In the international express delivery pricing system, “Additional Weight” refers to a fixed fee charged for the excess weight of a shipment after it exceeds the “First Weight.” Together with the “First Weight,” it forms the core “First Weight + Additional Weight” billing model. The First Weight is the “basic threshold fee” for express delivery services (covering costs such as pickup, basic handling, and the initial leg of transportation), while the Additional Weight is the “incremental cost charge” for the portion exceeding the First Weight. Essentially, it distributes shipping costs based on the weight of the shipment.
First, Understand the Basic Concepts: The Relationship Between First Weight, Additional Weight, and Chargeable Weight
To understand additional weight, you must first understand the logic behind “first weight” and “chargeable weight.” These three elements are the core of the interdependent billing process:
First weight: The minimum weight unit set for international express delivery, typically 0.5kg or 1kg (different channels have different standards; commercial express delivery typically uses 0.5kg, while postal delivery typically uses 1kg). Regardless of whether the actual weight of the shipment reaches the first weight, the first weight rate is charged (for example, a 100g shipment will still be charged a 0.5kg first weight rate).
Additional weight: The fee for each additional fixed unit of weight (the same as the first weight unit, i.e., 0.5kg or 1kg) above the first weight. For example, if the first weight of 0.5kg is charged 80 yuan, and the additional weight of 0.5kg is charged 30 yuan, then the charge for a 1.5kg shipment is “80 yuan for the first weight + 30 yuan for two additional weights = 140 yuan.”
Billable Weight: As mentioned above, international express delivery calculates the billable weight based on the greater of the actual weight and the volumetric weight. The additional weight is calculated based on the billable weight, not the actual weight of the shipment. For example, if a bulk shipment weighs 1kg and has a volumetric weight of 2kg, and is charged based on the 0.5kg first weight/additional weight, the billable weight is 2kg, and the charge is “first weight + three additional weights.”
- Core Billing Rules for Additional Weight: Significant Differences Across Channels
Additional weight billing is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Different international express delivery channels (commercial express, dedicated lines, and postal services) differ significantly in their initial weight unit, additional weight unit price, and tiered discounts, which directly impact the final freight cost.
- Commercial Express: 0.5kg per unit, with high but stable additional weight unit prices.
Commercial express delivery services such as DHL, FedEx, and UPS are typical examples of the “initial weight + additional weight” model, offering detailed and standardized billing:
Initial weight/additional weight unit: The unit is uniformly 0.5kg (i.e., each 0.5kg unit represents a billing tier). Any weight less than 0.5kg is rounded up to 0.5kg (e.g., 1.2kg is billed as 1.5kg, requiring a “initial weight + two additional weight” fee).
Additional weight pricing characteristics: Additional weight pricing is typically lower than the initial weight pricing (the initial weight includes basic service costs), and the additional weight pricing may decrease slightly with increasing weight (a slight tiered discount).
For example, using DHL’s standard shipping route from China to the US, the initial weight of 0.5kg costs approximately 150 RMB, and additional weights of 0.5kg cost approximately 40 RMB. The cost of a 1kg shipment (initial weight + 1 additional weight) is 150 + 40 = 190 RMB; the cost of a 2kg shipment (initial weight + 3 additional weights) is 150 + 40 × 3 = 270 RMB.
Surcharge impact: Additional weight fees are subject to a fuel surcharge (charged as a percentage of the total initial and additional weight costs). For example, if the fuel surcharge is 20%, a 270 RMB shipment will require an additional 54 RMB in fuel costs, for a total of 324 RMB.
- Cross-border Express: 1kg units, high cost-effectiveness of additional weight pricing
First/Additional Weight Units: Mostly 1kg (a few light and small express lines use 0.5kg). Any weight less than 1kg is calculated as 1kg (for example, 1.1kg is billed as 2kg).
Features of Additional Weight Pricing: The difference between the additional weight price and the first weight price is small, and after weight exceeds 5kg, the additional weight price decreases significantly (with more pronounced tiered discounts).
Advantageous Scenarios: Suitable for shipments weighing 1-30kg. The tiered additional weight discounts significantly reduce unit costs, making it more cost-effective than commercial express.
- Postal Channels: 1kg units, low additional weight unit price, but with a weight limit.
