Standard air freight cargo is generally limited to around 2.44 m x 3.18 m (96″ x 125″) in length and width, with height capped near 160 cm (63 inches) on most passenger aircraft. Weight is billed on chargeable weight the higher of your cargo’s actual weight or its volumetric weight, calculated as length Ă— width Ă— height (cm) Ă· 6000. Freighters allow larger and heavier pieces, but passenger-belly capacity (which carries most global air cargo) is the tighter constraint most shippers hit first.
What Are Air Freight Size Limits?
Air freight size limits are the maximum length, width, and height a piece of cargo can measure to be loaded onto an aircraft. These limits exist because cargo has to physically pass through the aircraft door and fit the contoured shape of the cargo hold, not because of an arbitrary airline rule.
The limits differ depending on two things: whether your shipment travels on a passenger aircraft (using belly-hold cargo space) or a dedicated freighter (with a full main deck), and which Unit Load Device (ULD)Â the pallet or container your cargo gets packed into the freight forwarder uses.
IATA ULD Types and Maximum Dimensions
Most international air cargo, including exports from Pakistan, is packed into standardized containers or pallets built to International Air Transport Association (IATA) specifications. Here’s how the most common types compare:
| ULD Type | Base Dimensions (L x W) | Max Height | Max Gross Weight | Typical Use |
| PMC / PAG (main deck pallet) | 318 cm x 244 cm | ~163 cm | Up to 6,804 kg | Wide-body lower deck & main deck |
| LD3 (container) | 160 cm x 244 cm | ~163 cm | ~1,588 kg | Passenger belly holds |
| LD7 (container) | 317 cm x 224 cm | ~160 cm | ~4,627 kg | Wide-body belly holds |
| LD8 (container) | 228 cm x 152 cm | ~162 cm | ~2,450 kg | Narrower belly holds |
| PGA / P6P (freighter pallet) | 317.5 cm x 243.8 cm | Up to 300 cm | Up to 11,340 kg | Main deck freighters |
Freighter-only pallets give you far more height and weight allowance but freighter capacity out of Pakistan is more limited and typically needs to be booked further in advance than passenger-belly space.
What Is the 160cm Rule?
The “160cm rule” refers to the practical height ceiling on most passenger aircraft cargo holds. Wide-body planes like the Boeing 777 and Airbus A350 have belly-hold contours that max out around 160-163 cm total ULD height. Once you subtract the pallet base itself, the actual cargo stacking room is closer to 145 cm.
If your shipment is taller than that, it can’t fly on a standard passenger route it needs a freighter, which usually means fewer available flights and a longer lead time to book.
Narrow-body aircraft are even more restrictive, with cargo hold heights sometimes as low as 86-114 cm, which matters if your goods are routing through a regional connection before reaching an international gateway.
How to Calculate Chargeable Weight
Airlines don’t simply charge by the scale weight of your cargo. They charge by chargeable weight whichever is higher between your cargo’s actual weight and its volumetric weight.
Chargeable weight is the weight used to calculate your freight bill; it’s the greater of a shipment’s actual (gross) weight or its volumetric (dimensional) weight. This exists so airlines are compensated fairly for space-heavy but lightweight cargo.
Step-by-step calculation:
- Measure your cargo — length, width, and height in centimeters, for each piece.
- Calculate volume — multiply length × width × height.
- Divide by 6,000 — this is the industry-standard IATA volumetric divisor for air freight, giving you the volumetric weight in kilograms.
- Compared to actual weight — weigh the cargo on a scale, including packaging.
- Bill on the higher number — whichever is larger between steps 3 and 4 is what you’re charged for.
Working example: A carton measuring 60 cm x 50 cm x 40 cm weighs 15 kg on the scale. Volume: 60 x 50 x 40 = 120,000 cmÂł. Divided by 6,000 = 20 kg volumetric weight. Since 20 kg is higher than the 15 kg actual weight, you’re billed on 20 kg not 15.
This is exactly why lightweight, bulky goods (think textiles, foam packaging, or handicrafts common Pakistani export categories) often cost more to ship than their scale weight suggests.
Air Freight Size and Weight Limits for Pakistani Exporters
None of the size and weight rules above change based on your country of origin IATA standards are global. What does change is how they’re applied at Pakistani airports, and what your local carrier options look like.
