CW
Units & measuresChargeable Weight
The weight an air shipment is billed on: the higher of its actual weight and its volumetric weight.
In practice
Volumetric weight for air is length x width x height in cm divided by 6,000 (some couriers use 5,000). Light, bulky cargo pays on volume; dense cargo pays on actual weight. Quoted rates are per kg of chargeable weight.
Seen in the wild
Actual 120 kg, volume 1.2 CBM = 200 kg vol. Chargeable weight 200 kg.
Watch out
Divisor is 6,000 for airline cargo but 5,000 for most express couriers. Using the wrong one under-quotes bulky cargo by 20%.