Free Excel template · Excel for warehouse and logistics

Free shipping carrier rate comparison template

For shipping leads and sellers who want to know which carrier is really cheapest for their own boxes, not for the example on the carrier's website. Enter each carrier's base charge, rate per pound, fuel surcharge and dimensional weight divisor, then a sample of real shipments with their dimensions and weights. The template works out the billable weight and cost for every box with every carrier, picks the cheapest, and shows what you would save by splitting boxes between carriers.

cellwise-carrier-rate-comparison.xlsxExcel workbook · 5.1 KB · works in Excel, Google Sheets, Numbers and LibreOffice · no signup

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This is the template's sheet, calculated by the same engine as the Cellwise app. Change any number to see the formulas react before you download.

	A	B	C	D	E	F	G	H	I
1	Carrier rate comparison
2	Enter the rates and divisors from your own carrier rate guides or contracts.
3	Carrier					Carrier A	Carrier B	Carrier C
4	Base charge per box					6.4	5.9	8.25
5	Rate per billable lb					0.82	0.95	0.55
6	Fuel surcharge %					0.155	0.14	0.12
7	Dimensional weight divisor					139	139	166
8
9	Shipment	Length (in)	Width (in)	Height (in)	Actual lb	Carrier A cost	Carrier B cost	Carrier C cost	Cheapest
10	S-101	12	10	6	8	14.97	15.39	14.17	Carrier C
11	S-102	24	18	12	9	43.38	47.88	28.95	Carrier C
12	S-103	10	8	4	2	10.23	9.98	10.47	Carrier B
13	S-104	16	12	10	14	20.65	21.89	17.86	Carrier C
14	S-105	20	14	8	6	23.49	25.14	17.86	Carrier C
15	S-106	30	20	16	22	73.69	82.54	44.97	Carrier C
16	S-107	9	6	3	1	9.29	8.89	9.86	Carrier B
17	S-108	18	14	12	25	31.07	33.8	24.64	Carrier C
18	S-109	14	14	14	11	26.33	28.39	19.71	Carrier C
19	S-110	22	16	6	5	22.55	24.05	17.25	Carrier C
20

How the formulas work

Billable weight and cost in one formula

F11=IF($A11="","",ROUND((F$4+F$5*MAX($E11,ROUNDUP($B11*$C11*$D11/F$7,0)))*(1+F$6),2))

Carriers charge for the bigger of actual weight and dimensional weight (length x width x height divided by the carrier's divisor). Box S-102 weighs 9 lb but measures 24 x 18 x 12 inches, so Carriers A and B bill it as 38 lb. The base charge plus rate per billable pound is then marked up by the fuel surcharge.

Why the divisor matters

H15=IF($A15="","",ROUND((H$4+H$5*MAX($E15,ROUNDUP($B15*$C15*$D15/H$7,0)))*(1+H$6),2))

A bigger divisor means a smaller dimensional weight. Carrier C uses 166, so the large S-106 box bills at 58 lb instead of 70. Divisors differ between carriers and service levels, and can sometimes be negotiated, so copy yours from the rate guide or contract.

Cheapest carrier per box

I10=IF($A10="","",INDEX($F$3:$H$3,MATCH(MIN(F10:H10),F10:H10,0)))

MIN finds the lowest cost in the row, MATCH finds which column it is in, and INDEX returns that carrier's name from row 3. Small, heavy boxes and large, light boxes often go to different carriers.

What splitting by box would save

B27=SUMIF(I10:I21,F3,F10:F21)+SUMIF(I10:I21,G3,G10:G21)+SUMIF(I10:I21,H3,H10:H21)

For each carrier, SUMIF adds its cost only on the boxes where it is cheapest; together that is the cost of always picking the best option. B28 compares it with sending everything through the cheapest single carrier. If the saving is small, one carrier is simpler and may earn a better volume discount.

Make it yours

Use a real sample: the last few hundred shipments from your system, not a handful of typical boxes. Box mix decides the winner.
Most parcel carriers round billable weight up to the next whole pound, and many round each dimension to the nearest inch first. Check your rate guide and adjust the formula if yours differs.
Zone, residential delivery, oversize and other surcharges can outweigh the base rate. Add a column per surcharge you actually pay.
Right-sizing boxes often saves more than switching carriers: the same item in a smaller box can drop several billable pounds.

FAQ

What is dimensional weight?

A billing weight based on a package's size: length x width x height, divided by a number the carrier sets (the divisor). Carriers charge for whichever is larger, the actual weight or the dimensional weight, so big, light boxes cost more than their weight suggests.

How do I calculate dimensional weight in Excel?

Multiply the three dimensions in inches and divide by the divisor, then round up: =ROUNDUP(L*W*H/139,0) for a divisor of 139. The billable weight is =MAX(actual,dim_weight). Use your carrier's divisor, which can differ by service.

Can I compare more than three carriers?

Yes. Insert columns before column I, copy column H's settings and cost formula across, then widen the ranges in the Cheapest formula ($F$3:$H$3 and F10:H10) and add a SUMIF for each new carrier in B27.

Functions used

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Updated November 2, 2026