Chargeable Weight & CBM Calculator
Work out the chargeable weight of a shipment across air (÷6000), express (÷5000) and ocean (weight or volume) so you know what you are actually billed for before you request a quote. Air networks divide by 6,000 (1 CBM is about 166.7 kg) and courier networks by 5,000, so the same carton can be billed at two different weights depending on how it flies.
Enter the pieces, dimensions and gross weight to see the volumetric weight per mode, which figure the carrier will bill, and whether the cargo is better priced as LCL or FCL.
Your cargo
Measure one carton or one pallet, then tell us how many identical pieces there are. All dimensions in centimetres, all weights in kilograms.
Chargeable weight
Enter your cargo dimensions to calculate.
| Mode | Volumetric | Actual | Chargeable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air freight ÷ 6,000 | — | — | — |
| Express courier ÷ 5,000 | — | — | — |
| Ocean LCL W/M | — | — | — |
Send these figures with your enquiry and the quotation is calculated on the weight the carrier will actually bill.
Request a quotation for this cargoHow the calculation works
Volume of one piece in CBM is length × width × height in centimetres divided by 1,000,000. Total CBM is that figure multiplied by the number of identical pieces. Air freight turns that volume into a weight by dividing the cubic centimetres by 6,000 — which is why 1 CBM is about 166.7 kg. Courier networks commonly divide by 5,000, which makes 1 CBM 200 kg. Ocean LCL does not use a divisor at all: it bills on W/M, the greater of the total weight in tonnes and the total volume in cubic metres.
Chargeable weight for each mode is then the greater of the actual gross weight and that mode's volumetric weight. A dense shipment — machinery, tiles, liquids — is billed on its actual weight in every mode. A light, bulky shipment is billed on volume, and the courier figure will be the highest of the three because its divisor is the smallest.
How do you get the measurement right?
Measure the piece as it will travel, not as it came off the production line. Add the height of the pallet, include any overhang, and allow for the thickness that repacking or reinforcement adds. On air and courier shipments a few centimetres on each side can move the chargeable weight by a kilogram or more, and the difference is billed.
LCL or FCL: which one bills less?
As a working guide, below roughly 10 CBM LCL usually costs less because you pay only for the space you use. Between about 10 and 15 CBM it is a genuine comparison and worth quoting both ways. Above roughly 15 CBM a full container is usually cheaper — and once the cargo is dense enough to weigh out a container before it fills it, the comparison changes again. Send the packing list and we will quote both.
Why does this matter before you ask for a price?
Two forwarders quoting the same lane can differ simply because one priced the actual weight and the other the volumetric weight. Knowing the billable figure before you ask means you compare quotations on the same basis — and it is the single most common source of a surprise invoice.
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Back to tools →Questions about this tool
The same questions the page answers for answer engines, shown here so you can read them.
What is chargeable weight?
Chargeable weight is the figure a carrier bills on. It is the greater of the actual gross weight and the volumetric weight, so a light but bulky shipment is billed on the space it occupies rather than the kilograms it weighs.
Why do air and courier use different divisors?
Air freight divides the cubic centimetres by 6,000, which makes 1 CBM about 166.7 kg. Courier networks commonly divide by 5,000, which makes 1 CBM 200 kg. The lower divisor means the same carton carries a higher volumetric weight on a courier service.
When does ocean LCL stop making sense?
Below roughly 10 CBM, LCL usually costs less because you only pay for the space you use. Between about 10 and 15 CBM it is a genuine comparison, and above roughly 15 CBM a full container is usually cheaper.
Does this calculator give me a shipping price?
No. It works out the weight and volume a carrier will bill on, which is what a price is calculated from. The rate depends on the lane, the sailing, the equipment and the season, and comes from a quotation.