Air Freight Calculator

Price	Free, no sign-up
Input	Carton size, carton count, weight per carton, rate per kg, fixed fees
Output	Chargeable weight, freight base, total cost, cost per unit and per kg
Runs	Entirely in your browser

What is Air Freight Calculator?

Air freight is priced per kilogram, but the kilogram in question is usually a cubic measurement. Carriers calculate volumetric weight from the shipment's dimensions (cm³ ÷ 6,000 for standard air cargo, 5,000 for express) and bill whichever is greater between that and the real weight. For light, bulky goods the volumetric figure can be ten times the actual weight, so freight quotes that only ask for kilos are misleading. This calculator returns the actual weight, the volumetric weight, the chargeable weight the forwarder will invoice, and the all-in cost with fuel, security and handling fees spread across the units in the shipment.

Common Uses for Air Freight Calculator

Decide whether a restock is worth air freighting or should sail
Compare the cost per unit of shipping 10, 25 or 100 cartons
Check a forwarder's quote against your own dimensional maths
Model how a smaller carton reduces the freight charge
Work out the freight component of landed cost for a new product

Air, sea or express: the same shipment, three bills

Twenty-five cartons at 60 × 40 × 40 cm: air bills 4,000 kg chargeable at, say, $5.60/kg = $22,400 plus fees. Sea bills 24 CBM at $95/CBM = $2,280 — a tenth of the price, but six weeks slower. Express bills dimensional weight at ÷5,000 and premium rates, making it the most expensive per kilo and only sensible for samples or urgent top-ups.

The threshold where air stops making sense

Air is worth it when the goods are high value per kilo (electronics, cosmetics, fashion) or when a stockout costs more than the freight. Compute the freight per unit at both modes and compare it with the gross profit per unit: once air freight exceeds about a third of unit gross profit, sea plus better forecasting is almost always the better trade.

Where hidden fees live

Chargeable weight is only the start. Fuel surcharge (10–30% of base), security screening, terminal handling, export documentation, customs brokerage and delivery to the warehouse all add up. Enter them in the fixed-fee field: on a 25-carton shipment they can be 15–25% of the total.

Frequently Asked Questions

How is chargeable weight calculated?

Chargeable weight is the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight. Volumetric weight = length × width × height in cm ÷ 6,000, applied per carton or to the total volume.

Why is my air freight based on volume?

Aircraft hold space, not just weight. A shipment that fills the hold without approaching the payload limit is billed for the space, so the volumetric formula converts volume into an equivalent weight.

What rate per kg should I expect?

Air cargo from China to the US or Europe typically runs $4–8 per kg for general cargo on economy services, with express couriers much higher. Rates move with fuel, season and capacity, so treat the rate you enter as the forwarder's current quote.

Do fixed fees matter on small shipments?

Enormously. Fuel surcharge, security fee, terminal handling and customs clearance are largely fixed, so 10 cartons can carry the same $250 of fees as 100. Per-unit cost falls sharply with volume — that is usually the deciding factor for small restocks.

Can I reduce volumetric weight without cutting volume?

Not really: the formula uses the outer dimensions of the shipment as presented, so a pallet or loose carton is measured as it is. Denser packing (more units per carton) is the only lever that reduces the volumetric weight per unit.