Freight glossary
Chargeable weight
The greater of a shipment's actual weight and its volumetric (dimensional) weight — what carriers actually bill.
Carriers charge by whichever is greater: how much a shipment weighs, or how much space it takes up. Volumetric weight converts volume into a weight using a divisor — for air freight, roughly 167 kg per cubic metre (6000 cm³/kg).
Light but bulky cargo (pillows, lampshades) is billed on volumetric weight; dense cargo (machine parts) on actual weight. Knowing which applies lets you pack smarter and predict the real cost.
Why it matters
A quote based only on actual weight can be far off for bulky goods. Chargeable weight is why the same 10 kg can cost very different amounts.
Example
A 0.5 m³ box weighing 10 kg has a volumetric weight of ~83 kg by air — you're billed on 83 kg, not 10.
Related terms
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