Volumetric Weight Calculator
Volumetric weight (kg) = length × width × height in cm ÷ 5,000 for most express couriers, or ÷ 6,000 for air cargo. A 50 × 40 × 30 cm box is 12 kg at ÷5000 and 10 kg at ÷6000.
Same boxes at each divisor
| Divisor and rule | Volumetric | Actual | Chargeable | Billed on |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Express courier÷5000 cm³/kg, each box rated | – | – | – | – |
| Air cargo÷6000 cm³/kg, shipment total | – | – | – | – |
| My rate cardAdd a divisor above | – | – | – | – |
The calculation runs in your browser. Divisors checked Oct. 2, 2026; see the sources below.
How to Calculate Volumetric Weight in 4 Steps
- Measure the packed box. Take the outer length, width and height at the widest points, including any bulge or handle.
- Multiply the three sides. In centimeters that gives cubic centimeters. A 50 × 40 × 30 cm box is 60,000 cm³.
- Divide by the divisor. Use 5,000 for most express couriers or 6,000 for air cargo, unless your quote says otherwise.
- Compare with the scale. The higher of volumetric and actual weight is the chargeable weight on the invoice.
| You measure in | Express courier | Air cargo | Result unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centimeters | L × W × H ÷ 5,000 | L × W × H ÷ 6,000 | kg |
| Millimeters | L × W × H ÷ 5,000,000 | L × W × H ÷ 6,000,000 | kg |
| Meters | L × W × H × 200 | L × W × H × 166.67 | kg |
| Inches | L × W × H ÷ 139 | L × W × H ÷ 166 | lb |
Who Uses ÷5000 and Who Uses ÷6000
Each rule below is quoted from the carrier or body that publishes it, with its scope. Your contract or quote overrides any of them.
DHL Express publishes ÷5000 per piece. Shiprocket and Delhivery in India publish the same divisor for their courier services.
IATA gives ÷6000 as the general air cargo rule, applied to the volume of the shipment. Airlines and forwarders set the final tariff.
Some couriers use ÷6000, and one forwarder cites 4,000 for land freight. Enter yours under My rate card to see it beside the others.
Sources, checked Oct. 2, 2026
| Published by | Rule | Applies to | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| IATA | Shipment volume in cm³ ÷ 6,000 | General rule for air cargo. Airlines and forwarders set their own tariff. | Published 27 Jul 2021 |
| DHL Express | L × W × H ÷ 5,000 per piece (cm/kg); ÷ 139 per piece (in/lb) | DHL Express shipments, as published on its Estonia site. Account rates can differ. | Undated page |
| Shiprocket (India) | L × W × H in cm ÷ 5,000 | Shipments booked through Shiprocket in India. | Undated page |
| Delhivery (India) | Higher of dead weight and L × B × H ÷ 5,000 | Surface and Express delivery. Its separate flyer and under-1 kg rules are not modeled here. | Undated help page |
| O&A Logistics (UK) | L × W × H in cm ÷ 6,000, rounded up to the next 0.5 kg | Its own courier service. Shows that courier divisors are not all 5,000. | Undated page |
| Unicargo | Land freight usually 4,000 cm³/kg | One forwarder's guidance. Shown here as an example only. | Undated page |
What the Divisor Means in Kilograms per Cubic Meter
A divisor is a density line. Boxes packed lighter than it bill on volume; boxes packed heavier bill on the scale.
| Divisor (cm³/kg) | 1 CBM counts as | Break-even density | Where it appears | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5,000 | 200 kg | 12.49 lb/ft³ | Express couriers (DHL Express, Shiprocket, Delhivery) | Sourced |
| 6,000 | 166.67 kg | 10.40 lb/ft³ | Air cargo general rule (IATA); some couriers (O&A Logistics) | Sourced |
| 4,000 | 250 kg | 15.61 lb/ft³ | Land freight, per one forwarder (Unicargo) | Example |
Smaller divisor, heavier box
The same box is 20% heavier on paper at ÷5000 than at ÷6000, whatever its size.
Dense goods
Liquids, tools and books often pack above 200 kg per cubic meter, so they bill on the scale weight.
Light, bulky goods
Pillows, apparel and lampshades often pack below the line, so the carton size sets the bill.
A Denver Skincare Brand Shipping Two Carton Sizes
A skincare brand in Denver, Colorado books an international express shipment. The waybill asks for centimeters and kilograms, so it measures in metric.
| Line | Box (cm) | Boxes | kg / box | Volumetric / box (÷5000) | Billed / box | Line total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gift sets (bulky) | 60 × 40 × 40 | 3 | 9 kg | 19.20 kg | 19.20 kg (Volume) | 57.60 kg |
| Refill bottles (dense) | 35 × 25 × 20 | 4 | 6 kg | 3.50 kg | 6.00 kg (Weight) | 24.00 kg |
| Total | 7 | 51.00 kg | 71.60 kg | 81.60 kg |
- The gift-set boxes bill on volume. The dense refill boxes bill on the scale, and their spare weight cannot offset the bulky boxes.
