Volume and volumetric weight calculator
Enter the package dimensions and the tool works out the cubic metres and the chargeable weight. Everything is calculated in your own browser, and no data is sent anywhere.
| Length (cm) | Width (cm) | Height (cm) | Packages | Actual weight per package (kg) |
|---|
Examples: 1 m³ = 200 kg (divisor 5000), 1 m³ = 167 kg (divisor 6000, rounded), 1 m³ = 250 kg (divisor 4000).
Ask the carrier for this figure before you compare quotes. There is no common standard.
Enter at least one row to see the results.
What chargeable weight is
A bale of cotton wool and a case of bolts can both weigh a hundred kilograms while taking up completely different amounts of space on the vehicle. If carriers charged by weight alone they would lose money on light bulky cargo. So the industry uses chargeable weight: the higher of the actual weight and the weight converted from the volume.
Volumetric weight is worked out by dividing the volume of the package by a factor. That factor is exactly where the different figures come from.
Why every carrier uses a different factor
| Mode | Usual divisor | Chargeable weight per 1 m³ | How to use the tool |
|---|---|---|---|
| International express courier | Divide by 5000 | 200 kg | Leave the conversion ratio box empty and use the result labelled "Volumetric weight, standard (divide by 5000)" |
| Air cargo (shipped on an air waybill) | Divide by 6000 | 167 kg (rounded) | Enter 167 in the conversion ratio box |
| Ocean freight, LCL | W/M basis, 1 m³ counted as 1 tonne | 1,000 kg | Enter 1000 in the conversion ratio box |
| Road freight | Agreed with the carrier | As stated in the carrier's quote | Enter the kilograms per cubic metre shown in the quote |
The tool uses a divisor of 5000 as its default because this is the figure international express carriers such as DHL Express usually apply. Air cargo under the TACT rating rules of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) uses a divisor of 6000, so each cubic metre produces 33 kg less chargeable weight than under the express divisor. The divisors in the table are market practice, not legal requirements. The same carrier may apply different divisors to contract customers and ad hoc customers, or to goods with different handling characteristics. When comparing prices, use the figure stated in that carrier's own rate sheet or quote. For general cargo moved by road on the China, Vietnam, Cambodia route that I handle, I currently apply 1 m³ = 200 kg, which matches a divisor of 5000.
Building in a default conversion ratio for road and sea would suggest that the number is a standard, when in reality it is a negotiated term. When comparing carriers, the first thing to ask is not the rate but the conversion ratio they apply. A low rate with an unfavourable conversion ratio can work out more expensive.
Three common mistakes when measuring a package
- Measuring the goods instead of the package once it is packed. The carrier measures the space actually taken up, including the pallet and the dunnage.
- Ignoring anything that sticks out. If a package has a handle or a foot protruding, the chargeable dimensions are taken to the outermost point.
- Merging several packages into one block. Where a shipment has packages of different sizes, calculate each type and add them up. Do not take an average.