Postal channels like EMS and postal parcels, leveraging the Universal Postal Union network, offer more inclusive additional weight rules:
First weight/additional weight unit: EMS is 0.5kg, postal parcels are mostly 1kg, and any weight less than the unit weight is calculated based on the unit weight.
Features of additional weight unit price: Additional weight unit price is significantly lower than commercial express and dedicated lines, and there are no hidden costs like fuel surcharges. However, there is a weight limit (postal parcels are generally ≤30kg).
For example: EMS shipping from China to Southeast Asia costs approximately 50 yuan for a first weight of 0.5kg and approximately 15 yuan for an additional 0.5kg. The cost for a 2kg shipment is 50 + 15 × 3 = 95 yuan, which is only about one-third of the cost of commercial express for the same weight.
Limitations: Delivery times are slow (2-3 times slower than commercial express delivery), and bulk cargo is charged based on volume and weight. This makes it suitable for lightweight, small, and time-sensitive shipments.
- Special Rules: “Large shipments are priced per kilogram,” with no distinction between initial and additional weights.
When a shipment’s weight exceeds a certain threshold (usually 30kg or 50kg, with varying standards across different delivery channels), some delivery channels will cancel the “initial weight + additional weight” model and instead charge a “flat kilogram price” (i.e., a fixed price per kilogram with no initial weight threshold). For example, UPS’s heavy-cargo delivery service charges 25 yuan/kg for shipments over 30kg, 22 yuan/kg for shipments over 50kg, and as low as 20 yuan/kg for shipments over 100kg. This model reduces unit costs as the weight increases, making it more cost-effective than the “initial weight + additional weight” model and suitable for large shipments.
- Tips for Saving Money on Added Weight: Optimize Weight, Channels, and Packaging
Added weight charges are a core component of international express delivery costs (especially for shipments over 10kg, where they account for over 60%). Accurate planning can significantly reduce costs. Here are six practical tips:
- Core Tip: “Rounding Weight” – Take advantage of tiered discounts to avoid “wasted weight”
The unit price for added weight for commercial express and dedicated lines decreases with increasing weight. Therefore, “rounding up” or “consolidating shipments” can reduce unit added weight costs:
Small and Light Package Rounding: If you have multiple 0.3kg shipments to the same address, you can consolidate them into a single 1.2kg shipment (charged as 1.5kg). This saves money compared to sending three separate shipments (each charged as 0.5kg). For example, shipping three separate shipments would cost 3 x 80 = 240 yuan; consolidating would cost 80 + 30 x 2 = 140 yuan, a 41% savings.
Large shipments that reach the “discount threshold” can be added by 2kg (bringing it to 30kg), triggering the “kilogram price above 30kg” (e.g., from 28 yuan/kg to 25 yuan/kg). The total cost drops from 28 x 28 = 784 yuan to 30 x 25 = 750 yuan, effectively making it cheaper.
- Channel selection: Match the weight to the channel with the best “price for first weight/additional weight”
Different weight ranges require different channels. Choosing the wrong channel can lead to inflated additional weight costs:
For light and small shipments between 0.5-2kg: Choose postal or dedicated parcel service. The first weight is approximately 30-50 yuan per kg, and the additional weight is approximately 20-30 yuan per kg, which is over 60% cheaper than commercial express (150 yuan for first weight + 40 yuan for additional weight).
Medium-sized shipments 2-30kg: Choose a dedicated cross-border shipping line. Additional weight costs approximately 40-60 yuan per kg, 20%-30% lower than commercial express. If time is of the essence, choose an economy-class commercial express delivery channel (such as FedEx IE). Additional weight costs are 15% lower than standard delivery.
Large shipments over 30kg: Choose a heavy-lift delivery channel with a “kilogram price” model (such as UPS Heavy Freight or a dedicated freight forwarder). These services bypass the initial weight and are charged at 20-30 yuan per kg, saving over 30% compared to the “initial weight + additional weight” model.
