Volumetric Weight is a chargeable weight used in international freight to calculate the freight cost for light bulky cargo. When the actual weight of the cargo is relatively low but it occupies a large volume, the carrier (such as express, air freight, or LCL sea freight) will convert the volume into a weight value and compare it with the actual weight, taking the greater as the chargeable weight. Common conversion formulas: for air/express, usually length × width × height (cm) / 6000 (or 5000); for LCL sea freight, 1 cubic meter = 1000 kg. Use cases include international express (DHL, FedEx, etc.), air freight, and LCL sea freight. Note: The conversion factor may vary by carrier and channel (e.g., 6000, 5000, 4000), so confirm in advance; the chargeable weight is the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight, so light bulky cargo needs optimized packaging to reduce volume. The difference from 'actual weight' is that actual weight is the physical weight of the cargo, while volumetric weight is the weight converted from space occupation; together they determine the chargeable weight.
📝 Examples
1. The actual weight of this batch of plush toys is 50 kg, but the volumetric weight reaches 80 kg, so the courier company charges based on 80 kg. (Illustrates that light bulky cargo is charged by volumetric weight.)
2. Before shipping, please confirm whether the volumetric weight conversion factor for air freight is 6000 or 5000, to avoid deviations in freight budget. (Illustrates that conversion factors differ among carriers and need to be confirmed in advance.)
💡 Foreign Trade Tips
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