What is Chargeable Weight?
Chargeable weight is a crucial concept in shipping. It's the weight used by carriers to calculate shipping costs and is based on either the actual weight or the volumetric weight of your shipment, whichever is higher.
Actual Weight:
This is the real, measured weight of your package in pounds or kilograms.
Volumetric Weight:
Volumetric weight takes package size into account. Carriers use a formula that considers length, width, and height to calculate it.
The formula varies between service types:
For air freight shipments, operated by airlines, the volumetric weight is the volume multiplied by 167.
For courier shipments, operated by carriers such as DHL or UPS, the volumetric weight is the volume multiplied by 200.
Example:
Let's say you're shipping a box of foam pillows. The actual weight is 5 kilograms, but the package is quite large. The volumetric weight calculation indicates it's 8 kilograms. In this case, the carrier charges you based on the volumetric weight of 8 kilograms because it's higher than the actual weight.
Why It Matters:
Understanding chargeable weight is essential because it directly impacts shipping costs. For cost-effective shipping, always strive to optimize packaging with your supplier.