Air Freight Chargeable Weight: Gross vs Volumetric Weight
Air freight pricing must account for both aircraft payload and limited cargo volume. Chargeable weight is the mechanism that compares those two constraints.
Learn how air-cargo chargeable weight is calculated, why 6,000 and 5,000 divisors differ and how density affects the result.
Volumetric weight
For a 6,000 cm³/kg rule, multiply package length, width and height in centimeters, multiply by quantity and divide by 6,000. The result is the shipment's volumetric kilograms.
Chargeable basis
Compare total gross weight with total volumetric weight. The higher figure is the standard chargeable basis before service-specific rounding, minimums and fees.
6,000 vs 5,000
A smaller divisor creates a higher volumetric weight for the same box. A 6,000 divisor corresponds to about 166.7 kg/m³ break-even density; a 5,000 divisor corresponds to 200 kg/m³.
Verify the quotation rule
Airlines, express carriers and forwarders may apply different factors, rounding increments or piece-level rules. Use the divisor in the tariff or quote that will actually govern the shipment.
Reviewed September 29, 2026 Carrier-sensitive claims are cross-checked against the source library.
Run the calculation
Compare actual gross weight with air-freight volumetric weight using the common 6,000 cm³/kg rule or a custom divisor.