Chargeable weight is a term used in air freight to determine the weight used for calculating the shipping cost of a shipment. It is calculated as the higher of either the actual weight or the volumetric weight of a shipment. Volumetric weight is calculated as the volume (length x width x height) of a shipment divided by a volumetric weight factor, which is determined by the airline.

Why chargeable weight in freight?

The use of chargeable weight in freight ensures that both the shipper and the carrier are treated fairly. It ensures that the shipper pays a fair price for the shipment, and that the carrier can cover the costs associated with the shipment and maximize their available space, even if its actual weight is lower.

Calculation of chargeable weight in freight

to determine the freight cost. The formula for calculating the volumetric weight is length x width x height (cm) / 6000 or length x width x height (m) / 0.006. This is done to ensure that carriers are fairly compensated for the space that the cargo takes up on the vessel, even if the actual weight of the cargo is low. This ensures that shippers are not able to take advantage of low actual weight by shipping large volumes at a low cost. It also ensures that carriers are able to make the most efficient use of the available space on their vessels.

e.g.

Actual weight: 250 kg |Volumetric calculation: 1.20 m x 0.80 m x 2.40 m = 2,304 m³ / 0.006 = 384 kg |Chargeable Weight: Actual Weight < Volumetric Weight then Chargeable Weight = Volumetric Weight (384 kg) 

e.g.

Actual weight: 500 kg |Volumetric calculation: 1.20 m x 0.80 m x 2.40 m = 2,304 m³ / 0.006 = 384 kg |Chargeable Weight: Actual weight > Volumetric Weight then Chargeable Weight = Actual Weight. (500 kg)