Chargeable weight calculator
Enter your pieces and dimensions to get the volumetric weight and the chargeable weight for air freight, express, road or sea LCL.
- Total pieces
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- Gross weight
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- Volumetric weight
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- Chargeable weight
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- Charged by —
Estimates for planning. Final figures depend on the carrier's rules and the actual cargo.
How it's calculated
Carriers charge for the space cargo takes, not only for what it weighs. So every shipment has two weights: the actual (gross) weight on the scale, and a volumetric weight worked out from its dimensions. The higher of the two is the chargeable weight — the weight the rate is applied to.
Volumetric weight = length × width × height (cm) ÷ divisor. The divisor depends on the mode: 6,000 for most air freight (IATA standard, 167 kg per cubic metre), 5,000 for express and courier services, 3,000 for European road freight (333 kg per cubic metre). In sea LCL, 1 cubic metre counts as 1,000 kg — "weight or measure": you pay for whichever is higher, in revenue tons.
Worked example
3 cartons of 80 × 60 × 50 cm, 25 kg each, by air: volume = 3 × 0.24 = 0.72 m³; volumetric weight = 720,000 ÷ 6,000 = 120 kg; gross weight = 75 kg. Chargeable weight: 120 kg.
DO IT ALL SOFT calculates it inside the quote.
Chargeable weight, volume and the right equipment are worked out on every quote automatically — with your company's rules, in 3D when you need it.
Frequently asked questions
What is chargeable weight?
The weight a carrier charges for: the higher of the cargo's gross (actual) weight and its volumetric weight. Light, bulky cargo is charged by volume; small, heavy cargo by weight.
Is the air freight divisor 5000 or 6000?
Most air cargo uses 6,000 (the IATA standard: 1 m³ = 167 kg). Express and courier services such as door-to-door parcel networks usually use 5,000 (1 m³ = 200 kg). Always check your carrier's tariff.
How do I calculate volumetric weight in inches and pounds?
Multiply length × width × height in inches and divide by 166 for pounds (the common US air factor), or switch this calculator to inches and pounds and it converts for you.
How is chargeable weight calculated for sea freight?
Sea LCL uses "weight or measure": 1 cubic metre is treated as 1,000 kg, and the freight is charged on whichever is higher — the volume in cubic metres or the weight in tonnes. That figure is called revenue tons.
More reference
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