Is 139 the same as 5000?

Close but not equal: 139 in³/lb is about 5,022 cm³/kg, so it gives a slightly higher weight than 5,000.

Is 166 the same as 6000?

Nearly: 166 in³/lb is about 5,997 cm³/kg, and 6,000 cm³/kg is about 166.1 in³/lb.

How do I convert a DIM divisor from inches to centimeters?

Multiply by about 36.13 (16.387064 ÷ 0.45359237). To go from cm³/kg to in³/lb, divide by the same figure.

What happens if I use a metric divisor with inches?

The result is about 36 times too low. 5,000 with inches and pounds treats 5,000 in³ as one pound.

Which divisor gives a lower dimensional weight?

The larger one in the same units: 166 gives less than 139, and 6,000 less than 5,000.

Illustration of four divisor values side by side with the same box and its weight under each

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DIM Divisors 139, 166, 5000, and 6000 Compared

Four divisor values turn up again and again: 139 and 166, which are in cubic inches per pound, and 5,000 and 6,000, which are in cubic centimeters per kilogram. They come in close pairs across the two systems, but they aren’t exactly equal — and a divisor used in the wrong system gives a result that is wildly off.

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Converting a divisor between systems

One cubic inch is exactly 16.387064 cm³ and one pound is exactly 0.45359237 kg, so 1 in³/lb ≈ 36.13 cm³/kg. Multiply an inch-pound divisor by about 36.13 to get the metric one, or divide to go the other way.

Converting a divisor between systems comparison
Divisor	Same divisor in the other system
139 in³/lb	≈ 5,022 cm³/kg
166 in³/lb	≈ 5,997 cm³/kg
5,000 cm³/kg	≈ 138.4 in³/lb
6,000 cm³/kg	≈ 166.1 in³/lb

One box, four divisors

An 18 × 14 × 10 in box is 2,520 in³, or about 41,295 cm³. Its dimensional weight before rounding:

One box, four divisors comparison
Divisor	DIM weight	In the other unit
139 in³/lb	18.13 lb	≈ 8.22 kg
166 in³/lb	15.18 lb	≈ 6.89 kg
5,000 cm³/kg	8.26 kg	≈ 18.21 lb
6,000 cm³/kg	6.88 kg	≈ 15.17 lb

139 and 5,000 land within a fraction of a pound of each other, as do 166 and 6,000 — but they aren’t identical.

The mistake to avoid

Using 139 with centimeters and kilograms treats every 139 cm³ as a kilogram — about 36 times too heavy. Using 5,000 with inches and pounds treats 5,000 in³ as a pound — about 36 times too light. Always pair a divisor with the units it was published in.

Which to use

Use the divisor your carrier or contract states, in the units they state it in.
If you measure in the other system, convert your measurements, not the divisor.
Treat 139, 166, 5,000, and 6,000 as examples of published values, not current rules.

DIM Divisors Compared FAQ

Is 139 the same as 5000?: Close but not equal: 139 in³/lb is about 5,022 cm³/kg, so it gives a slightly higher weight than 5,000.
Is 166 the same as 6000?: Nearly: 166 in³/lb is about 5,997 cm³/kg, and 6,000 cm³/kg is about 166.1 in³/lb.
How do I convert a DIM divisor from inches to centimeters?: Multiply by about 36.13 (16.387064 ÷ 0.45359237). To go from cm³/kg to in³/lb, divide by the same figure.
What happens if I use a metric divisor with inches?: The result is about 36 times too low. 5,000 with inches and pounds treats 5,000 in³ as one pound.
Which divisor gives a lower dimensional weight?: The larger one in the same units: 166 gives less than 139, and 6,000 less than 5,000.