--- title: OptimalShip's Helpful Shipping Tips | Courtney Evans description: When you need shipping help for your small business, OptimalShip has got you covered. --- Document [![Logo](https://blog.optimalship.com/hs-fs/hubfs/OptimalShip%20Logos/logo.png?width=158&height=30&name=logo.png)](https://us.optimalship.com/) [Sign In ![Cardboard box](https://blog.optimalship.com/hubfs/icons/box.ico)](https://prep.optimalship.com/) - [Get Quote](https://prep.optimalship.com/get-quote) - [Prepare Shipment](https://prep.optimalship.com/prepare-shipment) - [Pay Bill](https://portal.optimalship.com/dashboard) - [Schedule Pickup](https://prep.optimalship.com/schedule-pickup) [Our Blog](https://blog.optimalship.com/) [Navigation](https://us.optimalship.com/) - [About Us](https://us.optimalship.com/about) - [Services](https://us.optimalship.com/services) - [Pricing](https://us.optimalship.com/pricing) - [Support](https://us.optimalship.com/support) - [About Us](https://us.optimalship.com/about) - [Services](https://us.optimalship.com/services) - [Pricing](https://us.optimalship.com/pricing) - [Support](https://us.optimalship.com/support) [Take me to old website ![Old Website](https://blog.optimalship.com/hs-fs/hubfs/icons/airship.png?width=56&height=56&name=airship.png) We have recently redesigned our website, but would you rather use the old one? **No problem, you can still use it here!**](https://www.optimalship.com/?classic) Search ![Toggler](https://blog.optimalship.com/hubfs/icons/hamburger.png) Search - [About Us](https://us.optimalship.com/about) - [Services](https://us.optimalship.com/services) - [Pricing](https://us.optimalship.com/pricing) - [Support](https://us.optimalship.com/support) - [Sign In](https://prep.optimalship.com/) - [Get Quote](https://prep.optimalship.com/get-quote) - [Prepare Shipment](https://prep.optimalship.com/prepare-shipment) - [Pay Bill](https://portal.optimalship.com/dashboard) - [Schedule Pickup](https://prep.optimalship.com/schedule-pickup) [Our Blog](https://blog.optimalship.com/) # OptimalShip's Helpful Shipping Tips ## Courtney Evans ### Recent Posts ## [6 Questions About Harmonized Codes](https://blog.optimalship.com/6-questions-about-harmonized-codes) Posted by [Courtney Evans](https://blog.optimalship.com/author/courtney-evans) on Oct 4, 2022 5:40:35 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![6 Questions About Harmonized Codes](https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/Sb7YSsAD9i3BJT0rhyvvnBrSFW_5ieZjhN6MRjxRAAf_60520JHZEKqeD703ClX33qdIm6d5Ny_a4oPZDotVdSGG1FVtbKL5TdNkTUUtj_PuHtsvBh8YT9lEzTV-aYAf7DyD6eiSZuF_LiBVB872lliCheY4Itb4dtAxC5oxsXLEfohJWCOaEN9ifA)](https://blog.optimalship.com/6-questions-about-harmonized-codes) [Read More](https://blog.optimalship.com/6-questions-about-harmonized-codes) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.optimalship.com/6-questions-about-harmonized-codes#comments-listing) ## [Actual Weight vs. Dimensional Weight](https://blog.optimalship.com/how-to-speed-up-delivery-of-my-international-package-0) Posted by [Courtney Evans](https://blog.optimalship.com/author/courtney-evans) on May 12, 2022 2:56:43 PM - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) [![Actual Weight vs. Dimensional Weight](https://blog.optimalship.com/hubfs/Actual%20Weight%20vs.%20Dimensional%20Weight.png)](https://blog.optimalship.com/how-to-speed-up-delivery-of-my-international-package-0) Have you ever shipped a large box that seems to weigh nothing, yet the invoice you get is higher than you expected? This likely has to do with the difference between dimensional weight and actual weight. We all know how to find the actual weight of our international packages; we just look at the scale the box is sitting on and read the number. But why does my 10 lb shipment in a 12x12x12 inch box cost less than those same 10 lbs in a 24x24x24 inch box? [Read More](https://blog.optimalship.com/how-to-speed-up-delivery-of-my-international-package-0) 0 Comments [Click here to read/write comments](https://blog.optimalship.com/how-to-speed-up-delivery-of-my-international-package-0#comments-listing) Topics: [International Shipping](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/international-shipping), [Domestic Shipping](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/domestic-shipping), [Exports](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/exports), [Imports](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/imports), [billing](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/billing) ## Real Advice ### From Real Shippers If we can't help you with it, we'll figure out who can! Stick around for lots of advice from the experts.   ### Subscribe Here! ### Recent Posts ### Posts by Topic - [International Shipping (22)](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/international-shipping) - [Exports (18)](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/exports) - [Imports (11)](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/imports) - [DHL (9)](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/dhl) - [Export Basics (7)](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/export-basics) - [About OptimalShip (6)](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/about-optimalship) - [Import Basics (6)](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/import-basics) - [restrictions (6)](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/restrictions) - [Domestic Shipping (5)](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/domestic-shipping) - [China (4)](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/china) - [Customs Brokerage (4)](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/customs-brokerage) - [Insider (3)](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/insider) - [Fun Shipping History (2)](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/fun-shipping-history) - [Insurance (2)](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/insurance) - [Shipping to India (2)](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/shipping-to-india) - [billing (2)](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/billing) - [svp (2)](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/svp) - [Australia (1)](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/australia) - [Customs (1)](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/customs) - [Europe (1)](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/europe) - [Freight Forwarder (1)](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/freight-forwarder) - [Hong Kong (1)](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/hong-kong) - [KYC Documents (1)](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/kyc-documents) - [Russia (1)](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/russia) - [Venezuela (1)](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/venezuela) - [account (1)](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/account) - [brazil (1)](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/brazil) - [carnet (1)](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/carnet) - [cost (1)](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/cost) - [covid-19 (1)](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/covid-19) - [damaged shipment (1)](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/damaged-shipment) - [holidays (1)](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/holidays) - [lost shipment (1)](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/lost-shipment) - [shipment value protection (1)](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/shipment-value-protection) - [trade shows (1)](https://blog.optimalship.com/tag/trade-shows) See all OptimalShip ![Optimal Logistics LLC](https://blog.optimalship.com/hubfs/icons/box.png) Optimal Logistics LLC ![PO BOX 1779](https://blog.optimalship.com/hubfs/icons/map-pin.png) PO BOX 1779 ![Allen, TX 75013-0030](https://blog.optimalship.com/hubfs/icons/map.png) Allen, TX 75013-0030 ![(972) 383-9901](https://blog.optimalship.com/hubfs/icons/phone.png) (972) 383-9901 ![customerservice@optimalship.com](https://blog.optimalship.com/hubfs/icons/mail.png) customerservice@optimalship.com OptimalShip on Social Media: [![Facebook](https://blog.optimalship.com/hubfs/icons/facebook.png)](https://www.facebook.com/OptimalShip.DHLWholesale) [![Instagram](https://blog.optimalship.com/hubfs/icons/instagram.png)](https://www.instagram.com/optimalshipteam/) [![LinkedIn](https://blog.optimalship.com/hubfs/icons/linkedin.png)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/optimal-logistics---dallas) [![Twitter](https://blog.optimalship.com/hubfs/icons/twitter.png)](https://twitter.com/OptimalShip) Sitemap - [About Us](https://us.optimalship.com/about) - [Careers](https://us.optimalship.com/careers) - [Services](https://us.optimalship.com/services) - [Pricing](https://us.optimalship.com/pricing) - [Integrations](https://us.optimalship.com/integrations) - [Contact Us](https://us.optimalship.com/contact) - [FAQs](https://us.optimalship.com/support) - [Create an Account](https://prep.optimalship.com/sign-up) - [Read Our Blog](https://blog.optimalship.com/) Helpful Tools - [Free Shipment Prep Tool](https://prep.optimalship.com/prepare-shipment) - [Free Quote Tool](https://prep.optimalship.com/get-quote) - [Online Bill Pay](https://portal.optimalship.com/dashboard) - [Pickup Scheduler](https://prep.optimalship.com/schedule-pickup) ![Authorized DHL Service Provider](https://blog.optimalship.com/hubfs/2022%20Footer%20Other/trust-badge.png) Legal - [Terms of Service](https://us.optimalship.com/terms-of-service) - [Privacy Policy](https://us.optimalship.com/privacy-policy) ❦ Woman-Owned Business ![Authorized DHL Service Provider](https://blog.optimalship.com/hubfs/2022%20Footer%20Other/trust-badge.png)