How to calculate chargeable weight for air freight shipments

Chargeable weight calculation for air freight shipments

Based on the fact that the amount of cargo that can be loaded on an aircraft, is limited by weight and volume

Heavy and small loads (also called: “high density cargo”) will tend to reach the weight limitation of the aircraft before the volume limitation is attained.

Light and bulky loads (also called: “low density cargo”) will reach the volume limitation of the aircraft before the weight limitation is attained.

Therefore, International Air Transport Association (IATA) issue regulations on how to calculate an item’s chargeable weight. For high density cargo, chargeable weight is gross weight; for low density cargo, chargeable weight is volume weight.

Details are as below:

High density cargo:

Hight density cargo is cargo which weights more than 1kg per 6000 cm3 or per 366 cu.in or more than 1 pound per 166 cu.in.

 For high density cargo, chargeable weight is gross weight

The gross weight (also referred to as actual gross weight) is the weight of the shipment including packaging.

Dealing with Fractions:

For gross weight in kilograms

The fraction above a half kilogram (0.51 to 0.99 kg) is rounded up the next higher full kg

If the fraction is exactly 0.5 kg, it is not rounded-off

A smaller fraction (0.1 to 0.4 kg) is rounded up to the next half kg (0.5 kg)

For gross weight in pounds

Fractions of a pound is rounded up to the next higher full lb

Low density cargo

Low density cargo is cargo that weights less than 1kg per 6000 cm3 or per 366 cu.in or less than 1 pound per 166 cu.in.

 For low density cargo, chargeable weight is volume weight

Volume weight is determined as below:

Measure the piece along its greatest length, greatest width and greatest height regardless of its geometric shape.

Round off dimensions:

Centimeter (cm)

0.5 to 0.9 cm is rounded up to the next higher whole centimeter

0.1 to 0.4 cm is rounded down to the next lower whole centimeter

Inch (in.)

From 1/2 up (1/2, 5/8, 3/4, 7/8 in.) is rounded up to the next higher whole inch.

A smaller fraction (1/8, 1/4, 3/8 in.) is rounded down to the next lower whole inch.

So , answer the question :How to calculate chargeable weight for air freight shipments

The Chargeable Weight of Air Freight shipments are calculated as the Gross Weight) or the Volume Weight of the shipment, whichever is the greater. 

For air cargo shipments:

Volume weight = Volume : 6000

(unit: Cm³)

or in simple way: 1 CBM have volume weght 166,67 kg

For express shipment:

Express firms (e.g Fedex, DHL…) normally calculate volume weight as below

Volume weight = Volume : 5000

(unit: Cm³)

or in simple way: 1 CBM have volume weght 200 kg

 Example on calculation chargeable weight for air shipments:

The item have volume 2 CBM, gross weight 300 kg

For cargo shipment:

-> volume weight: 2.000.000 : 6000 = 333.33 kg (or in quick caculation: 167 x 2 = 334 kg) > 300 kg -> chargeable weight is 333.33 kg

By express firms:

-> volume weight: 2 x 200 kg = 400 kg > 300 kg -> chargeable weight is: 400 kg

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