Shipping guide
Understanding air-freight chargeable weight
A light shipment can occupy more aircraft space than its scale weight suggests.
Example: one 60 × 50 × 40 cm package
01
12 kg
Actual gross weight on the scale.
02
20 kg
Volumetric weight: 120,000 cm³ ÷ 6,000.
03
20 kg
Estimated chargeable weight: the higher of these two figures.
The divisor is illustrative. Confirm the carrier’s applicable divisor, minimums and rounding.
Compare your shipment weightsCompare two measures
Actual gross weight includes the goods and their packaging. Volumetric weight converts package dimensions into an equivalent weight. Under the common comparison method, the higher total is the starting chargeable weight.
Worked example
One package measuring 60 × 50 × 40 cm has a volume of 120,000 cm³. With an illustrative divisor of 6,000, volumetric weight is 20 kg. If it weighs 12 kg on the scale, the comparison gives 20 kg; if it weighs 25 kg, the comparison gives 25 kg.
Use the applicable divisor
DHL Global Forwarding illustrates air freight using a divisor of 6,000. Carrier ratios, minimums and rounding can vary, so this is an adjustable example rather than a universal billing rule.
Source: DHL Global Forwarding chargeable-weight guidance, reviewed 23 September 2026.
Try the chargeable-weight calculator ↗Your next step
Use the chargeable-weight calculator