Air freight chargeable weight explained
Air freight is priced per kilogram, but not always per kilogram of actual weight. Airlines charge the higher of the actual weight and the volumetric weight, and that higher figure is the chargeable weight.
Volumetric weight
The 6,000 divisor is the IATA standard for air cargo. It means one cubic meter counts as 166.67 kg. Express couriers often use 5,000, so one cubic meter counts as 200 kg.
Example 1: light, bulky goods
Ten cartons of 60 × 40 × 40 cm, each weighing 8 kg.
- Volume: 60 × 40 × 40 = 96,000 cm³ per carton, 960,000 cm³ total.
- Volumetric weight: 960,000 ÷ 6,000 = 160 kg.
- Actual weight: 80 kg.
- Chargeable weight: 160 kg.
Example 2: dense goods
Four cartons of 40 × 30 × 30 cm, each weighing 25 kg. Volumetric weight is 144,000 ÷ 6,000 = 24 kg; actual weight is 100 kg. Chargeable weight is 100 kg.
Rounding
Chargeable weight is usually rounded up to the next half kilogram. Dimensions are typically rounded to the nearest whole centimeter. Always measure the outside of the cartons or pallets as tendered.
Why it matters
Most consumer goods are lighter than 166 kg per cubic meter, so they ship on volume. That makes packaging size directly visible in freight costs: a carton 10% too big costs 10% more to fly.
How to reduce chargeable weight
- Right-size cartons. Remove empty space and oversized inner packaging.
- Consolidate. A few large cartons are often more space-efficient than many small ones with gaps.
- Ship flat. Knock-down or nesting products pack far denser.
- Compare with sea freight. For bulky, non-urgent goods, the difference is dramatic.