When an online store displays “60 x 40 x 30 cm” on a product sheet, most buyers read these three numbers without questioning which corresponds to what. The problem arises at the time of shipping: the carrier measures the package in front of them, compares it with the declared dimensions, and applies a rate or a refusal if the discrepancy exceeds their tolerance.
The order L x l x h (length, width, height) follows a precise convention, but its interpretation varies depending on whether we are talking about a product, packaging, or a carrier’s pricing grid.
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Internal dimensions, external dimensions: the source of most package disputes
E-commerce product sheets almost systematically indicate internal or overall dimensions in the format L x P x H (length, depth, height). Carriers, on the other hand, only accept external dimensions measured at the widest of the box. This distinction has become contractual for players like Colissimo and DPD since the revision of their pricing grids in 2023-2024.
Specifically, a piece of furniture sold with dimensions of 58 x 38 x 28 cm may occupy a box of 62 x 42 x 32 cm once packed with polystyrene. It is these latter values that must be declared. The main comparison tools and package labeling modules (SaaS shipping solutions) have recently added distinct fields for “package dimensions” and “product dimensions” to avoid this recurring confusion.
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To understand the order of dimensions l x l x h, it is important to remember that the length always refers to the longest horizontal side, the width to the intermediate horizontal side, and the height to the vertical dimension (from the ground up when the package is laid flat). This is not an arbitrary convention: it allows for the calculation of volume and dimensional weight without ambiguity.
Why the order L x l x h causes refusals at pickup points
Several networks of pickup points (Chronopost Pickup, Mondial Relay, Hermes in Germany) have documented since 2022 a significant increase in disputes over package size related to the misunderstanding of this order. The typical scenario: a shipper declares 30 cm as “height” when it is actually the longest length of their package. As a result, the package exceeds the category of box registered at the pickup point and is refused for pickup.
The problem often arises from the way measurements are taken. If you place a rectangular package upright (on its smallest side), what you perceive as the “height” is actually the length in logistical terms. The package must be laid flat to correctly identify each dimension.
The consequences are not trivial. A refused package generates a return, a reshipment, and sometimes a recharging fee. For sellers on platforms like Vinted or eBay, a declaration error can turn a profitable sale into a loss-making operation.
3D Scanners and ERP: when machines themselves get the order wrong
One might think that automation solves the problem. Automated dimensional measurement solutions (3D scanners like Cubiscan or SICK) used in warehouses do indeed provide dimensions in the standardized order L x l x h. However, several suppliers indicate in their 2023-2024 documentation that ERPs and WMS often still interpret this data in a different order (L x H x l or P x L x H).
This divergence leads to errors in cubing calculations and box selection, even when the initial measurement is correct. A warehouse processing several thousand packages a day can thus systematically select boxes that are too large or too small because its software reverses two dimensions.
Field reports vary on the extent of the phenomenon: some logistics providers consider the error to be marginal, while others estimate that it affects a significant portion of poorly calibrated shipments. The lack of a single interpretation standard between computer systems remains a documented friction point.
Measuring a package correctly: method and pitfalls to avoid
Place the closed package on a flat surface, including flaps and tape. Identify the three dimensions in this order:
- Length (L): the longest side of the base, measured from one outer edge to the other. On a rectangular box laid flat, it is the longest side you see from the front.
- Width (l): the shortest side of the base, perpendicular to the length. On a square package, length and width are the same.
- Height (h): the distance between the surface on which the package rests and its top. This is the only vertical dimension.
If your object has a cylindrical shape (tube, roll), the diameter of the cylinder is generally considered the width and height, while the length of the tube constitutes dimension L. Most carriers charge a premium for atypical shapes or refuse them.
The trap of dimensional weight
Carriers do not charge solely based on actual weight. Dimensional weight is calculated from the external dimensions of the package (L x l x h divided by a coefficient specific to each carrier). If the dimensional weight exceeds the actual weight, it determines the rate.
An error of a few centimeters on a dimension can push a package into the higher pricing tier. This is why carriers insist on measurements to the nearest centimeter, taken from the outside of the box.
Pallets and standardized formats: a different reading order
For pallet shipments, the convention changes slightly. Length and width are commonly referred to without always mentioning the height of the pallet itself. In Europe, the standard pallet dimensions are 120 x 80 x 14.5 cm. The total height of the shipment includes the pallet plus the goods stacked on top.
On technical sheets for appliances or furniture, the displayed order is often L x P x H (length, depth, height), where depth replaces width. This is not by chance: for a refrigerator or built-in furniture, depth (the distance between the front face and the wall) is more meaningful than “width.” The calculation remains the same; only the terminology adapts to the usage.
Whether you are shipping a small package via a pickup point or a full pallet, the basic logic does not change: the largest horizontal dimension first, the smallest next, and the vertical last. Keeping this order in mind when declaring your shipments remains the most reliable way to avoid extra costs and refusals for pickup.