PIA Cargo Weight Policy
Pakistan International Airlines does not publish a fixed maximum weight limit for cargo bookings. Instead, shipments are priced per kilogram based on chargeable weight whichever is greater between actual and volumetric weight and unusually large or heavy pieces require direct confirmation with a PIA cargo office before booking, since they may need special loading arrangements.
Karachi, Lahore & Islamabad Airport Cargo Handling
Pakistan’s three main international gateways handle air cargo differently based on infrastructure and route density:
- Jinnah International Airport (Karachi) — Pakistan’s largest cargo hub, handling the bulk of the country’s international air freight volume.
- Allama Iqbal International Airport (Lahore) — the primary gateway for exporters based in central Pakistan and Punjab.
- Islamabad International Airport — serves northern Pakistan, with growing cargo infrastructure.
All three follow IATA ULD standards, but freighter frequency and available capacity vary by airport, which affects how quickly an oversized shipment can actually be booked and flown.
2026 Pakistan Airport Cargo Charges
Cargo throughput charges (CTC) the airport handling fees applied on top of airline freight rates increased significantly in Pakistan starting July 2026, with general cargo rates rising roughly 30% and several other commodity categories facing even steeper increases. This matters for size/weight planning because heavier or bulkier shipments now carry a larger absolute cost impact from these handling fees, on top of any oversize surcharges from the airline itself. Exporters should factor current CTC rates into cost estimates rather than relying on older pricing, since these can shift with limited notice.
What Happens If Your Cargo Exceeds the Limit?
If a shipment doesn’t fit standard ULD dimensions or the 160cm passenger-hold ceiling, you have three realistic options:
- Rebook onto a freighter — main deck freighters allow much taller and heavier pieces, but with fewer flight options and longer lead times.
- Break the shipment down — splitting cargo into smaller, compliant pieces, where the product allows it.
- Arrange special handling — some oversized cargo can still fly with reinforced packaging, additional ground-handling equipment, and advance coordination with the destination airport — usually at a higher cost.
Whichever route you take, the earlier you flag an oversized or overweight shipment to your freight forwarder, the more options and better rates you’ll have.
Required Documents for Air Freight Export from Pakistan
Every air freight shipment out of Pakistan needs a baseline set of documents to clear customs and be accepted by the airline, regardless of size or weight:
- Air Waybill (AWB) — the contract of carriage and the master document tracking the shipment
- Commercial invoice — states the value and description of goods for customs
- Packing list — itemized dimensions and weights per package, which customs and cargo staff cross-check against your declared chargeable weight
- Export authorization / GD (Goods Declaration) — filed through Pakistan Customs’ clearance process
Accurate dimensions and weights on your packing list matter more than most exporters realize mismatches between declared and actual chargeable weight are a common cause of clearance delays.
Conclusion
Air freight size and weight limits come down to two numbers: whether your cargo fits within roughly 160 cm of usable height, and what its chargeable weight comes out to using the length Ă— width Ă— height Ă· 6,000 formula. For Pakistani exporters, the added variables are PIA’s per-kilogram pricing model, airport-specific freighter availability, and the 2026 CTC rate increases that now apply on top of standard freight charges. Get your measurements and paperwork right before booking, and you avoid the two most common and most expensive air freight mistakes.
FAQs
What is the maximum size for air freight?
Standard air freight cargo generally maxes out around 2.44 m x 3.18 m in length and width, with height capped near 160 cm on most passenger aircraft. Freighter-only pallets allow significantly more height.
What is the maximum weight for air cargo?
There’s no single universal maximum weight limits depending on the ULD type, aircraft, and route. Most airlines, including PIA, price based on chargeable weight rather than enforcing one fixed cap.
How is volumetric weight calculated for air freight?
Multiply length Ă— width Ă— height in centimeters, then divide by 6,000. Compare that figure to the actual scale weight you’re billed on whichever is higher.
What is the 160cm rule in air freight?
It’s the practical height ceiling on most passenger aircraft cargo holds. Cargo taller than roughly 160 cm needs to move on a freighter instead.
Is there a weight limit for PIA cargo from Pakistan?
PIA doesn’t publish a fixed maximum; shipments are priced per kilogram on chargeable weight, and unusually large or heavy cargo needs direct confirmation with a PIA cargo office before booking.
What documents do I need for air freight export from Pakistan?
At minimum: an Air Waybill, commercial invoice, packing list, and export Goods Declaration filed through Pakistan Customs.