Net weight

Net weight is the mass of the goods themselves, excluding all packaging, pallets, dunnage, and the container or transport unit. It contrasts with gross weight, which adds the packaging and inner packing, and with tare, the weight of the empty container or pallet. Customs valuation, duty assessment on weight-based tariffs, and commercial invoicing turn on net weight, and it is stated on the packing list, commercial invoice, and bill of lading. For containerized export it is distinct from the verified gross mass under SOLAS Reg. VI/2, which is the total laden box weight (cargo plus dunnage plus tare), not the net figure. Net plus tare and packaging equals gross.