What is desi? How Turkish carriers calculate volumetric weight
Desi is the volumetric weight Turkish carriers bill by: L × W × H (cm) ÷ 3000. See how it compares with actual weight and how box choice cuts shipping costs.
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Key takeaways
- Desi is a parcel’s volumetric weight: length × width × height in centimetres, divided by 3000 for domestic shipments in Türkiye.
- Carriers compare desi with the actual weight and bill by whichever is higher.
- Fractions are usually rounded up, so a single extra centimetre can push a parcel into the next price bracket.
- Choosing a box that fits the product is the fastest and cheapest way to lower shipping costs.
If you ship within Türkiye, you will see shipping rates quoted per “desi/kg”. Desi is the Turkish term for volumetric (dimensional) weight. A light but bulky parcel takes up as much space in a van as a heavy one, so carriers charge by volume as well as by weight.
Enter your parcel’s dimensions in the calculator above to get its desi instantly. Below we explain the formula, how desi is compared with actual weight and how packing choices affect your shipping bill.
What is desi?
Desi is a parcel’s volumetric weight. It is calculated from the outer dimensions of the package and compared with its actual weight on the scale when the shipping fee is calculated.
Vans and sorting hubs usually fill up by volume long before they reach their weight limit. A feather pillow and a box of books of the same size occupy the same space. Desi makes sure light but bulky shipments are priced for the space they take.
The desi formula
The formula most domestic carriers in Türkiye use is:
Desi = Length (cm) × Width (cm) × Height (cm) ÷ 3000For a 40 × 30 × 25 cm box:
40 × 30 × 25 = 30,000 cm³
30,000 ÷ 3000 = 10 desiThree details to keep in mind:
- The divisor is not always 3000. 3000 is common for domestic shipments; international services and some products use 5000. The divisor that applies to you is in your carrier’s tariff and your contract.
- Measure the outside of the parcel. Use the widest points of the package, not the product. An overfilled, bulging box can gain a few centimetres in height.
- Results are usually rounded up. A parcel that measures 3.2 desi is typically billed as 4 desi. Rounding rules vary by carrier and contract.
Desi or kilograms: which one is billed?
Carriers compare the parcel’s desi with its actual weight and bill by whichever is higher:
| Shipment | Size (cm) | Desi | Actual weight | Billed as |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| T-shirt in a mailer bag | 30 × 25 × 3 | 0.75 | 0.3 kg | 1 desi |
| Cosmetics gift box | 25 × 20 × 12 | 2 | 1.1 kg | 2 desi |
| Box of books | 30 × 22 × 15 | 3.3 | 7 kg | 7 kg |
| Pillow | 50 × 40 × 20 | 13.33 | 1 kg | 14 desi |
The box of books is small but heavy, so weight sets the price. The pillow is light but bulky, so desi sets the price. Most e-commerce products, including cosmetics, apparel and homeware, fall into the second group: box size matters more than weight.
Why one centimetre matters
Because desi is billed in brackets, small differences in size can move a parcel into the next one:
30 × 30 × 20 = 18,000 cm³ → 6.0 desi → 6 desi
31 × 30 × 20 = 18,600 cm³ → 6.2 desi → 7 desiOne extra centimetre on a single side moved the parcel from 6 to 7 desi. It works the other way too: a 28 × 28 × 18 cm product in a 32 × 32 × 22 cm box is 8 desi (22,528 cm³ ÷ 3000 = 7.51). The same product in a 30 × 30 × 20 cm box is 6 desi. That is two desi less on every shipment.
Desi of common box sizes
A quick reference for building your own box range (÷ 3000):
| Box size (cm) | Volume (cm³) | Desi | Rounded |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 × 15 × 10 | 3,000 | 1.00 | 1 |
| 25 × 20 × 10 | 5,000 | 1.67 | 2 |
| 30 × 20 × 15 | 9,000 | 3.00 | 3 |
| 30 × 30 × 20 | 18,000 | 6.00 | 6 |
| 40 × 30 × 25 | 30,000 | 10.00 | 10 |
| 50 × 40 × 30 | 60,000 | 20.00 | 20 |
| 60 × 40 × 40 | 96,000 | 32.00 | 32 |
Seven packing rules that lower shipping costs
- Build a standard box range. Measure your products and choose 3–5 box sizes that cover most of your orders, instead of using whatever box is at hand.
- Fit the box to the product. If there are more than a few centimetres of empty space around a non-fragile product, move to a smaller box. Void fill is there to hold the product in place, not to fill a box that is too big.
- Use mailer bags for soft goods. Apparel and other soft items ship far cheaper in bags or envelopes than in boxes.
- Measure correctly. Measure the outside of the sealed parcel and avoid overfilling boxes.
- Check multi-item orders. Every parcel is billed as a separate shipment. One well-sized box is usually cheaper than two small ones, but compare both options for large or heavy items.
- Keep marketplace listings up to date. On Turkish marketplaces, the desi value on your product listing is used to calculate shipping costs. If the carrier measures a different value, the difference may be charged to you.
- Audit your shipping invoices. Compare billed desi values with your box sizes. Unexpectedly high values point to the wrong box being used or to measurement errors.
Desi in a fulfillment operation
When you outsource packing to a fulfillment partner, controlling desi largely becomes their job. In a well-run warehouse, product dimensions are recorded at receiving, the box is chosen to fit each order and every shipment is logged with its desi. Read our guide to e-commerce fulfillment in Türkiye to see how the whole process works.
To see shipping alongside storage and pick & pack costs for your own volume, try our pricing calculator.
Written by
Pronto Depo Operations Team
The team that runs warehousing, packing, shipping and returns at our facility in ASO 2. OSB, Ankara every day. In these articles we share what we learn on the floor.
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