Size and Weight Allowances
Understanding how Send My Bag® calculates your quote based on the size and weight of your item
Send My Bag® quotes are based on both the size and weight of your item. When our quick quote tool displays a price based on weight, for example quoting £30 for a 30kg suitcase, there is also a maximum size associated with that quote.
How to calculate your items weight band
Measuring your items
When measuring your item, this should be done from the widest points from side to side (width), top to bottom (length) and front to back (height), including any wheels or handles. Should you enter the dimensions in a different order, this is not a problem as the final volume will still be the same. 
Calculating the volume of your item
To calculate the volume of your item, simply multiply the three dimensions, for example 45cm x 45cm x 45cm = 91,125cm³. This item would fit within our up to 20kgs, 25kgs or 30kgs weight bands with no additional charges.
Size/Volume Allowances Per Weight Band are:
Weight Band Max Volume
Up to 5kgs 25,000 cm³
Up to 15kgs 75,000 cm³
Up to 20kgs 100,000 cm³
Up to 24kgs 120,000 cm³
Up to 25kgs 125,000 cm³
Up to 30kgs 150,000 cm³
Maximum weight and sizes allowance for International services is 70kg / 350,000cm³.
How we charge for extra weight and volume
If your items exceeds the weight or size allowance of a lower band, your item will be moved to the next band available on that service, e.g. moved from the up to 15kg rate to the up to 30kg rate.
If you exceed the weight allowance of the upper band you will be charged in additional 5kg weight bands (rates vary by route).
If your item's volume exceeds the allowance of the upper band, you will be charged in additional 5kg / 25000 cm³ bands (rates vary by route).
Maximum Lengths & Oversize handling fees
UK Domestic Services (excluding Highlands and Islands, and standard service shipments from and within Northern Ireland)
A £60+VAT fee may be incurred for any items with the longest dimension exceeding 118cm the second longest dimension exceeding 76cm or where the shipment’s length (longest dimension) + girth (twice the width + depth or twice the two smallest dimensions) exceeds 266cm. Items with an actual physical weight exceeding 31kg may also incur an additional fee of £20.00+VAT.
No shipment can contain a piece which exceeds 240cm in length, or 330cm length (longest dimension) + girth (twice the width + depth or twice the two smallest dimensions).
UK Domestic Services (Highlands and Islands, and standard service shipments from and within Northern Ireland)
Items can have a maximum actual weight of 30kg, and a maximum volumetric weight of 45kg.
Items can also have a maximum length of up to 139cm at no additional charge.
Items can have a maximum length of up to 150cm, however, a £60 + Vat charge applied to pieces with a maximum length over 139cm.
A £60+VAT fee will also be incurred for any items which length + girth (twice the width + depth) exceeds 300cm.
No item can have a length + girth (twice the width + depth) which exceeds 330cm.
International Express Services and Standard Services (within Europe)
On international services the maximum size allowance varies based on the service level chosen and the route.
Typically, international services within Europe will incur a fee of £60 + VAT (VAT is only charged on EU routes) for any item which has one or more dimension greater than 117cm. On these services no dimension can exceed 220cm in length, or 70kgs in weight or volume.
On services between the UK and Europe a £60+VAT fee may also be incurred for any items with a second longest dimension exceeding 76cm or where the shipment’s length + girth (twice the width + depth) exceeds 266cm. Items with an actual physical weight exceeding 31kg may also incur an additional fee of £20.00+VAT. No shipment can contain a piece which exceeds 240cm in length, or 330cm length (longest dimension) + girth (twice the width + depth or twice the two smallest dimensions).
Should you send an item which exceeds the maximum limits of our services you will be liable for an additional charge of up to £200 per piece plus any additional weight billed as the per kilo rate for your chosen route.
International Standard Services (outside of Europe)
On most services no item can exceed 70kgs (154lbs) in weight or volume. On some routes the maximum weight is 45kg (99lb).
Fees of £30-60 will be incurred for items with one of more dimensions exceeding 117cm.
On some standard services a £30-60 fee may also be incurred for any items with a second longest dimension exceeding 76cm or where the length + girth (twice the width + depth) exceeds 266cm. Items with an actual physical weight exceeding 31kg may also incur an additional fee of £20-40.
On some services, items with a length + girth (twice the width + depth) exceeding 280cm may incur an additional fee of £120.
The maximum length permitted on international standard services (excluding within Europe) is 270cm on most routes but some routes have a maximum permitted length of 240cm or 220cm. One some routes no shipment can contain a piece which exceeds 330cm length (longest dimension) + girth (twice the width + depth or twice the two smallest dimensions).
Should you send an item which exceeds the maximum limits of our services you will be liable for an additional charge of up to £200 per piece plus any additional weight billed as the per kilo rate for your chosen route.
US domestic services:
No item can have a single dim exceeding 240 cm (96 inches) or a length plus girth which exceeds 330cm (130 Inches).
Should you send an item which exceeds the maximum limits of our services you will be liable for an additional charge of up to £200 per piece plus any additional weight billed as the per kilo rate for your chosen route.
All Services
This page is provided for general information purposes only, as oversize fees vary by route and service, when sending an item with a side of 117cm / 46 inches or more we recommend proceeding to step 1 of the order process and entering the dimensions of the items you are sending to receive a tailored quote.
Oversize fees are in place because bags of this size cannot move through the network on standard conveyor belts and cost considerably more to handle. Send My Bag makes no profit on these fees and charges at cost.
Suitcases often have their internal size quoted in litres, when entering dimensions please ensure you use the full external dimensions.