Volumetric Weight Calculator

Volumetric weight (sometimes called dimensional weight) is a pricing technique that reflects how much space a shipment occupies, rather than how much it actually weighs. Carriers calculate it from the length, width and height of the shipment using a fixed divisor.

Multiply the length, width and height of the shipment in centimetres, then divide by the volumetric divisor for your freight mode — 6,000 for air freight, 5,000 for courier and 1,000 for ocean LCL (which gives the answer in kilograms per CBM).

Chargeable weight is whichever is greater — the actual (gross) weight of your shipment or its volumetric weight. Freight carriers always bill on the higher of the two figures, so the volumetric weight calculator helps you predict your invoice before booking.

A pallet of feathers and a pallet of bricks take up the same space on an aircraft, but only one is heavy. Volumetric weight ensures light, bulky cargo pays its fair share of the capacity it consumes — otherwise carriers would lose money on every low-density shipment.

No. Full container loads (FCL) are priced per container, not per kilogram, so volumetric weight does not apply. It only affects air freight, courier and less-than-container-load (LCL) ocean freight.

Use 6,000 cm³/kg for standard international air freight, 5,000 cm³/kg for courier or express, and 1,000 for ocean LCL (treating 1 CBM as 1,000 kg). Some integrators apply their own divisor — always check with your carrier if unsure.