What is volumetric weight?
Volumetric weight is used in freight and logistics to calculate the cost of goods that are lightweight but take up significant space. Carriers compare the shipment’s actual weight with its volumetric weight and use the higher of the two as the chargeable weight.
This ensures that large but lightweight shipments do not occupy disproportionate space in the transport network without the cost reflecting the space they use.
How is volumetric weight calculated?
Volumetric weight is typically calculated by multiplying the shipment’s length, width, and height, then dividing by a conversion factor used by the carrier.
The formula often looks like this:
(Length × Width × Height) / conversion factor
If the volumetric weight is higher than the actual weight, it becomes the weight used for freight pricing.
