Chargeable Weight Explained
How air freight pricing works — dimensional weight vs actual weight explained. Understanding chargeable weight helps you estimate shipping costs accurately.
Chargeable weight is the weight used to calculate your shipping cost. Carriers charge based on whichever is higher: actual weight or dimensional weight (also called volumetric weight).
Formula:
Chargeable Weight = MAX(Actual Weight, Dimensional Weight)
This ensures carriers are compensated fairly whether your shipment is heavy or takes up a lot of space in the aircraft.
Actual Weight vs Dimensional Weight
The physical weight of your shipment as measured on a scale. This is straightforward — just weigh your package.
Example:
Package weighs 10 kg on scale
Calculated based on package dimensions. For air freight, the formula is:
Air Freight Formula:
(L × W × H) ÷ 5000
Dimensions in cm, result in kg
The divisor 5000 is the standard volumetric factor for air freight. It represents the space-to-weight ratio carriers use.
Calculation Examples
See how chargeable weight is determined in different scenarios
Actual Weight
5 kg
Dimensions
50cm × 40cm × 30cm
Dimensional Weight
12 kg
Chargeable Weight
12 kg
Dimensional weight is higher, so you pay for 12 kg
Actual Weight
25 kg
Dimensions
30cm × 25cm × 20cm
Dimensional Weight
3 kg
Chargeable Weight
25 kg
Actual weight is higher, so you pay for 25 kg
Actual Weight
10 kg
Dimensions
40cm × 35cm × 25cm
Dimensional Weight
7 kg
Chargeable Weight
10 kg
Actual weight is higher, so you pay for 10 kg
Accurate Cost Estimation
Knowing your chargeable weight helps you get accurate quotes and avoid surprises.
Optimize Packaging
Understanding dimensional weight encourages efficient packaging to reduce costs.
Fair Pricing
Ensures carriers charge appropriately for both weight and space usage.
Tips to Reduce Chargeable Weight
- •Use compact packaging: Minimize empty space inside boxes
- •Choose right-sized boxes: Don't use oversized containers for small items
- •Consolidate shipments: Combine multiple packages when possible
- •Calculate before shipping: Use our quote tool to estimate costs