagBird currently accepts a maximum of 68 kg per piece, a longest side of 274 cm and a length plus girth of 330 cm. To calculate length plus girth, add the longest side to twice the width and twice the height. All three measurements must use centimetres for this check.

A box measuring 80 by 50 by 40 cm has a length plus girth of 260 cm: 80 + 100 + 80. This is a size-limit calculation, not a shipping-price calculation. Being inside the limits does not mean two different boxes will receive the same quote.

Dimensional weight reflects the space a package occupies. Charges can use dimensional or actual weight, whichever is greater. A light, bulky package can therefore cost more than its scale reading alone suggests; do not replace the actual weight field with your own estimate of chargeable weight.

Match your notes to the units selected in the form, and check each piece separately before reviewing the quote. Keep a photograph of the measurements if helpful. BagBird's terms explain that a courier measurement that differs from the booking can result in a charge adjustment.