How is air freight chargeable weight calculated?

It's the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight; volumetric weight is length × width × height in centimetres ÷ 6,000 for most airline cargo (5,000 for many couriers), per piece, added up.

Round up to the airline's rounding rule (often the next half kilo) and check the next rate break: charging at the higher break is sometimes cheaper. Fuel and security surcharges are usually per kilo of chargeable weight too.

Full guide: Try the free freight calculator.

A worked example

Two cartons, each 80 × 60 × 50 cm and 22 kg. Volume per carton is 0.24 m³; volumetric weight at 6,000 is 80 × 60 × 50 / 6,000 = 40 kg per carton, 80 kg in total. Actual weight is 44 kg. Chargeable weight is the greater: 80 kg.

Divisors and rounding

• Airline cargo: usually 6,000 (1 m³ = 166.67 kg).
• Express couriers: often 5,000, which makes light, bulky parcels more expensive.
• Road and LCL: use their own ratios, such as 1 m³ = 333 kg for road or 1,000 kg for sea W/M.

Rounding is normally up to the next half kilogram. Try it with our chargeable weight calculator.