Air Freight Chargeable Weight Explained
Logistics Guide
Air freight is not always priced by actual weight alone. Carriers also consider how much space a shipment takes up relative to its weight, using a figure called chargeable weight. Understanding it helps you predict costs accurately before booking.
The Formula
The DIM Factor is set by the carrier and commonly defaults to 6000 for air freight, though it varies by airline and route. Once you have the volumetric weight, chargeable weight is whichever is greater: the actual gross weight or the volumetric weight.
Worked Example
Suppose you have a shipment measuring 60 cm × 40 cm × 50 cm, with a gross weight of 15 kg, and a DIM Factor of 6000.
- Volume: 60 × 40 × 50 = 120,000 cm³
- Volumetric weight: 120,000 ÷ 6000 = 20 kg
- Gross weight: 15 kg
- Chargeable weight: the greater of the two = 20 kg
Even though the shipment only weighs 15 kg, it is billed as 20 kg because its volume takes up more space than its weight alone would suggest.
Why This Matters
Light but bulky shipments — foam, textiles, packaging, electronics with lots of empty space — are especially affected by chargeable weight. Knowing this in advance helps you pack more efficiently and avoid surprises when the invoice arrives.