Air chargeable weight
Air freight is priced on chargeable weight. That is the greater of the real weight and the volumetric weight, which reflects the space the cargo takes up. Enter your package size and weight to see which one applies and how much it would count for.
Chargeable weight calculator
How it works
First find the volumetric weight of each piece. Multiply length by width by height in centimetres, then divide by 6000. The result is in kilograms. Add up all the pieces. Then compare it with the actual (gross) weight of the shipment. The larger of the two is the chargeable weight.
Volumetric weight (kg) per piece = length (cm) x width (cm) x height (cm) / 6000.
Chargeable weight = the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight.
The divisor of 6000 is the typical air cargo standard, set by the International Air Transport Association (IATA). Express carriers often use 5000, which gives a higher volumetric weight. Check the divisor on your quote. Rounding rules also differ by carrier.
Worked example
You ship 5 cartons. Each is 60 cm x 50 cm x 40 cm and weighs 14 kg.
- Volume per carton: 60 x 50 x 40 = 120,000 cubic centimetres.
- Volumetric weight per carton: 120,000 / 6000 = 20 kg.
- Volumetric weight for 5 cartons: 20 x 5 = 100 kg.
- Actual weight for 5 cartons: 14 x 5 = 70 kg.
The volumetric weight is higher, so the chargeable weight is 100 kg. With a divisor of 5000 it would be 24 kg per carton, or 120 kg in total.
Limits
- Rounding differs by carrier. Some round each piece up, others the whole shipment.
- It does not set the price. Rates are per kilogram and depend on the route and date.