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Air Freight Chargeable Weight Calculator

Chargeable weight for an air cargo shipment at the IATA 6000 cm³ per kg, for any number of cartons, with express and sea alternatives.

Updated · By Niraj Kumar · 8 sources

Box

Measured inMeasured in
cm
cm
cm

Measure the packed box at its widest points, bulges included. UPS, FedEx and USPS round every fractional inch up.

kg

Parcels are rated box by box; freight on the whole shipment.

Compare

ServicesServices
Billable weight on Air cargo40 kgBilled on dim weight
Dimensional weight
40 kg
40 × 30 × 20 cm ÷ 6,000
Actual weight
30 kg
Rounded up to the billing step
Billed over actual weight
10 kg
33% more than the scale says
Rank
1st lightest of 3
Freight
Chargeable weight for this shipment, in kg, lightest firstHover or focus a row for the DIM and actual weight behind it. Services billed in the other unit are converted.
  1. 1Air freight (IATA)÷ 6,00040 kg
  2. 2Road freight (LTL / groupage)÷ 3,00080 kg
  3. 3Sea freight (LCL)÷ 1,0001,000 kg
Service by service, in each one's billing unit
ServiceDivisorDIM weightActualBillable, shipmentBilled on
Air freight (IATA)6,00040 kg30 kg40 kgDIM weight
Road freight (LTL / groupage)3,00080 kg30 kg80 kgDIM weight
Sea freight (LCL)1,000240 kg30 kg1,000 kgTariff minimum

How do carriers calculate dimensional weight?

Air cargo is charged on the greater of gross weight and volumetric weight, where volumetric weight is the shipment's total cubic centimetres divided by 6000, or 167 kg per cubic metre. Airlines round the result up to the next half kilogram and rate the whole shipment at once.

DIM weight = L × W × H ÷ divisor; billable = max(actual, DIM, surcharge minimum)

This page uses the same method as the Shipping DIM Weight Comparison Calculator, which explains each term and assumption in full.

Air freight (IATA) beside the alternatives: 10 cartons of 40 × 30 × 20 cm, 3 kg each
ServiceDivisorDIM weight, shipmentBilled at, shipment
Air freight (IATA)6,00040 kg40 kg
Road freight (LTL / groupage)3,00080 kg80 kg
Sea freight (LCL)1,000240 kg1,000 kg
DHL Express Worldwide5,00050 kg50 kg

Worked example

10 cartons of 40 × 30 × 20 cm, 3 kg each, shipped via Air freight (IATA).

  1. 1Sides as rated: 40 × 30 × 20 cm
  2. 2Volume: 24,000 cm³ × 10 cartons = 240,000 cm³
  3. 3DIM weight: 240,000 ÷ 6,000 = 40.00, rounded up to 40 kg
  4. 4Actual weight: 30 kg

Billed at 40 kg (DIM weight).

Frequently asked questions

How do I calculate chargeable weight for several cartons?

Add up the cartons' volume, divide by 6000 (in cm³) and compare with the shipment's total gross weight. Ten 40 × 30 × 20 cm cartons of 3 kg are 240,000 cm³, or 40 kg volumetric against 30 kg gross, so the shipment is charged 40 kg. Enter the carton count in the calculator to do this for you.

What density ratio do forwarders use?

1:6 for air (167 kg per m³), 1:3 for European road freight (333 kg per m³) and 1:1 for sea LCL (1,000 kg per m³). Cargo lighter than the ratio is charged by volume; denser cargo by weight.

What dimensional weight divisor does Air freight (IATA) use in 2026?

Air freight (IATA) divides cm³ by 6,000 and rounds up to the next 0.5 kg. The whole shipment is rated at once rather than box by box.

Sources

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