Air Freight Imports: Chargeable Weight and Restricted Items
Air freight is often charged on volumetric rather than actual weight. We explain the 1:6000 formula with a worked example, when air makes sense, and which goods need special handling.
Air freight is the quick way to bring goods from the Far East to Turkey. A journey that takes weeks by sea is often completed within days by air. The cost per unit is much higher, though, so air freight makes sense for the right products in the right situations.
How is the price calculated?
Air freight is not priced on kilograms alone. Space on an aircraft is limited, so light but bulky cargo takes up more room than its weight suggests. Two values are calculated and you pay for whichever is higher:
- Actual (gross) weight: what the cartons weigh on the scale.
- Volumetric weight: a weight calculated from the space the cartons occupy.
The ratio commonly used in air cargo is 1:6000:
Volumetric weight (kg) = Length x Width x Height (cm) / 6000
Some express courier services use a different divisor, such as 5000, so ask which ratio applies when you get a quote.
Worked example
You are shipping 10 cartons. Each carton measures 60 x 50 x 40 cm and weighs 12 kg.
- Volume of one carton: 60 x 50 x 40 = 120,000 cm³
- Volumetric weight of one carton: 120,000 / 6000 = 20 kg
- Total volumetric weight: 10 x 20 = 200 kg
- Total actual weight: 10 x 12 = 120 kg
The chargeable weight is 200 kg, because the volumetric weight is higher than the actual weight.
If the same 10 cartons measured 40 x 30 x 30 cm and weighed 15 kg each, each carton's volumetric weight would be 36,000 / 6000 = 6 kg. In that case the actual weight of 150 kg would be charged.
| Case | Actual weight | Volumetric weight | Chargeable |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulky cargo | 120 kg | 200 kg | 200 kg |
| Dense cargo | 150 kg | 60 kg | 150 kg |
The practical lesson: empty space, oversized boxes and bulky filling material go straight onto the bill. Reducing packaging size is often an easy saving.
When does air freight make sense?
- Samples and prototypes.
- Urgent top-up orders when stock is running low.
- Small, high-value items such as electronic accessories or spare parts.
- Time-sensitive products that must not miss their season.
- Products with a short shelf life that need controlled conditions.
Heavy machinery, stone, large quantities of liquid and low-value bulky goods are usually not economical by air; sea or road freight suits them better.
Restricted items and goods needing special handling
For flight safety, some goods are either not accepted by air or must travel with special packaging, labels and declarations:
- Lithium batteries: batteries shipped on their own follow different rules from batteries packed with or inside equipment. Test documents, state-of-charge limits, special labels and packaging may be required, and some types may travel only on cargo aircraft. Power banks fall into this category too.
- Flammable liquids: perfume, products containing alcohol, some paints, varnishes and adhesives.
- Aerosols and compressed gases.
- Strong magnets and magnetised products, including some loudspeakers.
- Dry ice, certain chemicals and corrosive substances.
These rules are updated regularly, so check the current requirements before shipping and keep the product's safety data sheet ready. For battery-powered products such as mobile phones, IMEI registration is also required in Turkey in addition to transport rules.
Used well, air freight is a powerful way to save time. TurnOn Global can check whether your product is suitable for air, work out the chargeable weight, plan the packaging and handle customs clearance for you. Feel free to send your questions via WhatsApp or the contact form.
