Actual vs volumetric weight
Carriers compare two numbers and charge you for the larger one:
- Actual (gross) weight — what the cargo physically weighs.
- Volumetric (dimensional) weight — a weight derived from the space the cargo occupies.
Light, bulky cargo (like cushions) is charged on volume; dense, heavy cargo (like machine parts) on actual weight.
The air freight formula
For air freight, volumetric weight in kilograms is:
(Length × Width × Height in cm) ÷ 6000
Example: a carton 100 × 80 × 60 cm = 480,000 ÷ 6000 = 80 kg volumetric. If it actually weighs 50 kg, you're charged for 80 kg.
The sea LCL formula
LCL sea freight uses a different basis — the greater of the cargo's volume in cubic metres (CBM) or its weight in tonnes, where 1 CBM is treated as 1,000 kg. So 2 CBM weighing 800 kg is billed as 2 'revenue tons', not 0.8.
Why it matters for your quote
Knowing your chargeable weight before you ask for a quote means you can compare carriers like-for-like and spot whether re-packing into smaller cartons could save money. Our discovery form captures dimensions per item so we calculate this for you automatically.
Need help applying this to a real shipment? Share your details and we'll engineer a route and source the best rate — usually within 4 hours. Start a shipment →