Shopping
Shipping cost
The base fee is flat, the weight charge is variable, and the zone multiplier scales the total.
The Formula
cost = (base + weight x rate) x zone
The base fee is flat, the weight charge is variable, and the zone multiplier scales the total.
| Symbol | Meaning | Unit | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| C | Total cost | currency | What the shipment is charged at. |
| B | Base fee | currency | Flat handling charge per parcel. |
| w | Weight | kilograms | Chargeable weight, which may be volumetric. |
| r | Rate | currency per kg | Charge per kilogram. |
| z | Zone multiplier | ratio | Factor for distance or region. |
What Each Symbol Means
Ccurrency
Total cost
What the shipment is charged at.
Bcurrency
Base fee
Flat handling charge per parcel.
wkilograms
Weight
Chargeable weight, which may be volumetric.
rcurrency per kg
Rate
Charge per kilogram.
zratio
Zone multiplier
Factor for distance or region.
See It Worked With Real Numbers
A formula on its own does not tell you which number goes where. The how to calculate shipping cost page applies this equation to a concrete case, shows every intermediate step, and names the mistakes that produce a wrong answer even when the algebra is right.
Where This Formula Appears
This equation is the working core of How To Calculate Shipping Cost, filed under Everyday Life. Every number the guide produces comes from substituting into this one line.