Chargeable weight explained

Chargeable weight is the number your freight is actually priced on. It's the greater of two figures: your cargo's actual (gross) weight, or its volumetric weight — a weight worked out from how much space it takes up. Carriers charge on whichever is higher, because a plane, truck, or ship runs out of either space or weight capacity, whichever comes first.

Every aircraft, truck, and vessel is limited by both space and weight. Load something dense and heavy, and you hit the weight limit before you fill the space. Load something light and bulky, and you fill all the space long before you reach the weight limit.

So carriers price on both. They convert your cargo's size into a "weight equivalent" — the volumetric weight (also called dimensional weight) — and then charge per kilogram on whichever is greater: the actual weight or the volumetric weight.

Put simply: shipping one kilogram of feathers costs more than one kilogram of steel, because the feathers take up far more space.

• Actual weight (also called gross weight) is the real mass of your shipment — product, packaging, and pallet included. This is the figure you give us when you request a quote, and it's what we base the initial quote on. In the Prime Freight app it's shown as total weight.

• Chargeable weight is the figure the carrier bills, and the one you'll see on your invoice. It's the higher of your gross weight and your volumetric weight.

On air shipments especially, your shipment record and your invoice may show both the actual weight and the chargeable weight. The chargeable weight also appears on the Air Waybill, which you can open from the Documents tab of the shipment.

The volumetric weight comes from your cargo's dimensions, but the exact formula depends on the mode of transport (air, ocean LCL, or road) — each uses a different volume-to-weight conversion. Your Prime Freight team can confirm the calculation that applies to your shipment and mode.

The takeaway: bulky-but-light cargo is usually priced on volumetric weight, and dense cargo on actual weight.

The single best thing you can do is give accurate measurements up front. Two tips:

• Provide real dimensions and weights in your quote request, not rough guesses.

• Ask your supplier whether they palletize. Pallets add both weight and height, which changes the chargeable weight. If you know the shipment will be palletized, enter the pallet count and dimensions when you request a rate. See Cartons: markings, pallets & fitting.

Cargo often turns out larger than expected once it's produced and packed — palletization is a common reason. The more accurately you describe packaging and palletization, the closer your quote will be to the final invoice.

We quote on the actual weight you submit. If the cargo measures differently once received — larger, heavier, or palletized when you didn't expect it — the chargeable weight changes and so can your invoice. For why a final invoice can differ from a quote, see Why is my invoice higher than my quote?.

• FCL vs LCL vs parcel: which to choose

• Types of air service

• Cartons: markings, pallets & fitting

• Packaging & damage prevention

• Freight & shipping glossary