To calculate freight charges, find the billed quantity for the mode, multiply it by the rate, then add surcharges and local charges. Air bills the higher of actual and volume weight; sea LCL bills the higher of tonnes and cubic metres; FCL and road bill per unit. Airlift Logistics shows each line in its quotes.
The basic formula
Freight charge = billed quantity × rate + surcharges + local charges. The billed quantity is where most people go wrong, because it is rarely the plain weight.
| Mode | Billed quantity | Rule |
|---|---|---|
| Air cargo | Chargeable weight in kg | Higher of actual weight and L × W × H (cm) ÷ 6,000 |
| Courier | Chargeable weight in kg | Often L × W × H (cm) ÷ 5,000 |
| Sea LCL | Revenue tonne (W/M) | Higher of weight in tonnes and volume in cubic metres |
| Sea FCL | Per container | 20 ft or 40 ft, whatever the load inside |
| Road | Per truck or per pallet | Full truck load or shared load |
Worked example: air cargo
- Actual weight
- 60 kg5 × 12 kg
- Volume weight
- 100 kg5 × (60 × 50 × 40 ÷ 6,000)
- Chargeable weight
- 100 kgThe higher figure is billed
At an illustrative AED 10 per kg, the freight line is AED 1,000 before fuel and security surcharges and airport handling. Try it with our chargeable weight calculator.
Worked example: sea LCL
- Volume
- 1.8 CBM1.2 × 1.0 × 1.5
- Weight
- 0.4 tonnes400 kg ÷ 1,000
- Billed
- 1.8 revenue tonnesVolume is higher, so volume is billed
Most LCL tariffs also set a minimum of one cubic metre. Work out volumes with our CBM calculator.
Which charges come on top of freight?
- and on air cargo, usually per chargeable kg.
- at both ports for sea cargo.
- Documentation fees: air waybill, bill of lading, delivery order.
- Customs clearance, duty and VAT at destination.
- Pickup and delivery trucking, if the quote is door to door.
Send us the real sizes and weights for a freight quote with every line shown.
Quick answers
How do you calculate freight charges per kg?
Use the chargeable weight, not only the actual weight. For air cargo, compare the actual weight with the volume weight, which is length × width × height in centimetres divided by 6,000. Multiply the higher figure by the rate per kilogram, then add surcharges such as fuel and security, plus local charges.
- Couriers often divide by 5,000.
- Measure cartons after packing.
What is a revenue tonne in sea freight?
It is the unit used to bill LCL sea cargo. Each shipment is billed on whichever is higher: its weight in metric tonnes or its volume in cubic metres. So a pallet of 1.8 cubic metres weighing 400 kg is billed as 1.8 revenue tonnes. Many tariffs set a one-tonne minimum.
- Also called weight or measure, W/M.
- FCL is billed per container instead.
Sources: IATA air cargo, DP World Jebel Ali tariff book, Nov 2023. How we check our content.
Related service: freight quoteGet a quoteWhatsApp us
