Air Freight Chargeable Weight: Volumetric vs Actual Weight
Air freight is priced on "chargeable weight" — the greater of the actual gross weight and the volumetric (dimensional) weight. Understanding this is the key to predicting your air cargo costs and avoiding surprises.
The volumetric weight formula
For air freight, volumetric weight in kilograms is calculated as: length × width × height (in centimetres) ÷ 6000. The divisor of 6000 is the standard IATA dimensional factor for air cargo.
The airline then compares this volumetric weight with the actual gross weight and charges whichever is higher.
A worked example
Imagine a box measuring 100 cm × 80 cm × 60 cm that weighs 90 kg. The volumetric weight is (100 × 80 × 60) ÷ 6000 = 80 kg. Since the actual weight (90 kg) is higher, you are charged on 90 kg.
Now imagine the same box weighs only 50 kg. The volumetric weight of 80 kg is higher, so you are charged on 80 kg even though it weighs less. This is why light but bulky cargo costs more to fly than its scale weight suggests.
How to reduce chargeable weight
- Use packaging that closely fits the product to cut wasted volume.
- Avoid oversized boxes and excessive void fill.
- Consolidate multiple small parcels into one efficiently-packed unit.
- For very dense cargo, confirm whether actual weight governs before optimizing dimensions.