Calculators
Volumetric weight calculator for air shipments
Independent site, not a government service. General information, not customs advice.
Enter the size of one piece, the number of pieces and the actual weight. The result shows the volumetric weight and which of the two the airline would charge.
Volumetric and chargeable weight by air
Chargeable weight
400.0 kg
| Volumetric (cm³ ÷ 6,000) | 400.0 kg |
| Actual | 250.0 kg |
| Which one applies | Volumetric |
Carrier or courier divisors can differ: check your rate sheet.
Volumetric weight, also called dimensional weight, turns the space a parcel takes on an aircraft into kilograms, so that large, light goods pay for their room. IATA describes the standard conversion for air cargo as cubic centimetres divided by 6,000, and the airline charges on the higher of actual weight and volumetric weight. A piece of 80 by 60 by 50 centimetres occupies 240,000 cubic centimetres, which makes 40 kilograms by volume. If it weighs 25 kilograms on the scale, you pay for 40. Ten such pieces are charged at 400 kilograms, not 250. A carrier may print another divisor in its own conditions, and a lower divisor raises the figure. So take this calculation as the air cargo baseline, and read the divisor printed on the rate sheet of whoever will carry your goods.
Customs value from an FOB price
Customs value
₹2,42,250
| Freight, capped at 20% of FOB | ₹40,000 |
| Insurance, 1.125% of FOB | ₹2,250 |
Rule 10(2), Customs Valuation Rules 2007. Commissions, royalties and assists can also apply.
Tariff and rules read by Radif Partners · Editorial policy · Method and sources
Examples at the 6,000 divisor
| Piece (cm) | Volumetric | If actual is | Charged on |
|---|---|---|---|
| 40 × 30 × 30 | 6.0 kg | 5 kg | 6.0 kg by volume |
| 60 × 40 × 40 | 16.0 kg | 8 kg | 16.0 kg by volume |
| 80 × 60 × 50 | 40.0 kg | 25 kg | 40.0 kg by volume |
| 100 × 80 × 60 | 80.0 kg | 90 kg | 90 kg actual |
| 120 × 80 × 100 | 160.0 kg | 110 kg | 160.0 kg by volume |
How to lower the bill
The volume figure falls with the size of the outer carton. A small change in one side counts: cutting a height of 50 to 40 centimetres on the piece above saves eight kilograms by volume. If goods are dense, the actual weight governs, and packing changes do little.
Where it meets customs
The second tool on this page applies the air provision of rule 10(2), where known air freight above 20% of FOB is capped at that level in the customs value. That cap concerns the value for duty; the airline will still bill its own charge in full. For the wider picture on charging, see chargeable weight. Parcels sent by courier follow their own regime, covered in courier imports. The conversion source is the IATA page on air cargo tariffs, which we cite as a fact, in our words.