> ## Knowledge Base Index
> Fetch the complete knowledge base index at: https://help.tunl.to/sitemap.xml
> Use this file to discover available pages before exploring further.
> Pure-Markdown content can be obtained by appending a '.md' suffix to the content URLs listed in the sitemap (without the trailing slash).

# Rates Explained: Volume vs. Actual Weight in International Shipping

When it comes to international shipping, size really does matter 😅, especially when it comes to pricing. If you're a South African business looking to scale globally, knowing how shipping rates are calculated can save you serious 💰.

Here’s a quick, clear breakdown of how it all works, and how TUNL makes it easier.

### 🚚 What Is Chargeable Weight?

**Chargeable weight** is the number that couriers use to calculate your shipping cost. It’s either:

* the **actual weight** (what the parcel weighs on a scale), or

* the **volumetric weight** (how much space it takes up),

...whichever is **greater**.

| Why? Because a lightweight but bulky parcel still hogs space on the plane ✈️.

At TUNL, we calculate your chargeable weight automatically in our booking platform, so you don’t need a maths degree to ship globally 🎓.


### 📏 How to Calculate Volumetric Weight

Use this formula to work it out yourself (but we do it for you in the app when you book your shipment 😉):

**Volumetric Weight (kg) = Length × Width × Height (cm) ÷ 5000**

###### 🔍 Real-World Example:

Let’s say your parcel is 50cm x 40cm x 30cm and weighs 6kg.
That’s: **(50 × 40 × 30) ÷ 5000 = 12kg**

Now imagine your actual weight is just 6kg - you’ll still be charged for **12kg**, because that’s the higher number. 📦 > ⚖️


### ⚖️ Actual vs Volumetric: Which One Counts?

Here’s a simple way to think about it:

| **Parcel Type** | **Weight** | **Volume** | **Chargeable Weight** |
| ---- |
| Small & heavy ⚒️ | 10kg | 6kg | 10kg |
| Big & light 🎈 | 4kg | 8kg | 8kg |
| Perfect cube 🧊 | 12kg | 12kg | 12kg |

Whatever’s higher = your cost basis.

### 🧮 Weight Breaks & Courier Rates

International couriers use **half-kilogram (0.5kg)** weight breaks. Here’s what that means:

* 📦 0.1kg to 0.5kg = charged as 0.5kg

* 📦 0.5001kg = charged as 1kg

* 📦 1.1kg = charged as 1.5kg


|| So if your parcel tips just over a break point, it gets rounded up. Every. Single. Time. 📈


### 🔧 TUNL’s Built-In Chargeable Weight Tool

We get it, no one wants to punch formulas into a calculator before sending a parcel 😵‍💫.

With TUNL, just pop in your parcel’s size and weight, and we’ll show you the [chargeable weight](https://toolbox.tunl.to/tools?signedin=true) instantly. That’s **instant clarity**, zero spreadsheets. 💡


### 💻 Get a Quick or Exact Shipping Quote

Want to know how much you’ll pay?
* 🌐 Use our [website](https://www.tunl.to/#calculator) for a quick quote (no login needed).

* 📍Need an exact rate to a specific address? Log in to our [booking platform](https://app.tunl.to/) and get a precise quote in seconds.


### 🧠 Pro Tip: Sync Chargeable Weights to Your Online Store

Chargeable weights aren’t just for courier quotes, they’re essential for **accurate pricing in your e-commerce store** 🛒.

If you only use actual weight in your product listings, you risk:

* Undercharging for shipping (💸 oops!)

* Cart abandonment due to last-minute price jumps

* Customer service headaches from mismatched delivery costs 😬


||| **✅ Solution:** Make sure your **product weights reflect the chargeable weight**, not just the scale weight. Most platforms like Shopify or WooCommerce let you input custom shipping weights, use this to your advantage.

👉 This helps you offer realistic, upfront pricing and keeps customers happy all the way to checkout. 


### ✅ TL;DR – Your Shipping Cheat Sheet

* Chargeable Weight = Higher of actual or volumetric weight

* Volumetric Weight Formula = L x W x H / 5000

* Couriers charge in 0.5kg weight breaks

* TUNL auto-calculates it all, so you don’t have to
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### 🦸‍♀️ Have more questions? We're here to help!
If you run into any issues or have questions, reach out to our support team via Whatsapp [__here__](http://wa.link/gpiyz3) or on chat [__here__](https://tunl.to/#crisp-open).

**Please help us help you by rating this article below. Was it useful? Your feedback means a lot to us!**
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