What is dimensional (volumetric) weight in shipping? ▾
Dimensional weight (also called volumetric weight) is a pricing technique used by carriers that accounts for the space a package occupies. It is calculated using the package's length, width, and height rather than its actual mass.
What is the DIM factor used by air freight carriers? ▾
The standard IATA DIM factor for international air cargo is 6,000. This means: volumetric weight (kg) = (L × W × H in cm) ÷ 6,000.
How do I calculate volumetric weight for air freight? ▾
Multiply the length, width, and height of the package in centimeters, then divide by 6,000. For example, a 60×40×30 cm package: 60×40×30 = 72,000 ÷ 6,000 = 12 kg volumetric weight.
What is chargeable weight and how is it determined? ▾
Chargeable weight is the weight used for billing — it equals whichever is greater: actual weight or volumetric weight. If your box weighs 5 kg but its volumetric weight is 10 kg, you pay for 10 kg.
How does sea freight pricing differ from air freight? ▾
Sea freight typically charges by CBM (cubic meters) rather than kilograms. One CBM is priced as roughly 1,000 kg for billing purposes, and there is no DIM factor applied in the same way as air or road freight.
Why did carriers start using dimensional weight pricing? ▾
Carriers have limited space in aircraft and trucks. Light, bulky packages were occupying maximum space while generating minimal revenue. DIM pricing ensures carriers are compensated for volume consumed, not just mass carried.
How can I reduce my shipping weight charges? ▾
Use right-sized packaging to minimize empty space, consider compression packaging for soft goods, consolidate shipments where possible, and compare modes — sea freight may be cheaper for very light, bulky cargo.
What is the road freight DIM divisor? ▾
Road freight typically uses a DIM divisor of 3,000, meaning it is twice as sensitive to size as air freight (divisor 6,000). A bulky item may cost more to ship by road than by air if its volumetric weight is very high.
Does packaging weight count in shipping calculations? ▾
Yes — actual weight includes the weight of all packaging materials. Dimensional weight is based on the outer dimensions of the packaged item, not the product itself.
What is the difference between deadweight and volumetric weight? ▾
Deadweight (or actual weight) is the physical mass of a shipment. Volumetric weight is the calculated weight based on dimensions. Chargeable weight is whichever is greater.
How do I compare shipping costs across modes using weight? ▾
Calculate the chargeable weight for air and road, then calculate CBM for sea. Apply the carrier's rate per kg (air/road) or per CBM (sea) and compare total costs including transit time and insurance.
What is the ideal density for cost-effective air freight? ▾
Air freight becomes cost-effective at a density of at least 167 kg/m³ (corresponding to the 6,000 DIM factor). Cargo denser than this is charged by actual weight; less dense cargo is charged volumetrically.
How many pounds are in a kilogram? ▾
1 kilogram equals 2.20462 pounds — the exact factor this calculator applies whenever you enter an item weight in kg and it displays the lb equivalent. Quick conversions: 20 kg = 44.09 lb, 40 kg = 88.18 lb, and 55 kg = 121.25 lb.
How do I convert 200 pounds to kilograms? ▾
Multiply pounds by 0.453592 to get kilograms — the same factor this calculator uses internally when you select "lb" as the weight unit for an item. 200 lb × 0.453592 = 90.72 kg.