What is chargeable weight?

The weight a forwarder charges for. It is the higher of the gross weight and the volume weight. A light, bulky shipment pays for the space it takes. A heavy, compact shipment pays for its gross weight. The factor that turns volume into weight comes from the forwarder’s terms.

How do I calculate CBM?

Multiply the length, width and height in metres. A pallet of 120 × 80 × 150 cm is 1.2 × 0.8 × 1.5 = 1.44 m³. Multiply by the number of pieces and add the lines. Measure the package with the goods on it, at the widest and highest points.

What volume factor do road forwarders use?

Many use 333 kg per cubic metre for road groupage, so 1 m³ counts as 333 kg. Some use 250 or 300. The factor sits in the forwarder’s terms or in your offer. Use the same factor when you compare two prices. Otherwise the cheaper offer can cost more in the end.

Why does my invoice show more kilograms than my goods weigh?

Because the forwarder charged the volume weight. Bulky goods take more space than their weight suggests. Enter the sizes and the gross weight, and the calculator shows both numbers. If the invoice uses another factor than your offer, ask the forwarder about it.

Does RNJ Transport price by volume?

No. We price a full truckload per truck. Our team also checks the weight. We tell you before booking which basis your price uses. Send the route, the date, the sizes and the weight in the price form. You can also call us.

CBM and chargeable weight calculator for freight

RNJ Transport’s free calculator gives the volume (CBM) and the chargeable weight of a shipment. Enter the size, number and weight of each package, then choose the factor from your offer. The chargeable weight is the higher of the gross weight and the volume times the factor.

We filled in an example. Change any number to see your own result.

Your result

1,919 kg Chargeable weight

Volume: 5.76 m³
Gross weight: 720 kg
Volume weight: 1,918.1 kg
Density: 125 kg/m³

The volume decides. You pay for 1,919 kg, not for the 720 kg your goods weigh.
Forwarders use different factors. Check the factor in your offer before you compare prices.

The button adds these numbers to the price form at the bottom of this page.

Volume in cubic metres = length × width × height in metres, times the number of pieces.
Chargeable weight is the higher of the gross weight and the volume weight.
Volume weight = cubic metres × the factor. Many road forwarders use 333 kg per m³, but the factor differs between forwarders.
Light, bulky goods pay by volume. Heavy, compact goods pay by weight.

How the calculator works

The calculator multiplies the length, width and height of each package, in metres, by the number of pieces and adds the lines. That gives the volume in cubic metres (m³, also called CBM). It multiplies the volume by the factor you choose to get the volume weight. The higher of the volume weight and the gross weight is the chargeable weight, rounded up to a whole kilogram.

In the example, 4 pallets of 120 × 80 × 150 cm weigh 180 kg each. Together they are 5.76 m³ and 720 kg. At 333 kg per m³ the volume weight is 1,918.1 kg. The forwarder charges for 1,919 kg, not for 720 kg.

Factors by transport mode

Each transport mode uses its own factor, and forwarders inside one mode can differ. Many road forwarders use 333 kg per m³ for groupage. Some use 250 or 300. Check the factor in your offer before you compare two prices.

Common volume factors
Mode	Factor	Same as
Road groupage	333 kg per m³	1 m³ counts as 333 kg
Express parcels	200 kg per m³	5,000 cm³ count as 1 kg
Air freight	167 kg per m³	6,000 cm³ count as 1 kg
Sea groupage	1,000 kg per m³	1 m³ counts as 1 tonne

Volume, loading metres and full trucks

RNJ Transport focuses on full truckloads. A full truck has one price for the truck, and our team checks the weight. Part loads are usually priced by loading metres or pallets. Volume matters most for loose packages in groupage. For pallets on a trailer floor, use our loading metre calculator as well.

Sources (3)

Numbers checked on 19 October 2026

Frequently asked questions

What is chargeable weight?

The weight a forwarder charges for. It is the higher of the gross weight and the volume weight. A light, bulky shipment pays for the space it takes. A heavy, compact shipment pays for its gross weight. The factor that turns volume into weight comes from the forwarder’s terms.
How do I calculate CBM?

Multiply the length, width and height in metres. A pallet of 120 × 80 × 150 cm is 1.2 × 0.8 × 1.5 = 1.44 m³. Multiply by the number of pieces and add the lines. Measure the package with the goods on it, at the widest and highest points.
What volume factor do road forwarders use?

Many use 333 kg per cubic metre for road groupage, so 1 m³ counts as 333 kg. Some use 250 or 300. The factor sits in the forwarder’s terms or in your offer. Use the same factor when you compare two prices. Otherwise the cheaper offer can cost more in the end.
Why does my invoice show more kilograms than my goods weigh?

Because the forwarder charged the volume weight. Bulky goods take more space than their weight suggests. Enter the sizes and the gross weight, and the calculator shows both numbers. If the invoice uses another factor than your offer, ask the forwarder about it.
Does RNJ Transport price by volume?

No. We price a full truckload per truck. Our team also checks the weight. We tell you before booking which basis your price uses. Send the route, the date, the sizes and the weight in the price form. You can also call us.

Other free tools

Price for your shipment

Send the route, the date, the sizes and the weight in the price form. You can also call us. We tell you which basis your price uses before you book.

+370 698 38573

A person in our Klaipėda office answers your call.

Mon–Fri 08:00–17:00, Lithuanian time

Get a price

Send your route and your phone number. We call you back about the price.