How to Calculate the Volumetric Weight of Goods

How to Calculate Volumetric Weight: Formulas for Land, Sea and Air

Why Can Shipping Costs Be Higher Than the Scale Weight?

Have you ever shipped something that felt light, but were charged as if it were heavy? The reason is almost always the same: volume metric, often called volumetric weight.

In cargo shipping, space in a vehicle, aircraft or container is just as valuable as weight. Goods that are light but take up a lot of space, such as stuffed toys, pillows or large boxes of clothing, are charged based on their size. This article explains how to calculate it easily.

What Is Volume Metric?

Volume metric is the weight converted from an item's dimensions (length, width, height). Shipping providers compare two figures:

• Actual weight: the result of weighing

• Volumetric weight: the result of the dimension formula

Whichever figure is larger is used as the basis for calculating the shipping cost (known as the chargeable weight).

Formula for Calculating Volumetric Weight

Measure the goods in centimeters (cm), then use the following formula:

Shipping route	Volumetric weight formula (kg)
Land	Length x Width x Height (cm) / 4000 = … Kg x Shipping rate
Sea	Length x Width x Height (cm) / 4000 = … Kg x Shipping rate
Air	Length x Width x Height (cm) / 6000 = … Kg x Shipping rate

The divisor for air is larger, so the volumetric weight is smaller than for land and sea for goods of the same size.

Calculation Steps

1. Pack the goods first. Measure after packing is complete, because bubble wrap, boxes or wooden crates add to the dimensions.

2. Measure the length, width and height in cm, on the outermost sides.

3. Multiply the three.

4. Divide by the divisor for the route (4000 or 6000).

5. Weigh the goods to get the actual weight.

6. Compare the two. The larger one becomes the billed weight.

Calculation Examples

Example 1: Large but light goods
A box of pillows measuring 60 x 40 x 50 cm, with a scale weight of 5 kg.

• 60 x 40 x 50 = 120,000

• Land/sea: 120,000 / 4000 = 30 kg

• Air: 120,000 / 6000 = 20 kg

The actual weight is only 5 kg, so the volumetric weight is used (30 kg by land/sea, 20 kg by air).

Example 2: Dense goods
A box of books measuring 40 x 30 x 30 cm, with a scale weight of 18 kg.

• 40 x 30 x 30 = 36,000

• Land/sea: 36,000 / 4000 = 9 kg

The actual weight (18 kg) is larger, so 18 kg is billed.

Example 3: Difference between routes
A 50 x 30 x 30 cm box.

• 45,000 / 4000 = 11.25 kg (land/sea)

• 45,000 / 6000 = 7.5 kg (air)

[Confirm the weight rounding rule used by Sentral Cargo, for example rounded up per kilogram.]

Tips to Reduce Costs from Volumetric Weight

• Pack the box tightly. Empty space counts as cost.

• Choose the right box size. Don't use one much bigger than the goods.

• Use thin but safe packaging. Protection is still important, but excessive thickness adds to the dimensions.

• Compare routes. For light, bulky goods, air can give a smaller volumetric weight, but check the total rate before deciding.

• Ship together. Goods that can be combined into one package (koli) are often more efficient.

• Protect valuable goods. Insurance costs 0.2% of the declared value of the goods.

Check Shipping Rates and Calculate Volume Easily

Don't want to calculate manually? The Sentral Cargo app provides a volume calculation and shipping rate check feature, so you can know the estimated cost before dropping off your goods. After shipping, you can track your receipt through the app without logging in. If you're still unsure about the size or the most economical route, ask us via WhatsApp at +62812-9699-5996.

FAQ

1. What is the difference between actual weight and volumetric weight?
   Actual weight is the result of weighing, while volumetric weight is converted from dimensions. The larger one is used to calculate the shipping cost.

2. Are the volumetric formulas for land and sea the same?
   Yes, both use a divisor of 4000.

3. Are dimensions measured before or after packing?
   After packing, because the outermost dimensions are what count.

4. Is weight rounded?
   For each shipment, 0.11 is rounded up. Example: package 1 weighs 8.11 kg, so the final weight becomes 8.50 kg; package 2 has an actual weight of 7.51 kg, so the final weight becomes 8 kg. Total final weight = 8.50 kg + 8 kg = 16.50 kg, which becomes 17 kg.