Use this calculator to estimate the chargeable weight and cost for your air freight shipments. Air freight charges are typically based on either the actual weight or the volumetric weight of your cargo, whichever is greater. This is known as the "chargeable weight."
Calculation Results:
Enter your shipment details and click "Calculate Air Freight" to see the results.
function calculateAirFreight() {
var lengthCm = parseFloat(document.getElementById('lengthCm').value);
var widthCm = parseFloat(document.getElementById('widthCm').value);
var heightCm = parseFloat(document.getElementById('heightCm').value);
var numPieces = parseInt(document.getElementById('numPieces').value);
var actualWeightKg = parseFloat(document.getElementById('actualWeightKg').value);
var freightRatePerKg = parseFloat(document.getElementById('freightRatePerKg').value);
var volumetricDivisor = parseFloat(document.getElementById('volumetricDivisor').value);
var resultDiv = document.getElementById('result');
resultDiv.innerHTML = "; // Clear previous results
// Input validation
if (isNaN(lengthCm) || lengthCm <= 0 ||
isNaN(widthCm) || widthCm <= 0 ||
isNaN(heightCm) || heightCm <= 0 ||
isNaN(numPieces) || numPieces <= 0 ||
isNaN(actualWeightKg) || actualWeightKg < 0 ||
isNaN(freightRatePerKg) || freightRatePerKg < 0 ||
isNaN(volumetricDivisor) || volumetricDivisor <= 0) {
resultDiv.innerHTML = 'Please enter valid positive numbers for all fields. Actual weight and freight rate can be zero.';
return;
}
// 1. Calculate Volumetric Weight per piece
var volumetricWeightPerPiece = (lengthCm * widthCm * heightCm) / volumetricDivisor;
// 2. Calculate Total Actual Weight
var totalActualWeight = actualWeightKg * numPieces;
// 3. Calculate Total Volumetric Weight
var totalVolumetricWeight = volumetricWeightPerPiece * numPieces;
// 4. Determine Chargeable Weight (the greater of actual and volumetric)
var chargeableWeight = Math.max(totalActualWeight, totalVolumetricWeight);
// 5. Calculate Estimated Air Freight Cost
var estimatedCost = chargeableWeight * freightRatePerKg;
// Display results
resultDiv.innerHTML += 'Total Actual Weight: ' + totalActualWeight.toFixed(2) + ' kg';
resultDiv.innerHTML += 'Total Volumetric Weight: ' + totalVolumetricWeight.toFixed(2) + ' kg';
resultDiv.innerHTML += 'Chargeable Weight: ' + chargeableWeight.toFixed(2) + ' kg';
resultDiv.innerHTML += 'Estimated Air Freight Cost: $' + estimatedCost.toFixed(2) + ";
}
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Understanding Air Freight Calculation
Air freight is a crucial component of global logistics, allowing for rapid transportation of goods across continents. Unlike sea freight, which often charges by volume or container, air freight pricing is more complex, primarily due to the limited space and weight capacity of aircraft.
Actual Weight vs. Volumetric Weight
The core concept in air freight pricing is the "chargeable weight." This isn't always the physical weight of your cargo. Instead, airlines and freight forwarders consider two types of weight:
Actual Weight: This is the gross weight of your shipment, including packaging, measured in kilograms (kg).
Volumetric Weight (or Dimensional Weight): This reflects the amount of space your cargo occupies on the aircraft. Since aircraft have finite space, bulky but light items can take up significant room. Volumetric weight is calculated using a specific formula based on the dimensions of your package.
The Volumetric Divisor
The volumetric weight is calculated using the formula: (Length x Width x Height) / Volumetric Divisor. The divisor varies depending on the unit of measurement (cm or inches) and sometimes by carrier or route, but a common international standard for air freight when dimensions are in centimeters is 6000. If dimensions are in inches, a common divisor is 166.
For example, if a carton measures 100 cm x 80 cm x 60 cm, its volumetric weight would be (100 * 80 * 60) / 6000 = 48,000 / 6000 = 80 kg.
Determining Chargeable Weight
The chargeable weight is always the greater of the actual weight and the volumetric weight. This ensures that the airline is compensated fairly for either the physical weight carried or the space utilized. Once the chargeable weight is determined, it is multiplied by the agreed-upon air freight rate per kilogram to arrive at the total freight cost.
Why Use This Calculator?
This Air Freight Calculator helps you quickly estimate the chargeable weight and potential cost of your shipment. By understanding these figures upfront, you can:
Optimize your packaging to reduce volumetric weight.
Compare quotes from different carriers more effectively.
Budget accurately for your logistics expenses.
Avoid unexpected charges due to misunderstandings of volumetric weight.
Always confirm the exact volumetric divisor and freight rates with your chosen freight forwarder or airline, as these can vary.