Chargeable weight is the figure a carrier bills: the greater of a shipment’s actual gross weight and its volumetric (dimensional) weight. Volumetric weight converts volume to a weight equivalent through a divisor, so that light, bulky cargo pays its fair share of aircraft or trailer space. Air freight converts at 6,000 cm³ per kg under IATA practice (167 kg per cubic meter); most express couriers use 5,000 cm³ per kg (200 kg/m³); European road groupage commonly uses about 3,000 cm³ per kg (333 kg/m³); sea LCL applies the weight-or-measurement rule of 1,000 kg per cubic meter.
The full article will cover the IATA TACT basis of the 6,000 divisor and its coexistence with the 7,000 cm³/kg factor still used in US domestic airfreight, the mid-2010s courier shift from 6,000 to 5,000 (DHL, FedEx, UPS), density break points where each mode flips from volumetric to actual billing, and worked comparisons of the same consignment quoted across all four modes.
Compute the billed figure for a specific shipment with the chargeable weight calculator, or compare all modes side by side with the CBM calculator.