Chargeable weight calculator
Enter each piece in centimetres and kilograms. The calculator compares actual and volumetric weight and gives the weight your carrier will bill, rounded the way air waybills are.
How to calculate chargeable weight
Air freight chargeable weight is the greater of the actual gross weight and the volumetric weight. Volumetric weight uses the IATA divisor of 6000.
chargeable kg = max(actual kg, volumetric kg), rounded up to 0.5
Worked example: 2 pallets, Zurich to New York
Each pallet is 120 × 80 × 100 cm and weighs 150 kg.
| Step | Calculation | Result |
|---|---|---|
| Volume | 120 × 80 × 100 × 2 | 1,920,000 cm³ (1.92 cbm) |
| Volumetric weight | 1,920,000 ÷ 6000 | 320.0 kg |
| Actual weight | 150 × 2 | 300.0 kg |
| Chargeable weight | max(300, 320) | 320.0 kg |
The volume drives the charge, so the airline bills 320 kg, 20 kg more than the scale shows. At a rate of USD 3.60 per kg that is USD 72 you need to put in the quote.
Air, express and LCL compared
| Mode | Rule | Rounding |
|---|---|---|
| Air cargo | max(total actual, total L×W×H ÷ 6000) | up to 0.5 kg |
| Express / courier | per piece max(kg, L×W×H ÷ 5000), × pieces | each piece up to 0.5 kg |
| LCL sea | max(cbm, metric tons), minimum 1 W/M | up to 0.01 W/M |
Express networks publish their own divisors and rounding rules, so check the carrier tariff before you confirm a courier price.
Turn this weight into a quote your client can accept.
QUAY, the Android app behind this calculator, prices each cost per kg of chargeable weight, adds your margin or markup and sends a PDF quote with your letterhead. Buy cost and margin never appear on the client PDF.
What is chargeable weight in air freight?
The weight the airline bills: the greater of the actual gross weight and the volumetric weight, which is L × W × H in cm divided by 6000.
Why is the divisor 6000?
IATA uses 6000 cm³ per kg (about 167 kg per cbm) as the standard density for air cargo. Express companies often use 5000, so bulky parcels bill heavier.
Do I round up or to the nearest half kilo?
Air cargo rounds up to the next 0.5 kg: 45.1 kg becomes 45.5 kg, and 45.0 kg stays 45.0 kg.
How is LCL charged?
Per W/M, the greater of cubic metres and metric tons, with a usual minimum of 1 W/M. 0.6 cbm weighing 400 kg is charged as 1 W/M.