Logistics Terms
Gross vs Net vs Volumetric Weight Explained
4 min read
Weight terms cause a lot of confusion in shipping. Knowing the difference between gross, net and volumetric weight helps you understand how your freight will be charged.
The three weights
- Net weight: the weight of the goods alone.
- Gross weight: the goods plus all packaging and pallets.
- Volumetric (dimensional) weight: a weight derived from the cargo size, used when bulky cargo takes more space than its actual weight suggests.
Chargeable weight
Carriers charge on the greater of actual gross weight and volumetric weight. For air freight, volumetric weight in kilograms is length x width x height in centimetres divided by 6000. Light but bulky cargo is therefore often charged on volume, not scale weight.