Home / Logistics Knowledge / Air Chargeable Weight: How Volumetric Weight Is Calculated
Airlines bill by chargeable weight - the greater of actual gross weight and volumetric weight. Here is how it works.
Actual weight is what the scale shows. Chargeable weight is the number the airline uses to price the shipment. It is the higher of actual gross weight and volumetric (dimensional) weight.
Volumetric weight (kg) = L(cm) × W(cm) × H(cm) ÷ 6000
Most carriers use a divisor of 6000 for general air freight. Express integrators sometimes use 5000, which yields a higher volumetric weight. Always confirm the divisor with your carrier.
| Step | Value |
|---|---|
| Carton size | 60 × 50 × 40 cm |
| Volume | 120,000 cm³ |
| Volumetric weight | 120,000 ÷ 6000 = 20 kg |
| Actual gross weight | 12 kg |
| Chargeable weight | 20 kg (volumetric wins) |
In this example the light but bulky carton is billed at 20 kg, not its 12 kg actual weight.
Aircraft space is limited by volume as much as by weight. A bulky, light shipment occupies space that could carry heavier cargo, so carriers recover cost through dimensional weight.
6000 is the common air-freight divisor; express couriers often use 5000. Ask your carrier.
Dense cargo is billed on actual weight because actual exceeds volumetric - you lose nothing.
No. Sea freight is usually billed on weight or volume (CBM) separately, not a single chargeable-weight concept.
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