- At an example rate of $9.00 per chargeable kg, the express bill is $734.40, against $459.00 on scale weight alone.
- Rating per piece adds 10.00 kg over comparing shipment totals.
- Enter both lines in the calculator above to reproduce every figure.
Volumetric Weight of Common Box Sizes
If the packed box weighs less than the figure shown, it bills on volume. Values come from the same formula as the calculator.
| Box | CBM | Express ÷5000 | Air ÷6000 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 × 15 × 10 cm | 0.003 | 0.60 kg | 0.50 kg | 0.10 kg |
| 30 × 20 × 15 cm | 0.009 | 1.80 kg | 1.50 kg | 0.30 kg |
| 30 × 30 × 30 cm | 0.027 | 5.40 kg | 4.50 kg | 0.90 kg |
| 40 × 30 × 20 cm | 0.024 | 4.80 kg | 4.00 kg | 0.80 kg |
| 40 × 30 × 30 cm | 0.036 | 7.20 kg | 6.00 kg | 1.20 kg |
| 50 × 40 × 30 cm | 0.060 | 12.00 kg | 10.00 kg | 2.00 kg |
| 60 × 40 × 40 cm | 0.096 | 19.20 kg | 16.00 kg | 3.20 kg |
| 60 × 50 × 40 cm | 0.120 | 24.00 kg | 20.00 kg | 4.00 kg |
Convert Cubic Meters to Volumetric Weight
Already know the CBM from a packing list? Multiply it by 200 for ÷5000 or by 166.67 for ÷6000.
| CBM | ÷5000 | ÷6000 |
|---|---|---|
| 0.01 | 2.00 kg | 1.67 kg |
| 0.05 | 10.00 kg | 8.33 kg |
| 0.1 | 20.00 kg | 16.67 kg |
| 0.25 | 50.00 kg | 41.67 kg |
| 0.5 | 100.00 kg | 83.33 kg |
| 1 | 200.00 kg | 166.67 kg |
| 2 | 400.00 kg | 333.33 kg |
- Use the packed volume, not the product volume from a catalog.
- CBM from a supplier often covers the whole shipment. Divide by the box count to rate each piece for express.
- For sea LCL, one cubic meter is one revenue ton instead. The chargeable weight calculator shows W/M.
Volumetric, Dimensional or Chargeable Weight?
Three names for close ideas. Each Locad calculator handles a different slice.
Centimeters and kilograms at ÷5000 or ÷6000, for international couriers and air cargo, several box sizes at once.
Six Volumetric Weight Mistakes
Using product size
Couriers measure the packed box. Catalog dimensions leave out the carton, the fill and any bulge.
Inches with ÷5000
Dividing inches by 5,000 instead of 139 makes the result about 36.0 times too small.
Millimeters as centimeters
500 × 400 × 300 typed as cm instead of mm is 1,000 times too heavy. In mm it is 12 kg at ÷5000.
Ignoring the bulge
A 50 × 40 × 30 cm box that bulges 2 cm on top goes from 12.00 kg to 12.80 kg at ÷5000.
Adding express like air
Express rates each box. Comparing shipment totals understates the bill when box densities differ.
One divisor for every courier
Couriers publish ÷5000 and ÷6000 for similar services. Confirm the divisor on the quote before you book.
How to Reduce Volumetric Weight
Right-size the box
Trimming the 60 × 40 × 40 cm gift-set box to 55 × 35 × 35 cm cuts it from 19.20 kg to 13.48 kg at ÷5000, 29.8% less.
Choose the mode by density
Bulky goods may bill lower by air cargo at ÷6000 than by express at ÷5000. Compare both rows in the calculator.
Use soft packaging
Some couriers rate flyers on scale weight under set limits. Delhivery publishes such a rule. Check your courier's terms.
- Ask the courier which divisor, rounding step and minimum apply to your account.
- Keep that answer with the quote, so the invoice can be checked against it later.
- Re-run the numbers when the packaging or the product mix changes. The box size calculator helps pick a tighter carton.
Five Things to Check on a Courier or Air Quote
The calculator gives the weight. These terms decide how that weight turns into the price on the invoice.
| Check | Why it matters | Where to find it |
|---|---|---|
| Divisor | ÷5000 makes the same box 20% heavier on paper than ÷6000. | Rate card or quote terms, under "volumetric" or "dimensional weight" |
| Per piece or per shipment | Rating each box separately stops dense boxes from offsetting bulky ones. | Service terms. DHL Express states "per piece" |
| Rounding step | A round-up step (O&A Logistics uses 0.5 kg) can apply per piece or to the total, depending on the carrier. | Tariff rules or the quote footnotes |
| Minimum charge | A small shipment can pay a minimum instead of its calculated weight. | The rate table or tariff rules |
| Size and weight limits | Boxes over a carrier's length or weight limit may need another service. | The carrier's size and weight guidelines |
- Send the courier the piece count and the dimensions and weight of each box, not just totals.
- Measure after packing, on the same tape for every box, and round the way your carrier does.
- When the invoice arrives, recompute it here with the billed dimensions and compare.
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