Pallet vs Parcel: When to Switch to Pallet Shipping
For candy buyers, this is the single most expensive decision to get wrong. Ship too much by courier and you pay a fortune for "air"; ship a pallet too early and you pay for space you don't fill. Here's how to know which is right.
How parcel pricing actually works
Couriers don't just charge by weight — they charge by whichever is greater: the actual weight or the volumetric (dimensional) weight. Most express carriers (DHL, UPS, FedEx) calculate volumetric weight as:
Volumetric weight (kg) = Length × Width × Height (cm) ÷ 5000 (imperial divisor: 139 for in/lb)
So a box is billed on its size if it's light for its volume. You can read the carrier's own explanation of this on DHL's volumetric weight guide.
Why candy is "light but bulky"
Bagged sweets, foam pieces and mix boxes take up a lot of space for their weight — exactly the profile that volumetric pricing punishes. A few cartons of candy can be billed as if they weighed far more than they do. Past a certain point, freight that charges by the pallet (not the cubic centimetre) becomes much cheaper per kilo.
Signals it's time to move to a pallet
- You're shipping more than roughly 5–10 cartons in one go, or over about 100–150 kg.
- Your courier quotes are climbing because of volumetric weight, not actual weight.
- You reorder regularly and could consolidate into fewer, larger shipments.
- You're fine with kerbside/loading-dock delivery and a slightly longer transit.
A simple worked example
Say you order 12 cartons of mixed candy. By courier, each carton is bulky enough to be billed on volume, and 12 separate volumetric charges add up fast — plus a customs entry if it crosses a border. Consolidated onto one pallet, you pay a single freight rate for the whole stack and one customs clearance. As volume rises, the pallet's cost-per-kilo keeps falling while the courier's stays flat or rises.
Decision checklist
| Choose parcel if… | Choose pallet if… |
|---|---|
| 1–4 boxes, urgent | 5+ boxes or 100 kg+ |
| One-off or sample order | Regular, plannable restocks |
| Need door-to-door speed | Can receive freight / have a dock |
| Quotes driven by actual weight | Quotes driven by volumetric weight |
When you're consistently in the right-hand column, it's worth setting up trade freight. See how pallets are sized and optimised in our pallet shipping guide, or start a wholesale account.
Good to know. The thresholds above are general guidance, not quotes — real break-even points depend on lane, carrier, fuel surcharges, dimensions and season, and change over time. Always compare current quotes for your specific shipment. This article is general logistics information, not financial or customs advice.
Frequently asked questions
What is volumetric weight?
It's a billable weight based on a parcel's size, calculated as length × width × height in cm divided by 5000. Carriers charge the greater of actual and volumetric weight, which is why bulky-but-light candy can cost more to courier.
At what point is a pallet cheaper than parcels?
As a rough guide, once you're shipping more than about 5–10 cartons or 100–150 kg, or your courier price is driven by volume. The exact point depends on the route — always compare quotes.
Do I need a loading dock for a pallet?
Not always. Kerbside delivery and tail-lift options exist, but they affect cost. Tell us your delivery setup and we'll quote accordingly.
