Volumetric Weight – What It Is and How to Calculate It

When shipping goods, especially via air freight , courier companies don’t just look at the actual weight of the package. They also consider the space it takes up in the aircraft . Volumetric weight calculation This is where (also called dimensional weight) comes in. If your package is light but large in size, you may be charged based on volumetric weight instead of actual weight. Formula for Volumetric Weight (Air Freight) The standard IATA formula for air freight is: Volumetric Weight (kg) = (Length × Width × Height in cm) ÷ 5000 Example Calculation Suppose your shipment has: Length = 80 cm Width = 50 cm Height = 40 cm Actual weight = 20 kg Step 1: Calculate volume in cubic cm: 80 × 50 × 40 = 160,000 cm³ Step 2: Divide by 5000: 160 ,000 ÷ 5000 = 32 kg (Volumetric Weight) Step 3: Compare with actual weight: Actual weight = 20 kg Volumetric weight = 32 kg Chargeable weight = 32 kg (because it’s higher). Why 5000 as the Divisor? The diviso...