Product dimensions

Updated · SMART Shipping Rates (E-TRADE PARTNER)

Open Product dimensions to store length, width, and height on each variant. SMART uses those values for volume and dimensional-weight calculated rates. You can edit inline, import a CSV, or export a CSV. Units and the volumetric divisor live in Settings. Calculated size-based rates need Shopify Carrier Service.

4.9 · SMART Shipping Rates does this with zones, calculated rates, and delivery customizations.

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On this page
  1. What to enter
  2. Settings that affect dimensions
  3. Import and export CSV
  4. How rates use these values
  5. Frequently asked questions

Product dimensions is the catalog for size-based Shipping rates. It does not print labels and it does not pack a carton. It stores app-owned variant metafields (length, width, height) that the rate engine reads at checkout.

What to enter

  • Measure the packed shipping box for that variant, not the product on the shelf.
  • Enter length, width, and height. SMART sorts sides at evaluation time: longest, second-longest, then shortest.
  • Use the Dimensional unit from Settings (cm, in, mm, or m) so the catalog and the divisor match.

Settings that affect dimensions

SettingWhereWhat it does
Dimensional unitSettingsUnits & measurementUnit for length, width, height, and volume
Weight unitSettingsUnits & measurementUnit for actual weight and dimensional weight
Volumetric divisorSettingsUnits & measurementDivides L × W × H to get volumetric weight. Help text lists 5000 for cm/kg and 139 for in/lb
Default length / width / heightSettingsDefault dimensionsFallback when a variant has no dimensions, or only some sides filled

Dimensional weight is the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight. Variants with no dimensions count as 0 unless defaults are set.

Import and export CSV

  1. Open Product dimensions.
  2. Use Export dimensions to download the current catalog.
  3. Use Import dimensions to upload a CSV. Match rows by `variant_id`, `sku`, or `product_id`.
  4. Include `length`, `width`, and `height`. An optional `unit` column is accepted (cm, in, mm, m, and common aliases).

The importer accepts comma, semicolon, or tab files, UTF-8 BOM, and Excel-style decimal commas on semicolon files. The row cap is 50,000. You can also edit the same metafields on the variant page in Shopify admin after the app has created the definitions.

Missing dimensions are not a Shopify search filter

The Missing dimensions filter scans loaded catalog pages in the app. It cannot use Shopify's admin search to find every empty metafield in one query on a huge catalog. Export, fill blanks, and import is the reliable bulk path.

How rates use these values

Calculation based onReads
Cart volume / Product volumeL × W × H × quantity from variant dimensions
Cart dimensional weight / Product dimensional weightGreater of actual weight and volume ÷ volumetric divisor

Rate conditions can also match Product length (longest side), Product width (second-longest side), Product height (shortest side), Product length + girth, and the cart-side combined equivalents. See Shipping rates and zones and the dimensional weight guide.

After a live checkout, Activity log shows which dimensions the engine used, including when shop defaults applied. Entries are kept for up to 48 hours.

Store dimensions once, then price by size at checkout

Use SMART Product dimensions with calculated volume or dimensional-weight rates when Carrier Service is available.

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Frequently asked questions

Where do I enter product dimensions in SMART?

Open Product dimensions in the app. You can also edit the app's length, width, and height metafields on the variant in Shopify admin.

Do I need Carrier Service to store dimensions?

No. Storing dimensions does not need Carrier Service. Using them to return a calculated checkout rate does.

What CSV columns does import expect?

An identifier column (`variant_id`, `sku`, or `product_id`) plus `length`, `width`, and `height`. An optional `unit` column is supported.

What if some variants have no dimensions?

They count as 0 unless you set default length, width, and height in Settings. A variant with only some sides filled also uses those defaults.

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