Airlines bill freight based on the higher of physical actual weight or volumetric dimensional weight. Use this free tool to calculate your chargeable weight for air freight and express courier shipments from India.
Cargo Dimensions & Weight
Enter your carton sizes to calculate the IATA chargeable weight for your air shipment.
Carton Description
Length (cm)
Width (cm)
Height (cm)
Qty
Act. Wt (kg)
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Chargeable Weight Analysis
Below is the live weight comparison showing the IATA chargeable weight parameter for your shipment.
Chargeable Weight
0.00 KGS
Actual Physical Weight
0.00 KGS
Volumetric Weight
0.00 KGS
Chargeable Weight Rule
Under standard IATA rules, the air freight bill is always assessed on the larger value between the Actual Weight and the Volumetric Weight.
If your volumetric weight exceeds the physical weight, your cargo is considered "light or high-volume", and the dimensional weight is used to calculate your rate.
What is Volumetric Weight in Air Freight?
Volumetric weight (also called dimensional or DIM weight) is a calculated weight based on the volume of your cargo. Airlines use it to ensure that bulky but light cargo is billed fairly. When shipping from India by air, freight forwarders and airlines compare your actual physical weight against the volumetric weight and charge on the higher value.
Volumetric Weight Formula
The standard IATA formula for calculating volumetric weight is:
Volumetric Weight (kg) = (Length cm × Width cm × Height cm) ÷ Divisor × Quantity
The divisor depends on the shipping service:
6000 (1:6000): Standard air cargo and freight forwarding
5000 (1:5000): Express courier services like DHL and FedEx
Our calculator lets you switch between both divisors instantly so you can compare rates across service providers.
How to Calculate Chargeable Weight
Follow these steps to determine the chargeable weight of your air shipment:
Measure your carton: Measure the length, width and height of one carton in centimetres.
Calculate volumetric weight: Multiply L x W x H and divide by the divisor (6000 or 5000), then multiply by quantity.
Calculate actual weight: Multiply the actual weight of one carton by the total quantity.
Compare: The chargeable weight is the higher of the volumetric weight and the actual physical weight.
Volumetric Weight Example
For example, a carton measuring 60 cm x 40 cm x 30 cm with an actual weight of 5 kg:
Volumetric weight = (60 x 40 x 30) / 6000 = 12 kg
Actual weight = 5 kg
Chargeable weight = 12 kg (higher of the two)
This means the airline will bill you for 12 kg, not 5 kg, because your cargo occupies more space than its physical weight suggests.
Indian Air Cargo Hubs
This tool supports shipments from all major Indian airports including:
Delhi: Indira Gandhi International Airport (DEL)
Mumbai: Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (BOM)
Bengaluru: Kempegowda International Airport (BLR)
Chennai: Chennai International Airport (MAA)
Hyderabad: Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (HYD)
Kolkata: Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport (CCU)
Ahmedabad: Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (AMD)
Use the enquiry form above to receive route-specific air freight quotes from our trade desk.
Related Services & Tools for Indian Exporters
Streamline your export documentation with our comprehensive services and tools.
Volumetric weight (also called dimensional or DIM weight) is a calculated weight based on the volume of your cargo. Airlines use it to ensure that bulky but light cargo is billed fairly. It is calculated as (Length x Width x Height in centimetres) divided by a divisor, multiplied by the quantity.
What is the IATA volumetric weight formula?
The standard formula is: Volumetric Weight (kg) = (Length cm x Width cm x Height cm) / Divisor x Quantity. The divisor is 6000 for standard air cargo and 5000 for express courier services like DHL and FedEx.
What is the difference between actual weight and volumetric weight?
Actual weight is the physical weight of your cargo measured on a scale. Volumetric weight is a calculated weight based on the space your cargo occupies. Airlines charge on the higher of the two values, known as the chargeable weight.
When is volumetric weight charged in air freight?
Volumetric weight is charged when it exceeds the actual physical weight of your shipment. This typically happens with light but bulky cargo like garments, plastic products, packaging materials, and footwear. The airline always bills on the chargeable weight, which is the higher value.
What is the divisor for DHL and FedEx volumetric weight?
DHL and FedEx express courier services use a divisor of 5000 (1:5000). This means lighter cargo can be charged as heavier because the lower divisor results in a higher volumetric weight. Standard air cargo and freight forwarders use a divisor of 6000.
How do I calculate volumetric weight for multiple cartons?
Calculate the volumetric weight of one carton using the formula, then multiply by the total number of cartons. For example, a carton measuring 60x40x30 cm with a divisor of 6000 has a volumetric weight of 12 kg per carton. For 50 cartons, the total volumetric weight is 600 kg.
What is chargeable weight in air freight?
Chargeable weight is the weight used for billing in air freight. It is always the higher of the actual physical weight and the volumetric (dimensional) weight. This ensures that both dense heavy cargo and bulky light cargo are billed fairly.
Do I need to calculate volumetric weight for LCL shipments?
For LCL (Less than Container Load) ocean shipments, freight is typically charged per CBM (cubic metre) or per ton, whichever is higher. Some forwarders apply a volumetric conversion factor for LCL. Our free calculator helps you determine both actual and volumetric weights for all shipping modes.
