How to calculate the chargeable weight of air freight in China
Actual weight VS Volumetric weight
The cost of air freight is influenced by weight, but it's not just a numbers game. Because of the finite space in an airplane's cargo hold, weight isn't the only factor at play.
Enter volumetric weight. There are times when the shipping carrier will assess charges based on the amount of space your product occupies, not just its weight. This concept is all about volumetric weight.
The reason behind this is simple: airlines need to cover their costs and ensure profitability, even when they're moving bulky but lightweight items that eat up a lot of room.
Understanding the distinction between actual weight and volumetric weight is crucial. Otherwise, you might end up being billed based on the volumetric weight without even realizing it, which could mean a higher shipping cost than you expected.
There are two method to calculate the volumetric weight:
One is Length (cm) X Width (cm) X Height(cm) / 6000
Second is use the formula 1CBM : 167KGS.
For example,if you send a goods that measures 100cm x 100cm x 100cm and weighs 100kg, the logistics firm will not charge you based on its actual weight (100kg). Due to the package’s size and the space it takes up, the relationship between its size and weight must be converted.
Therefore, let us proceed with the conversion.
By Express Dimensional weight (express) =100cm x 100cm x 100cm/5000=200KGS
By Airline Dimensional weight (air freight) =100cm x 100cm x 100cm/6000=167KGS
By Air will be 1m X 1m X 1m= 1CBM X 167 =167KGS
As you can see, the dimensional weight is significantly more than its actual weight.
So if we choice to ship by airline , chargeable weight will be 167KGS. But if we ship by courier company like DHL, Fedex, TNT, chargeable weight will be 200KGS
But if this same dimension 100cm x 100cm x 100cm, weight is 300KGS, chargeable weight will be actual weight as 300KGS
This is standard practice in the logistics industry, as companies charge based on the maximum amount.
Therefore, to reduce shipping costs, it may be necessary to compress the package and decrease its measurement volume.
This can help ensure that the package is charged based on its actual weight, rather than its volumetric weight.
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