Chargeable Weight Calculator — Air, Ocean LCL, and Courier
Answer: Chargeable weight = max(actual weight, volumetric weight). Volumetric weight = (L × W × H in cm) ÷ divisor, where IATA air uses 6000, courier uses 5000, and ocean LCL uses 1000 (CBM × 1000).
What is chargeable weight?
Carriers charge you on the higher of actual gross weight and volumetric weight. A box full of feathers takes up the same space as a box of bricks, so if carriers only billed actual weight, the feather box would be unprofitable. Volumetric weight fixes that by pricing space.
Formula:
chargeable weight (kg) = max(actual weight, volumetric weight)
volumetric weight (kg) = (L × W × H in cm × quantity) ÷ divisorHow the calculator works
Enter the packed outer length, width, height, carton quantity, actual gross weight, and shipping mode. The calculator converts dimensions to centimeters, calculates volumetric weight from the mode divisor, multiplies actual weight by quantity, then returns the higher number as chargeable weight.
Divisor by shipping mode
| Mode | Divisor | 1 kg of volume equals |
|---|---|---|
| Air freight (IATA) | 6000 | 6000 cm³ |
| Courier / express (DHL, FedEx, UPS international) | 5000 | 5000 cm³ |
| Ocean LCL | 1000 (CBM × 1000 kg/m³) | 1000 cm³ |
Always verify the divisor in your carrier’s current rate card — a carrier swapping 6000 → 5000 raises your chargeable weight by 20%.
Worked example
A light but bulky shipment: 1 carton, 60 × 40 × 50 cm, actual weight 8 kg.
- Volume: 60 × 40 × 50 = 120,000 cm³
- Air IATA volumetric: 120,000 ÷ 6000 = 20 kg
- Actual: 8 kg
- Chargeable = max(8, 20) = 20 kg (billed on volumetric)
Same carton, actual 30 kg:
- Volumetric: 20 kg
- Actual: 30 kg
- Chargeable = max(30, 20) = 30 kg (billed on actual)
When does volumetric win?
For air freight (divisor 6000), volumetric weight wins whenever density is below 167 kg/m³ (6000 cm³/kg ÷ 1 m³/kg × 1000). For courier (5000), the threshold is 200 kg/m³. For ocean LCL (1000), the threshold is 1000 kg/m³ — so only genuinely heavy cargo (above 1 tonne per cubic meter) is billed by actual weight on the sea.
Common FBA / Amazon seller mistakes
- Using inside dimensions. Always use outer carton dimensions including tape and protrusions.
- Ignoring the pallet. If your cartons ship on a pallet, the pallet footprint counts. A pallet that is 120 × 100 × 150 cm adds 1.8 CBM to your volumetric weight, regardless of what’s on it.
- Assuming the divisor is 6000. For international air express (FedEx IP, UPS Worldwide Express, DHL Express), the divisor is 5000. That is a 20% higher bill than IATA air on the same cargo.
FAQs
Is chargeable weight actual weight or volumetric weight? It is the higher of the two. Carriers compare actual gross weight with volumetric weight and bill whichever number protects the aircraft, truck, or warehouse capacity.
Which divisor should I use for air freight? Use 6000 cm³/kg for standard IATA air freight unless your forwarder quotes a different divisor. Use 5000 for most international express courier quotes.
Does ocean LCL use chargeable weight? Yes, but it is expressed as revenue tons. Ocean LCL commonly compares CBM with metric tons using 1 CBM = 1000 kg and charges the larger figure.
Should pallet height be included? Yes. If the cargo ships palletized, use the full pallet footprint and height from floor to top of load, not the carton stack alone.
Why did my invoice charge more weight than my supplier measured? The supplier may have reported actual weight only. If the cartons are bulky, the carrier’s dimensional scan can produce a higher volumetric weight.
Dated facts (as of May 2026)
- IATA air-freight dimensional weight still commonly uses a 6000 cm³/kg divisor for international general cargo.
- DHL, FedEx, UPS, and many cross-border ecommerce express services commonly use a 5000 cm³/kg divisor, creating a 20% higher volumetric weight than 6000 on the same box.
- Ocean LCL still uses 1 CBM = 1000 kg as the standard volume-to-weight comparison for most general cargo lanes.
Related calculators
Use the CBM calculator to total shipment volume before comparing weights, the volumetric weight calculator for air freight when you want a divisor-specific dimensional-weight check, and the sea freight chargeable weight calculator for the ocean LCL W/M version of the same problem.
After the calculation
Your chargeable weight is one input; the full cost still depends on route, fuel surcharge, origin/destination fees, and customs. Use the chargeable weight figure to compare quotes apples-to-apples.
Frequently asked questions
- What is chargeable weight?
- Chargeable weight is the higher of actual gross weight and volumetric (dimensional) weight. Carriers charge on whichever is larger so that light but bulky shipments pay for the space they occupy.
- What divisor should I use for air freight?
- IATA air freight uses 6000 — meaning 6000 cm³ of volume equals 1 kg of chargeable weight. Some express carriers use 5000 for international air-express shipments. Always confirm with your carrier; the divisor affects your quote directly.
- Is volumetric weight the same as chargeable weight?
- No. Volumetric weight is one input to chargeable weight. Chargeable weight is the larger of actual and volumetric. If your shipment is dense (high actual weight), chargeable = actual. If it is light and bulky, chargeable = volumetric.
- How does ocean LCL compare?
- Ocean LCL uses a different convention: 1 CBM equals 1000 kg. Carriers quote the higher of CBM × 1000 and actual weight in kg. A 0.5 CBM, 800 kg shipment is priced by weight (800 kg > 500 kg equivalent); a 2 CBM, 500 kg shipment is priced by volume.
- What divisor do FedEx, UPS, and DHL use?
- All three use 5000 for international express as of 2026 (dimensions in cm). For US domestic, UPS and FedEx use 139 cubic inches per pound, which is functionally similar. Always verify with the carrier’s current rate card.
- Do I use inside or outside carton dimensions?
- Outside (outer) dimensions, including any protruding edges or handles. The carrier measures what they actually stack on the pallet, not the product inside.