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International transport

Volumetric weight: how it is calculated and when it is charged

Volumetric weight is the theoretical weight of a parcel calculated from its size (length by width by height, divided by a factor), used to charge for the space it takes in transport.

The most common factor in air freight is 5,000 cm³ per kilo: a 40 × 30 × 20 cm parcel has a volumetric weight of 24,000 / 5,000 = 4.8 kg, even if it weighs 1 kg on the scale. The greater of the two is charged.

The factor varies by operator and service (6,000 is another usual value), and some legs charge by actual weight only. It pays to know the factor before choosing packaging.

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How Volumetric weight works in our operation

MailAmericas' rates state which weight each service is billed on: actual weight, or the greater of actual and volumetric, with the factor stated explicitly. Choosing packaging that fits the product is the most direct way to lower the cost per shipment.

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Frequently asked question

How do I reduce the volumetric weight of my shipments?

Use the smallest packaging that protects the product, avoid boxes with lots of filler and, for soft products, consider bags instead of boxes.

Related terms

More from International transport

Air freightAir freight is the transport of cargo by plane, the usual mode for international e-commerce parcels because of its speed compared with sea freight.Freight forwardingFreight forwarding is the service of organising the international transport of a load: booking the freight, preparing the documentation and coordinating the route between origin and destination.AWB (air waybill)The AWB (air waybill) is the transport document an airline issues for a load: it identifies the load, its route, its weight and the parties involved, and serves as the contract of carriage.Chargeable weightChargeable weight is the weight used to calculate a shipment's rate: the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight, rounded up to the rate's weight band.Transit timeTransit time is the time a shipment takes between an agreed reference point (usually manifest closure at origin) and delivery to the buyer, measured in business or calendar days depending on the agreement.Multi-carrierA multi-carrier model is a logistics operation that combines several carriers (airlines, delivery networks) and picks the best one for each route, instead of depending on a single one.

See all 9 terms in International transport →

Selling to Latin America?

We explain how a cross-border shipment with MailAmericas works for your origin and your destinations.

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