Chargeable Weight

What Is Chargeable Weight?

Chargeable weight is the weight used to calculate air freight charges, calculated as the greater of a shipment's actual gross weight or its volumetric (dimensional) weight, whichever is higher.

How Is Chargeable Weight Calculated?

Volumetric weight is calculated by dividing a shipment's volume (length x width x height) by a standard volumetric factor set by the airline or IATA (commonly 6000 for air freight). If a shipment is large but light, like a box of pillows, its volumetric weight will exceed its actual weight, and the carrier charges based on the volumetric figure instead.

Why Chargeable Weight Matters

Shippers who only budget based on actual weight are often surprised by higher-than-expected air freight invoices for bulky, low-density cargo. Understanding and calculating chargeable weight in advance, and packing to minimize wasted volume, is one of the most direct ways to control air freight costs.