Whether you’re shipping boxes and pallets or full containers, understanding weight terminology in shipping is essential for compliance, cost control, and cargo safety. In this guide, we break down tare, net, and gross weight – what they are, how to calculate them, and why each one matters.
What is tare weight?
Tare weight, also known as unladen weight, is the weight of an empty container, packaging, or sometimes a vehicle – with no cargo inside. In most shipping scenarios, tare weight refers to things like containers, crates, drums, pallets, and packaging. In bulk transport or when using a weighbridge, however, tare weight can also refer to the empty weight of a truck, trailer, or railcar before loading.
Knowing tare weight helps you determine the real weight of your products, which is key to calculating shipping costs correctly and avoiding unexpected charges.
- Tare weight helps you get accurate freight quotes. If you’re sending boxed goods overseas, knowing the container's empty weight keeps costs clear and fair.
- Customs often ask for tare weight to check documentation and make sure you’re following import/export rules.
- Staying within weight limits helps you avoid fines and reduces stress on delivery vehicles – especially important if you're shipping in bulk.
Example: A standard Maersk 20-foot shipping container has a tare weight of 2,280 kg (5,030 lb). The 40-foot version weighs around 3,700 kg (8,157 lb).
What is net weight?
Net weight, also called net mass or payload, is the actual weight of your products only. It doesn’t include the weight of boxes, pallets, containers, or anything used to ship the goods. It’s the number that matters when it comes to selling, pricing, and declaring goods at customs.
- Import duties and taxes are usually based on net weight – not the packaging or container.
- Accurate product weight helps with cost control, especially if you sell by the gram, kilo, or unit (like cosmetics, food, or electronics).
- Being precise avoids customs delays, rejections, or extra fees due to incorrect declarations.
Example: If you’re shipping 1,000 phones that weigh 150g each, the net weight will be: 150g x 1,000 = 150 kg.
What is gross weight?
Gross weight refers to the total weight of a shipment – this means the weight of your products plus the combined weight of any packaging, pallets, and container. It doesn’t include the truck or vehicle used to move the load.
Knowing the gross weight is important because it affects your shipping cost, legal limits for transport, and how your cargo is handled and stored.
- Your shipping cost is often based on gross weight – especially for air and ocean freight. If you're shipping handmade products in bulk or online orders in boxes, that extra packaging weight adds up.
- There are legal weight limits for trucks. Going over can mean fines or your shipment getting delayed.
- Warehouses and freight handlers use gross weight to load containers safely and avoid damage to goods.
Example: You’re shipping 8,400 tins of coffee, each weighing 200g, and you pack them into boxes, stack them on pallets, and load them into a standard 20-foot shipping container. The gross weight of this shipment will be: 1,680 kg (coffee) + 300 kg (packaging and pallets) + 2,280 kg (container) = 4,260 kg.
How tare, net, and gross weight work together
Tare, net, and gross weight are closely connected and form the foundation of accurate pricing and efficient shipping. Understanding how they relate helps you:
- Calculate correct freight charges
- Comply with legal weight limits
- Prevent overloading and avoid delays
- Streamline customs paperwork and cargo handling
How to calculate cargo weights
- Gross weight = Net weight + Tare weight
- Net weight = Gross weight – Tare weight
- Tare weight = Gross weight – Net weight
At Maersk, our standard containers come with declared tare weights and support the Verified Gross Mass (VGM) requirement set out by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) which mandates shippers declare accurate container weights to prevent vessel overloading. If you’re shipping with Maersk, you can also find the tare weight using your container number.
Comparison: Tare vs net vs gross weight
| Weight Type | Meaning | What’s included | Main purposes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Weight Type
Tare
|
Meaning
|
What’s included
|
Main purposes
|
|
Weight Type
Net
|
Meaning
|
What’s included
|
Main purposes
|
|
Weight Type
Gross
|
Meaning
|
What’s included
|
Main purposes
|
*In some contexts, tare weight also refers to the empty weight of the vehicle (truck, trailer, or railcar) especially when goods are weighed using a scale before and after loading.
Key industry applications of cargo weight
Tare, net, and gross weight are more than technical terms – they directly impact how products are shipped, priced, and regulated across industries. Here's how different sectors use them in everyday operations:
-
Ocean freight and containerised shipping
- Ocean carriers rely on gross weight to comply with vessel load limits and ensure safe stowage.
- Under Verified Gross Mass (VGM) regulations, shippers must declare the accurate gross weight of each container to reduce the risk of onboard accidents.
-
Aviation and air freight
- Airlines use chargeable weight, which is based on gross weight or volumetric weight, to determine freight costs.
- Accurate weight calculations are essential for maintaining aircraft balance and safety.
-
Truck and rail transport
- Trucks and railcars must stay within legal weight limits to avoid fines and road damage.
- For bulk goods (like grain, liquids, or fuel), the tare weight of the vehicle is subtracted from the loaded weight to calculate the actual cargo weight.
-
Retail and e-commerce
- Shipping costs for online orders are based on the gross weight of packaged goods.
- Customers and regulators expect clear net weight labeling on food, cosmetics, and consumer products – crucial for transparency and compliance.
Why getting cargo weights right matters
Whether you’re moving cargo by sea, road, rail, and/or air, getting cargo weights right isn't just best practice – it's essential.
Incorrect weight declarations can lead to:
- Fines and legal penalties
- Shipment delays or outright rejections
- Damaged goods or overloaded transport equipment
- Safety risks for logistics workers and the public
Global regulations – like the IMO’s VGM rule – require accurate gross weight declarations before containers can be loaded aboard ships. Other modes of transport follow similarly strict standards.
Looking for support with cargo weight calculations and VGM compliance? With our integrated services and century-strong logistics expertise spanning 130+ countries, Maersk is ready to help with all your cargo needs. Explore our logistics services or contact us for support.
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