What is a revenue ton (R/T)?
The revenue ton (R/T) is the charging unit on which freight is calculated in sea part-load (LCL) transport. The volume of the cargo in cubic metres is compared with its weight in tonnes, and the larger figure counts as the unit. This comparison is called the W/M (weight or measurement) rule; at sea, 1 m³ and 1,000 kg are treated as equal.
How does the W/M rule work?
Because the equivalence at sea is 1 m³ = 1,000 kg, volume is written in cubic metres and weight in tonnes, and the two figures are put side by side. Example: 6 packages measuring 120 × 80 × 90 cm come to 5.184 m³. If the shipment weighs 2,600 kg, the weight side is 2.6 and the measurement side is 5.184; since measurement is the larger, freight is calculated on 5.184 R/T. If the same volume weighed 7,000 kg, weight would dominate at 7 R/T.
- Equivalence: 1 m³ = 1,000 kg; the larger side is charged
- 5.184 m³ / 2,600 kg → 5.184 R/T (measurement dominates)
Minimum unit: when the calculation falls below 1 R/T
Most tariffs have a minimum unit: even if the calculation comes below 1 R/T, charging is done on at least 1 R/T. For a single pallet of 0.4 m³ and 300 kg the calculation gives 0.4 R/T, and the invoice still counts 1 R/T. The measurement is always the outer measurement; the pallet board, the stretch film and any overhanging packaging are included in the volume. If the declaration does not match the measurement taken at the consolidation warehouse, the invoice is corrected to the warehouse measurement.
- Even if the calculation falls below 1 R/T, at least 1 R/T applies
- The measurement is the outer measurement: pallet, stretch film and overhanging packaging included
Why is the revenue ton not used in air and road freight?
In these two modes the comparison is not made between cubic metres and tonnes but in kilograms. The volume is first converted to kilograms with a divisor, which is 6000 as the IATA reference in general air cargo, 5000 in express courier networks and commonly 3000 in road part-load, and the resulting volumetric weight is then compared with the actual gross weight; the larger becomes the chargeable weight. At sea there is no divisor; the equivalence of 1 m³ = 1,000 kg is a much higher threshold, corresponding to a divisor of 1000.
- Air (IATA) ÷ 6000, express ÷ 5000, road part-load ÷ 3000
- Sea LCL: no divisor; cubic metres are compared with tonnes
How it relates to the loading metre (ldm) in road part-load
Road freight has a second basis: the loading metre (ldm), the length that the cargo takes up on the trailer floor. Because the inner width of a standard trailer is taken as 2.40 m, ldm is found by dividing the floor area by 2.40. A 120 × 80 cm euro pallet covers 0.96 m²; that is 0.4 ldm, and with the conversion 1 ldm ≈ 1,750 kg it counts as 700 kg. The difference from the revenue ton is that ldm looks at the floor area, not the volume. The calculation is available in the loading metre calculator, and the full-truck and part-load choice is described under FTL and LTL.
- ldm = floor area (m²) ÷ 2.40; 1 ldm ≈ 1,750 kg
- For cargo that cannot be stacked, ldm is counted in full without regard to height
In which cargo does volume decide, and in which weight?
What decides is density: how many kilograms come in a cubic metre. If the density is above the threshold of the mode, actual weight is charged; if it is below, volume is charged. The thresholds are the counterpart of the divisor: 167 kg/m³ in air, 200 kg/m³ for express products, 333 kg/m³ in road part-load and 1,000 kg/m³ in sea LCL. Because the sea threshold is high, most general commercial cargo is charged on volume in LCL; weight dominates only in dense cargo such as marble, ceramics and metal castings.
Comparison unit, equivalence and threshold density by mode
| Transport mode |
Comparison unit |
Equivalence / divisor |
Threshold density |
| Sea — LCL |
Revenue ton (R/T) |
1 m³ = 1,000 kg (W/M) |
1,000 kg/m³ |
| Sea — FCL |
Container |
Lump sum per box |
Not applicable |
| Air freight (IATA) |
kg |
(cm³) ÷ 6000 |
≈ 167 kg/m³ |
| Air express / courier |
kg |
(cm³) ÷ 5000 |
200 kg/m³ |
| Road part-load |
kg |
(cm³) ÷ 3000 |
≈ 333 kg/m³ |
| Road — ldm |
Loading metre |
1 ldm ≈ 1,750 kg |
Area-based |
Frequently asked questions
Is the revenue ton the same as volumetric weight?
They serve the same purpose but their units differ. The revenue ton is specific to sea part-load and compares cubic metres directly with tonnes. Volumetric weight is used in air and road; the volume is converted to kilograms with a divisor and compared with the actual weight. The rule is the same in both: the larger value is charged.
What is the revenue ton for a shipment of 5.184 m³ and 2,600 kg?
5.184 R/T. The measurement side gives 5.184 and the weight side 2.6; since measurement is the larger, charging is on 5.184 R/T. If the same shipment weighed 7,000 kg, the invoice would be on 7 R/T.
How is a single pallet of half a cubic metre charged?
In most tariffs the minimum unit applies, so it counts as a full 1 R/T. Even if the calculation gives 0.5 R/T, the invoice is made on 1 R/T. This is why the cost per unit stays high in small shipments; ask for the minimum unit to be written in the quotation.
Is the revenue ton calculated in FCL as well?
No. In FCL the price is a lump sum per container; loading more or less into it does not change the unit. The limit is drawn by the inner volume of the container and its maximum payload. The revenue ton has meaning only in LCL, where space inside a container is bought.