Chargeable weight calculator
This chargeable weight calculator works out what an air carrier bills: the actual weight or the volumetric weight, whichever is greater. It uses the IATA standard divisor of 6,000 cm³ per kg, which you can change to 5,000 or any figure your carrier uses.
- Several piece sizes, each with a quantity
- Centimeters and kilograms, or inches and pounds
- Editable divisor: 6,000 IATA standard, or your carrier’s
Last updated
How to use the chargeable weight calculator
- Choose centimeters and kilograms, or inches and pounds.
- Leave the divisor at 6,000 for standard air cargo, or change it to the figure your carrier uses, such as 5,000.
- Enter the outside size and actual weight of one piece, and how many identical pieces there are. Add a row for each size.
- Read the chargeable weight: the greater of the total actual weight and the total volumetric weight.
How chargeable weight is worked out
Air carriers bill light, bulky cargo by the space it takes. The volume is turned into a volumetric (dimensional) weight, and the carrier charges whichever is higher: that or the actual weight.
volumetric weight (kg) = length × width × height (cm) ÷ 6,000
chargeable weight = the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight
The 6,000 divisor is the IATA standard for air cargo; it treats 1 cubic meter as 166.7 kg. Some carriers divide by 5,000 instead, which makes the same box 20% heavier on paper. In inches and pounds, 6,000 cm³/kg works out to 166 cubic inches per pound.
Worked example
One box of 100 × 60 × 30 cm weighing 50 kg, and one crate of 120 × 80 × 100 cm weighing 90 kg.
- Box: 100 × 60 × 30 = 180,000 cm³ ÷ 6,000 = 30 kg volumetric. Its actual weight, 50 kg, is higher.
- Crate: 120 × 80 × 100 = 960,000 cm³ ÷ 6,000 = 160 kg volumetric, against 90 kg actual.
- Totals: actual 50 + 90 = 140 kg; volumetric 30 + 160 = 190 kg.
The chargeable weight is 190 kg, the volumetric total. At a 5,000 divisor the volumetric total would be 228 kg.
Common volumetric divisors
| Divisor | Used for | kg per m³ | in³ per lb |
|---|---|---|---|
| 6,000 cm³/kg | IATA standard for air cargo | 166.7 | 166 |
| 5,000 cm³/kg | Some carriers; check your rate sheet | 200 | 138 |
Your carrier's divisor and rounding rule are in its rate sheet or terms of carriage. Carriers may also round the chargeable weight up to their billing step, so the billed figure can be a little above the one shown here. Last checked 28 October 2026.
Per piece or per shipment?
This calculator totals the actual weights and the volumetric weights for the whole shipment and charges the greater total. Some carriers compare each piece instead, so ask yours if you are unsure. The per-row figures help you see which piece drives the bill: in the example, the crate alone is 160 kg volumetric, far above its 90 kg actual weight.
Common questions
How do I calculate chargeable weight for air freight?
Multiply length × width × height in centimeters and divide by 6,000 to get volumetric weight in kg. Compare it with the actual weight; the greater one is the chargeable weight. A 100 × 60 × 30 cm box at 50 kg is 30 kg volumetric, so it is charged at 50 kg.
Why is volumetric weight divided by 5,000 or 6,000?
The divisor sets how many cubic centimeters count as one kilogram. IATA’s standard for air cargo is 6,000; some carriers use 5,000, which charges bulky parcels 20% more.
How do I calculate chargeable weight in inches?
Multiply length × width × height in inches and divide by 166 to get volumetric pounds at the 6,000 cm³/kg standard. A 24 × 18 × 12 in box is 5,184 ÷ 166 = 31.2 lb volumetric.
What is the difference between chargeable weight and gross weight?
Gross weight is what the shipment weighs on a scale, packaging included. Chargeable weight is what you pay for: the gross weight or the volumetric weight, whichever is higher.
How many kg is 1 CBM in air freight?
At the IATA 6,000 divisor, 1 cubic meter counts as 166.7 kg (1,000,000 ÷ 6,000). At 5,000 it counts as 200 kg.
Related calculators
Sources
- Maersk: Air cargo chargeable weight explained. Volumetric weight = L × W × H (cm) ÷ 6,000, the IATA standard divisor; some carriers use 5,000. Last checked 28 October 2026.
- NIST Guide to the SI, Appendix B.9 (conversion factors). 1 in = 2.54 cm exactly; 1 lb = 0.4535924 kg; 1 cu ft = 0.02831685 m³.
See the methodology page for how LTL Math builds and checks its calculators.