LCL sea & air — the real chargeable cost, free
Sea LCL charges on the revenue ton (CBM vs weight, whichever is greater); air charges on chargeable weight (actual vs volumetric). This tool works out both — and the cost per package and per unit.
💡 The values below are an example. Replace them with your own package size, weight and your forwarder's rate to get your real freight cost.
The outside dimensions of one package (box, carton, crate or pallet), measured at the widest points.
How many packages ship, the gross weight of each, and (optionally) how many sellable units are inside each — used for the cost-per-unit figure.
The LCL rate your forwarder quotes per CBM (or per revenue ton) — ask them for the “W/M” rate.
Total LCL sea freight
$648.00
7.200 revenue tons × $90.00
Formulas used
CBM = length × width × height (in metres)
LCL revenue ton = greater of total CBM and total weight in tonnes
Air volumetric weight (kg) = L × W × H in cm ÷ 6000
Air chargeable weight = greater of actual and volumetric weight
Freight = chargeable × rate · per unit = freight ÷ total units
LCL — less-than-container-load — is how you ship when you don't have enough cargo to fill a whole container. The forwarder consolidates your goods with other shippers' and bills you on the revenue ton (also written W/M, for “weight or measure”): the greater of your total CBM and your total weight in tonnes, since 1 CBM is treated as roughly 1 tonne. Light, bulky cargo is charged on its volume; dense, heavy cargo on its weight. That's why a CBM-only estimate can badly understate the bill for heavy goods — and this calculator flags exactly which basis you're being charged on.
Airlines charge on chargeable weight — the greater of your shipment's actual (gross) weight and its volumetric weight. Volumetric weight converts size into a weight-equivalent using the IATA divisor of 6000: length × width × height in centimetres ÷ 6000 = kg. A featherlight but bulky shipment therefore still pays for the space it occupies in the hold. Enter your package's weight and this tool tells you whether actual or volumetric weight wins, and what that means for the cost. (Some express couriers use a 5000 divisor, which makes bulky parcels dearer — check your carrier and adjust the rate.)
As a rule, sea LCL is far cheaper per kilo but slow (weeks), while air is fast (days) but priced at a premium and punishes bulk through volumetric weight. Low-value, non-urgent, bulky goods almost always go by sea; high-value, urgent, or dense-and-compact goods often justify air. The break-even shifts with fuel prices and season, so the honest answer is to price both: run the same package through LCL and Air here, compare the totals, and factor in the cash tied up while sea cargo is in transit.
How is LCL sea freight priced?
LCL (less-than-container-load) is charged on the “revenue ton” or W/M (weight or measure) — whichever is greater between your total CBM and your total weight in tonnes (1 CBM ≈ 1 tonne). The forwarder multiplies that by the rate per CBM/ton. Light, bulky cargo is charged on volume; dense cargo on weight. This tool shows which one applies.
How is air freight priced?
Air freight is charged on the chargeable weight — the greater of actual weight and volumetric (dimensional) weight. Volumetric weight (kg) = length × width × height in cm ÷ 6000. The rate per kg is then applied to that chargeable weight, so bulky-but-light shipments still pay for the space they take.
What is the difference between CBM and chargeable weight?
CBM is pure volume (m³). Chargeable weight is what you actually pay on: for sea LCL it's the revenue ton (CBM vs tonnes, whichever is larger); for air it's the chargeable weight (actual vs volumetric, whichever is larger). A quote based on CBM alone can understate the cost if your cargo is heavy or, for air, dense.
What divisor is used for air volumetric weight?
This calculator uses the IATA standard divisor of 6000 (centimetres), i.e. L × W × H in cm ÷ 6000 = kg. Some express couriers use 5000 instead, which makes bulky parcels more expensive — check your carrier's terms and adjust the rate accordingly.
How do I get the shipping cost per unit?
Enter how many units are in each package and the tool divides the total freight down to a per-unit figure — the number you need when pricing a product. Pair it with our CBM calculator for the volume and the container load calculator for how many fit a box.
Does this include duty, customs or local charges?
No — this is the freight (shipping) cost only. Import duty, customs clearance, port and haulage charges are separate and vary by country and HS code. Add them on top when working out your full landed cost.
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