Calculating Chargeable Weight for Air, Sea and Road Freight
When shipping goods internationally, one of the most important factors that affects freight cost is Chargeable Weight. Many importers and exporters often assume that shipping cost is calculated based only on the actual weight of the cargo. However, in logistics and freight forwarding, carriers may calculate freight charges based on either the actual weight or the volume of the shipment.
Understanding how to calculate Chargeable Weight can help businesses estimate freight costs more accurately, improve packaging efficiency, and reduce unnecessary logistics expenses.
What is Chargeable Weight?
- Chargeable Weight is the weight used by airlines, shipping lines, trucking companies, and freight forwarders to calculate freight charges.
In general, Chargeable Weight is determined by comparing:
- Gross Weight – the actual physical weight of the cargo, including packaging, cartons, pallets, and other materials.
- Volumetric Weight – the weight calculated from the space that the cargo occupies
The higher value between Gross Weight and Volumetric Weight is usually used as the Chargeable Weight.
Calculating the Volumetric Weight of Your Shipment
Air Freight:
Airlines usually compare Gross Weight and Volumetric Weight, then use the higher value as the Chargeable Weight.
- The formula: ( ( L x W x H, in centimetres ) / 6,000 ) x number of packages
Example: ( 120 x 80 x 50 ) / 6,000 ) x 2 = our shipment has a volumetric weight of 160kg.
Ocean Freight:
For sea freight, especially LCL shipments, freight charges are usually calculated based on CBM (Cubic Meter).
CBM measures the volume of cargo in cubic meters.
- The formula: ( ( L x W x H, in centimetres ) / 1,000,000 ) x number of packages
Example: ( 120 x 80 x 50 ) / 1,000,000 ) x 2 = our shipment has a volumetric weight of 0.96 cbm. - This is valid for a less-than-container-load (LCL) shipment; for a full-container-load (FCL) shipment, a per-container charge replaces the volume-based charge.
Road freight
For road freight, the calculation method may vary depending on the country, route, carrier, and type of service. it is always recommended to check with your freight forwarder before confirming the shipment.
Need Help Calculating Chargeable Weight?
Eagles Air & Sea (Thailand) Co., Ltd. provides professional freight forwarding and logistics solutions for air freight, sea freight, road freight, customs clearance, warehousing, and door-to-door delivery.
Our experienced logistics team can help you calculate Chargeable Weight, compare transport options, optimize packaging, and plan the most cost-effective shipping solution for your business.
Eagles Air & Sea (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
Logistics by Eagles
Website: www.eaglesthai.com
Tel: +66 (0) 2790 4599
Email: sales@eaglesthai.com
Line: @eaglesthai
