How to Measure the Sizes of Incoming Cargo in International Shipping

The measurement of billable weight is not a standard unilaterally set by a certain international logistics company. Instead, it's based on international standards. Whether it's international express delivery or international logistics, the billable weight is determined by either volumetric weight or actual weight, whichever is greater. When encountering goods with a high volumetric weight, some people may feel they are being cheated. But remember, even though your goods are light, they occupy a lot of space. For instance, imagine a container that can hold 10 tons of cargo. Your bulky goods, despite their low actual weight, occupy two-thirds of the container. This means that instead of loading 10 tons, the container may only hold 8 tons. If we calculate the freight based on actual weight, the shipping and airline companies would have incredibly high transportation costs. In other words, who would want to do a losing business? I hope this explanation helps you understand the concept better.

So, when you need international shipping, it's crucial to know whether your goods are heavy by weight or by volume. This way, you won't be caught off guard when the weight is confirmed, shouting in indignation about how the freight forwarder is "cheating" you. They'd be totally innocent!

Here's how the international standard measures volumetric weight:

 

For international logistics billing:

Length (cm)×Width (cm)×Height (cm)÷6000 = Weight (KG)

 

For international express billing:

Length (cm)×Width (cm)×Height (cm)÷5000 = Weight (KG)

 

Generally, there shouldn't be much of a problem following these standards. After all, every inch has its strengths and weaknesses. With standard packaging, even a slight error of 1-2cm is understandable. This way, even if you calculate based on volumetric weight, there won't be a huge discrepancy in the data. But what causes these measurement differences?

Well, at this point, you might want to consider whether your packaging is irregularly shaped. Everyone knows how to measure the length, width, and height of a square box, but how about an oddly shaped one like the one below? Do you know how to measure it?

 

According to international standards, for irregularly shaped goods, we need to use three planes to support the most protruding points of the item from all angles. Then, we measure the length, width, and height. In other words, we measure the longest, widest, and highest dimensions. And that's how its billing weight is calculated:

 

Longest (cm)×Widest (cm)×Highest (cm)÷6000/5000 = Weight (KG)

 

So, naturally, the dimensions of your goods will be larger than what you measured using standard methods. It's not that the freight forwarder is trying to "steal" your weight; it's just that the international standards are like that.

Now, once you're aware of this measurement standard, you can try your best to avoid irregular shapes that might inflate the dimensions when shipping. Unless, of course, your goods are inherently non-standard in shape and cannot be altered (in that case, just measure according to the rules and don't sweat it). And when packing, don't try to save a few boxes by jamming everything in and turning a neatly shaped box into a misshapen mess. You might think you're getting a good deal, but in reality, you're just setting yourself up for a big loss.

Many foreign trade professionals tend to rely solely on the box dimensions printed on the packaging, but little do they know that those dimensions are actually the inner measurements. When it comes to actual measurement, we're talking about the outer dimensions. So, it's always a bit puzzling when you find that your goods seem to be a bit larger at the freight forwarder's than what you initially thought. Of course, for solid, heavy goods, this isn't much of a concern. The weight is what it is, and a 1-2 pound error is pretty normal.

And here's another fun fact: Whether your goods are solid and heavy or bulky and light, if the billable weight falls below 12KG, it'll still be rounded up to 12KG for calculation. This isn't just a rule made up by some international logistics company; it's actually an international industry standard. So, if you think you might be "losing out," it's a good idea to take this factor into account when choosing and packing your boxes.

In conclusion, don't always assume that your freight forwarder is trying to swindle you; they're actually quite innocent. In most cases, the staff at reputable freight forwarding companies never even lay eyes on the goods themselves. They don't measure the dimensions of the cargo; all the data they see is based on the warehouse's shipping system. So, what they see is exactly what you see. After all, business isn't just a one-time deal. Integrity is the lifeblood of any freight forwarding company. Losing a customer is far easier than gaining one, so would you really want to risk smashing your own rice bowl?