What is chargeable weight in shipping?

Chargeable weight is the weight a carrier uses to calculate your freight charge. It is always the higher of actual (gross) weight and volumetric (dimensional) weight. For air freight, volumetric weight is calculated as (L × W × H cm) ÷ 5,000. For sea LCL, it is the higher of actual weight (kg) or CBM × 1,000 kg.

How do I calculate volumetric weight for air freight?

Multiply the length, width, and height of your parcel in centimeters, then divide by 5,000. For example, a box of 60 × 40 × 30 cm has a volume of 72,000 cm³. Divide by 5,000 to get 14.4 kg volumetric weight. If your actual weight is less than 14.4 kg, you will be charged 14.4 kg.

What is the 5000 divisor in air freight?

The 5,000 divisor (also written as 1:5000 or 200 kg/CBM) is the IATA standard conversion factor used to calculate volumetric weight for air freight. Dividing a shipment's cubic centimeters by 5,000 converts volume into a weight equivalent. Some express couriers use 6,000 — check with your carrier.

What is a W/M ton in sea freight?

W/M stands for Weight or Measurement. One W/M ton (revenue ton) is whichever is greater: 1 metric ton (1,000 kg) or 1 cubic meter (1 CBM). LCL carriers charge per W/M ton, meaning you pay on weight if cargo is dense, or on volume if cargo is light and bulky.

When is volumetric weight higher than actual weight?

Volumetric weight exceeds actual weight when cargo density is below the pivot density — 200 kg/m³ for air freight (divisor 5,000) or 1,000 kg/m³ for sea LCL. Light, bulky items like furniture, foam, packaging materials, and empty containers typically have lower density and are charged on volumetric weight.

How do I know if I should use air or sea for my shipment?

Consider transit time, cost, and cargo type. Air freight is faster (3–7 days) but typically costs 5–10× more per kg than sea. Sea LCL suits shipments under 15 CBM with 3–6 week transit tolerance. Use our calculators to compare chargeable weight costs for both modes before booking.

Can I reduce my air freight chargeable weight?

Yes. The most effective way is to reduce packaging volume: use right-sized boxes, disassemble products, vacuum-compress soft goods, and remove unnecessary void fill. If your cargo is very dense (over 200 kg/m³), you already pay on actual weight and packaging optimization won't reduce costs — focus on route or carrier negotiations instead.

What is the difference between chargeable weight and gross weight?

Gross weight is the actual physical weight of your shipment including packaging. Chargeable weight is the higher of gross weight and volumetric weight. For dense cargo, chargeable weight equals gross weight. For light, bulky cargo, chargeable weight exceeds gross weight because the carrier charges for the space occupied.

Chargeable Weight Calculator

Find out whether your air or sea shipment is charged on actual weight or volumetric weight — instantly

Volumetric weight = (L × W × H cm) ÷ 5000

Item Length Width Height Unit Qty Weight (kg) Vol. Weight

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Unit

Qty

Weight (kg)

Vol. weight: —

Enter item dimensions and weight above to calculate

Explainer

What is chargeable weight?

Chargeable weight is the weight that a carrier uses to calculate your freight cost. It is the higher of actual weight and volumetric (dimensional) weight. Carriers apply this rule because low-density cargo — like foam furniture or empty bottles — takes up valuable space without weighing much. By charging on volumetric weight when it is higher, carriers recover the cost of the space your cargo occupies.

Air Freight — Volumetric Weight

Airlines divide the cubic centimeters of your shipment by 5000 to get volumetric weight in kilograms. This divisor (5000) is the IATA standard used by most airlines and air freight forwarders. Some couriers use 6000 — always confirm with your carrier.

Formula

Volumetric Weight (kg) = (Length cm × Width cm × Height cm) ÷ 5000

Sea LCL — W/M Ton

For LCL (Less than Container Load) sea freight, carriers charge per W/M ton — the higher of 1 tonne (1,000 kg) or 1 CBM. In practice, this means your chargeable weight is the higher of actual weight or CBM × 1,000 kg. Dense cargo charges on weight; light, bulky cargo charges on volume.

Formula

Chargeable Weight (kg) = max(Actual kg, CBM × 1000)

Why 5,000?

The 5,000 divisor is the IATA standard for air cargo. It means 1 CBM = 200 kg chargeable weight. Some express couriers use 6,000 (1 CBM = 167 kg). Always verify with your carrier which divisor applies to your shipment.

Comparison

Air vs Sea LCL — chargeable weight rules

Understanding how each mode calculates chargeable weight helps you choose the right carrier and packaging strategy

Feature	Air Freight	Sea LCL
Volumetric divisor	÷ 5,000 (IATA standard)	CBM × 1,000 kg
1 CBM equals	200 kg chargeable	1,000 kg chargeable
Charge basis	Higher of actual vs volumetric kg	Higher of actual kg vs CBM × 1,000
High-density cargo	Charged on actual weight	Charged on actual weight
Low-density cargo	Charged on volumetric weight	Charged on CBM × 1,000 kg
Rate unit	Per kg (chargeable)	Per W/M ton (revenue ton)

These are standard industry rules. Individual carriers and forwarders may apply different divisors or minimum charges — always confirm with your carrier.

Cost Reduction

How to reduce your chargeable weight

Small packaging improvements can significantly lower volumetric weight and cut freight costs

Right-size your packaging

Oversized boxes inflate volumetric weight. Use the smallest box that safely fits your product. Eliminate filler air space where possible.

Use flat-pack or disassembled shipping

Furniture, frames, and modular goods shipped disassembled can cut volumetric weight by 40–60% compared to assembled units.

Consolidate shipments

Combining multiple small shipments into one reduces per-unit overhead and can shift the cargo from LCL to FCL pricing when volumes grow.

Use vacuum packaging

Textiles, soft goods, and foam products can be vacuum-compressed before shipping, dramatically reducing height — and therefore CBM.

Check the density crossover

For air, if your cargo density exceeds 200 kg/m³ you pay on actual weight. Dense products like metal parts naturally pay actual weight — focus packaging effort on light, bulky items.

Negotiate your divisor

High-volume shippers can sometimes negotiate a higher divisor (e.g. 6,000 instead of 5,000) with their airline or forwarder, reducing volumetric weight by up to 17%.

Chargeable Weight — Frequently Asked Questions

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