Volumetric weight: why light cargo costs as much as heavy
Calculation formulas for air, road and sea, with a worked example. Packing smarter at your premises is often the cheapest way to lower the freight bill.
Why carriers charge by volume
A carrier earns money on space in the vehicle, not on kilograms. For light, bulky cargo the rate is therefore calculated not on the actual weight but on the volumetric weight — whichever of the two is greater.
Conversion factors by mode
| Mode | Factor | Example: textiles, 2 m³, 180 kg actual |
|---|---|---|
| Air | 1 m³ = 167 kg (volume in cm³ ÷ 6,000) | 2 × 167 = 334 kg — almost double what you might expect |
| Road | 1 m³ = 250 kg | 2 × 250 = 500 kg |
| Sea LCL | Priced per m³; weight hardly matters (up to 1 t/m³) | Simply 2 m³ — nearly always the cheapest |
Tip: pack the goods more tightly. A 20% smaller volume often means a 20% lower freight cost.
How pallets and LDM are priced
Road hauliers often charge not for cubic metres but for floor space in the trailer. A euro pallet of 1200×800 mm takes 0.4 loading metres (LDM) across a 2.4 m wide trailer, and a standard 13.6 m semi-trailer holds 33 such pallets. If the cargo cannot be stacked, you pay for the whole height of the trailer above your pallet, even if the boxes on it are only half a metre high.
That is why stackability matters for groupage shipments: a pallet that can be double-stacked costs half as much as a non-stackable one of the same weight. In our quotes we ask directly whether other cargo can be loaded on top, and we ask you as the supplier to reinforce the top of the packaging — it is the cheapest way to bring the rate down.
Four ways to reduce volumetric weight
- 1Vacuum packing
For textiles, pillows and blankets: 30–50% less volume. - 2Knock-down designs
Furniture, shelving and machine frames travel disassembled. Assembly at destination is cheaper than shipping empty air in a container. - 3Boxes without voids
Choose cartons that fit the product rather than a “standard” size. - 4Full-height pallets with a flat top
This way the cargo can be stacked and the carrier does not charge for extra height. Before dispatch, compare both weights in our volumetric weight calculator: if the volumetric weight is 1.5 times the actual weight or more, repacking almost always pays for itself within one shipment.
Frequently asked questions
Why do carriers use different factors?
The factor reflects how many kilograms “fit” into a cubic metre of a particular vehicle. An aircraft is more limited by volume than a truck, so air uses 1 m³ = 167 kg, road 250 kg, and a sea container is hardly sensitive to weight at all. Only compare rates that use the same factor.
Are the pallet and packaging included in the weight?
Yes. Carriers charge on gross weight — the goods together with packaging and pallet. For volumetric weight the pallet counts through the dimensions of the package, so empty height above the cargo costs money.
How can I quickly see which weight my shipment will be charged on?
Enter the dimensions and weight of each package in the volumetric weight calculator on our site. It shows the chargeable weight for air, road and sea and suggests which mode is cheaper for your consignment.
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