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.

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:

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

🔧 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 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 for a quick quote (no login needed).

• 📍Need an exact rate to a specific address? Log in to our booking platform 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 😬

👉 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

Keywords: chargeable weight calculation | volumetric vs actual weight | international shipping costs from South Africa | how to calculate shipping weight | shipping rates for South African SMEs | affordable international shipping from South Africa | how to reduce shipping costs for SMEs | bulk shipping cost reduction strategies | landed cost calculator for global shipping | best couriers for international shipping from South Africa | shipping weight guide for e-commerce businesses | WooCommerce and Shopify shipping weight integration | cross-border shipping pricing tips

Updated on: 20/06/2025