How to calculate the international air freight price?

Airsupply
5 min readJul 27, 2022

Content:
1. What are the air freight charges?
(1) Calculation of Airline Freight Charges
(2) Calculation method of international air express air freight price
2. Air freight billable weight for heavy cargo and bubble cargo
(1) Heavy cargo
(2) Throwing goods
3. Example description of air freight billable weight
4. Air freight billable weight for multiple pieces of goods

The international air freight price mainly consists of Airfreight freight, Fuel surcharge, security inspection fee, airport operation fee, air master bill, and other expenses. So how is the international air freight price calculated? Let’s share with you how to calculate the air freight price!

1. What are the air freight charges?

There are generally two types of air freight costs, one is to take the freight of the airline, and the other is to take the international air express. Their calculation methods are different.

(1) Calculation of Airline Freight Charges

The freight of the airline is mainly composed of two parts: freight and miscellaneous charges. The unit price is calculated according to the weight class, generally, there are 5 classes: +45KG, +100KG (goods above 100KG) +300KG, +500KG, and +1000KG. Generally, if there is no corresponding level of freight, the freight will be calculated according to the TACT price (air freight rate). The billable weight of the goods is also an important place. The weight of the goods is divided into two aspects: volume weight and gross weight. When the volumetric weight is greater than the gross weight, the volumetric weight is the billable weight of the goods, and when the volumetric weight is less than the gross weight, the actual gross weight is the billable weight.

Miscellaneous fees include many aspects, generally including storage fees, fuel surcharges, etc. The fuel surcharge is a product of specific circumstances, and the quotations of general airlines have included this part of the cost in the freight. Another miscellaneous fee is the cost of customs declaration. According to the actual situation of the airline and the goods, the cost of customs declaration may also be omitted.

(2) Calculation method of international air express air freight price
The way to calculate the price of air freight by air express is relatively simple. It is 100 yuan per kilogram, and if it is less than 1 kilogram, it is calculated as 1 kilogram, which is suitable for the transportation of some small items.

2. Air freight billable weight for heavy cargo and bubble cargo
The so-called air freight billable weight is the weight of a batch of goods that is ultimately used to calculate the air freight. (General units are: grams, kilograms, or pounds)

(1) Heavy cargo
Domestic: Heavy cargo refers to cargo weighing more than 1 kg per 6,000 cubic centimeters or 166.67 kg per 1CBM (cubic meter).
International: Cargo weighing more than 1 kg per 166 cubic inches or one pound per 166 cubic inches.
The billable weight of the heavy cargo is its actual weight (gross weight).

The gross weight of the goods is in kilograms, and the minimum unit of billable weight is 0.5 kilograms or 1 kilogram (determined by each airline). *The small unit is 0.5 kg. When the weight is less than 0.5 kg, it will be calculated as 0.5 kg; if it exceeds 0.5 kg and less than 1 kg, it will be calculated as 1 kg. *When the smallest unit is 1kg, if it is less than 1kg, it will be calculated as 1kg.

If the gross weight of the goods is in pounds, when the goods are less than one pound, it will be calculated as one pound.

(2) Throwing goods (also known as bubble goods, in layman’s terms, light goods)
A: Actual weight B: Volume weight
If A > B then the cargo is heavy cargo, otherwise it is light cargo.
Domestic: Light cargo refers to those goods weighing less than 1 kg per 6,000 cubic centimeters or less than 166.67 kg per 1 CBM (cubic meter).
International: Cargo weighing less than 1 kg per 366 cubic inches or less than 1 pound per 166 cubic inches.
For light cargo, its dimensional weight is used as the billable weight, and the calculation method is as follows:

Regardless of the geometric shape of the goods, measure the *length, *width, and *height parts of the goods, in centimeters, meters or inches Volume weight (kg) = length (cm) × width (cm) × height (cm) ÷ 6000 = Cargo volume (cubic meters) × 167kg = Cargo volume (cubic inches) ÷ 366 Volume weight (lbs) = Cargo volume (cubic inches) ÷ 166

3. Example description of air freight billable weight
Example 1: The size of the outer package is 88cm long, 50cm wide, and 40cm high. The actual weight is 20 KG
Dimensional weight = 85 x 50 x 40/6000 = 28.33, if it is less than 1kg, it will be calculated as 1kg Dimensional weight = 29kg
Volume weight > actual weight, then the billable weight here is 29kg volume weight (the goods are light goods)
Example 2: The size of the outer package is 88cm long, 50cm wide, and 40cm high, and the actual weight is 33KG
Dimensional weight = 85 x 50 x 40/6000 = 28.33, if it is less than 1kg, it will be calculated as 1kg Dimensional weight = 29kg
Volume weight < actual weight, then the billable weight here is 33kg of actual weight (the goods are heavy goods)

Remark:
(1) The air freight billable weight is generally said to be the larger weight between the actual weight (gross weight) and the volume weight.
(2) The billing weight of domestic air freight forwarders is based on /6000 or x167;
(3), the billing weight of international express is /5000;

4. Air freight billable weight for multiple pieces of goods

In the case of centralized consignment, there may be multiple pieces of goods under the same waybill, including light goods and heavy goods. At this time, the billable weight of the batch of goods is the final billable weight, whichever is larger between the actual weight and the volumetric weight.

First, weigh the actual weight, then calculate the volumetric weight, and finally, compare the larger weight to the billable weight of the batch of goods.

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Airsupply
Airsupply

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