- Split the Shipment: Avoid Wasted Additional Weight at the “Weight Critical Point”
International express delivery uses a rounding system (e.g., a 1.1kg shipment is charged as 1.5kg, resulting in an additional 0.4kg additional weight charge). Splitting the shipment can avoid this “weight critical point” waste:
Example: A 1.6kg shipment is charged based on a 0.5kg initial weight/additional weight, resulting in a 2.0kg fee for “initial weight + 3 additional weight charges.” If the shipment is split into two pieces (one 0.8kg and one 0.8kg), each piece is charged as 1.0kg, resulting in an additional fee for “initial weight + 1 additional weight charge” for each piece. The total fee is 2 × (initial weight + 1 additional weight charge), saving one additional weight charge compared to the original plan.
Note: Splitting must comply with the channel’s “single piece weight limit” (e.g., postal parcels ≤ 2kg), and avoid excessive splitting that could lead to customs clearance risks (e.g., being identified as “split declaration”).
- Volume Reduction: Lowering the Chargeable Weight and Reducing the Base Weight
The base weight is calculated based on the “chargeable weight.” Reducing the volumetric weight of bulky goods can directly reduce the number of additional weight charges:
How to Use: Use vacuum compression bags for bulky goods like down jackets and quilts to reduce their volume to 1/3 of their original size. Use small cartons that fit snugly to avoid “packing small items into large boxes.”
Example: A bulky item with an actual weight of 2kg and a volumetric weight of 5kg would have an additional weight of 0.5kg, requiring a “first weight + 9 additional weights” fee. After compression, the volumetric weight is reduced to 3kg, requiring only “first weight + 5 additional weights,” saving the additional weight fee by 4 (approximately 120-200 yuan).
- Negotiate with the Freight Forwarder: Strive for “Subsequent Weight Discounts” or “First Weight Exemptions”
If you’re a cross-border e-commerce seller or a frequent shipper, negotiating additional weight discounts with a first-tier freight forwarder is the most direct way to save money:
Subsequent Weight Discounts: For monthly shipments of 100kg or more, you can expect a 20%-90% discount on additional weight; for shipments over 500kg, additional weight discounts can be as low as 30% and some fuel surcharges may be waived.
First Weight Exemptions: For bulk shipments (e.g., 10 or more pieces), you can negotiate a “combined first weight” (e.g., for 10 pieces, only one will be charged the first weight, with the remaining pieces charged the additional weight), significantly reducing your base costs.
- Avoid “Hidden Weight Gains”: Reduce Packaging Weight to Lower Billable Weight
The weight of packaging materials is included in the “actual weight,” increasing the number of re-weighings. Lightweight packaging can indirectly save on re-weighing fees:
Replacing packaging: Replacing foam blocks with thin bubble wrap and replacing thick corrugated boxes with kraft paper can reduce packaging weight by 0.2-0.5kg.
Removing Redundancy: Cross-border e-commerce sellers can simplify the original product packaging (e.g., removing unnecessary branded paper boxes), retaining only the shock-absorbing layer. This does not compromise product safety and reduces weight.
IV. Common Misconceptions (Newbies Must Avoid)
Misconception 1: “The cheaper the re-weighing, the better, regardless of the initial weight.”
Wrong! You need to consider the total price of “initial weight + re-weighing.” For example, if Channel A charges 100 yuan for the initial weight and 30 yuan for the additional weight, and Channel B charges 80 yuan for the initial weight and 40 yuan for the additional weight, then a 1kg shipment would cost 130 yuan for Channel A and 120 yuan for Channel B; a 2kg shipment would cost 190 yuan for Channel A and 160 yuan for Channel B. The total price should be calculated based on the weight.
Misconception 2: “All channels use the same additional weight unit.”
Wrong! Commercial express delivery typically uses 0.5kg, dedicated lines typically use 1kg, and large postal packages use 1kg. Confirm the unit before shipping to avoid miscalculating the freight due to a misinterpretation of the unit.
Misconception 3: “Large shipments are always cheaper by kilogram.”
Wrong! You need to compare the cost of “initial weight + additional weight” with the “kilogram price.” For example, for a 30kg shipment, “150 yuan for initial weight + 30 yuan for additional weight x 59” = 1920 yuan, with a kilogram price of 25 yuan/kg = 750 yuan, making the latter cheaper. However, for a 25kg shipment, “150 yuan for initial weight + 30 yuan for additional weight x 49” = 1620 yuan, with a kilogram price of 35 yuan/kg = 875 yuan, making the former cheaper.
(Note: All fees mentioned above are for reference only. Please refer to your actual invoice for details. Thank you!)
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