Freight & Logistics
Ocean Freight W/M Calculator
Estimate a weight-or-measure billing basis for LCL ocean cargo. Start with known shipment totals or a mixed-unit carton list, then compare measure and weight revenue tons under your forwarder's stated conversion and minimum rules.
Change any input to update the calculation. Unit changes preserve the physical quantity.
Inputs
Enter 0 for no rounding; use the actual tariff's increment.
Same currency as rate; port charges and other surcharges are excluded.
Calculated locally in your browser. No sign-up or input upload.
Results
Billed revenue tons
2 RTGoverning RT before tariff minimum
2 RTMeasure revenue tons
2 RTWeight revenue tons
1.5 RTExternal shipment volume
2 m³70.629 ft³Gross shipment weight
1,500 kg3,306.934 lbShipment density
750 kg/m³46.821 lb/ft³Weight / measure freight estimate
0 local currencyCalculation breakdown
- Billing basis
- Measure governs before tariff minimum and rounding
Assumptions & checks
W/M ratios, rounding, minimums and surcharges vary by route and tariff. Confirm the forwarder's terms; the estimate is not a complete landed-cost or shipping quote.
Formula
The common example treats 1 m³ or 1,000 kg as one revenue ton, whichever yields more. Tariff ratio, minimum and rounding remain editable; a revenue ton is a billing unit, not a physical mass unit.
Worked example
Using the default values shown in the calculator, the same formula gives the following result. This is a quick sanity check for the calculation, not a design recommendation.
Inputs
- Total shipment volume
- 2 m³
- Total gross shipment weight
- 1500 kg
- Measure basis per revenue ton
- 1 m³
- Weight basis per revenue ton
- 1000 kg
- Minimum billed revenue tons
- 1
- Round revenue tons up to increment
- 0.01
- Rate per revenue ton (optional)
- 0
- Minimum freight charge (optional)
- 0
Result
- Billed revenue tons
- 2 RT
- Governing RT before tariff minimum
- 2 RT
- Measure revenue tons
- 2 RT
- Weight revenue tons
- 1.5 RT
- External shipment volume
- 2 m³
- Gross shipment weight
- 1,500 kg
- Shipment density
- 750 kg/m³
- Weight / measure freight estimate
- 0 local currency
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Frequently asked questions
Is a revenue ton the same as a metric tonne?
No. It is a billing unit based on a tariff's volume or weight conversion. The common 1 m³ / 1,000 kg convention can bill one revenue ton even when the physical mass is much lower.
What determines whether weight or measure governs?
The tool compares the converted volume-based and weight-based RT values, then applies the entered minimum and rounding. The larger converted basis governs before those tariff rules.
Are port and documentation charges included?
No. The optional rate estimate covers only the entered W/M basis and minimum charge. Carrier surcharges and origin/destination charges must be added separately.
Reference data & method sources
- DSV: volumetric and chargeable weight conventions
Air-freight example uses 6,000 cm³/kg. Carrier divisors, rounding scope, minimums and W/M ratios are editable and must be checked against the actual tariff.