Sea freight is cheaper; air freight is faster. That simple trade-off hides several details that can change the decision — how air freight is charged, what your buyer's deadlines are, and what the goods themselves need.
Cost
Sea freight is generally far cheaper per kilogram than air freight, especially for heavy or bulky goods. Air freight can cost many times more per kilogram. For most export goods — textiles, furniture, rice, salt, marble — sea freight is the default.
Transit Time
- Sea freight from Pakistan takes days to the Gulf and several weeks to Europe and North America, plus time for port handling, customs, and inland transport.
- Air freight takes days door to door on most routes, including handling and clearance.
For time-sensitive goods, the difference can decide whether a sale happens at all.
How Air Freight Is Charged: Chargeable Weight
Air freight is charged on chargeable weight — the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight. Volumetric weight for air cargo is commonly calculated as:
Length × Width × Height (cm) ÷ 6,000 = volumetric weight (kg)
Courier services often use a divisor of 5,000, making light, bulky parcels more expensive.
Example: a carton 60 × 40 × 40 cm weighing 10 kg has a volumetric weight of 16 kg (at 6,000). You pay for 16 kg. Light, bulky goods — like cushions or foam — are expensive to fly.
Sea Freight Charging
- FCL: per container
- LCL: per cubic metre or tonne, whichever is greater
See FCL vs LCL.
Products That Suit Air Freight
- Perishables with short shelf lives — some fresh fruit, flowers, and seafood
- High-value, low-weight goods — some surgical instruments, electronics, and fashion items
- Urgent orders, replacements, and samples
- Seasonal goods that must arrive for a launch date
Products That Suit Sea Freight
- Heavy or bulky goods — furniture, marble, salt, rice, machinery
- Goods with stable demand and planned orders
- Lower-value goods where freight cost is a large share of price
- Most textiles and garments on planned programmes
💡 Think about inventory cost, not only freight
Air freight costs more, but goods arrive weeks earlier. For high-value products, the buyer may save on inventory holding costs and sell sooner. Sometimes a split — part by air, the rest by sea — gives the best balance.
Sea-Air Combinations
Some routes offer sea-air services, where goods travel by sea to a hub and then by air to the final destination. They are cheaper than pure air and faster than pure sea. Ask your forwarder if such services exist for your route.
Risk and Handling
Air freight typically involves less handling time and shorter exposure to humidity and temperature changes. Sea freight involves weeks in a container, with condensation and temperature swings, so packaging and moisture protection matter. See export packaging guide.
Documents and Control
A negotiable bill of lading for sea freight is a document of title, giving exporters control of the goods until payment. An air waybill is not a document of title, so goods are released to the named consignee. If you ship by air to a new buyer, secure payment first. See bill of lading explained.
Incoterms for Air Freight
FOB, CFR, CIF, and FAS are for sea and inland waterway transport only. For air freight, use FCA, CPT, CIP, DAP, DPU, or DDP. See Incoterms 2020 explained.
Rules of Thumb
- Default to sea for regular, planned, heavy, or bulky shipments
- Use air for urgency, perishables, samples, and high-value light goods
- Use couriers for small samples and documents — see shipping samples with couriers
- Compare total landed cost and time, not only the freight line
Frequently Asked Questions
How is air freight chargeable weight calculated?
Air freight is charged on the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight. Volumetric weight is commonly calculated as length times width times height in centimetres divided by 6,000.
Can I use FOB for air freight?
FOB is intended for sea and inland waterway transport. For air freight, FCA is the appropriate equivalent under Incoterms 2020.
Is air freight safer than sea freight?
Air freight generally involves less handling time and shorter exposure to harsh conditions, but both modes are safe with proper packaging and insurance.
Want an Experienced Hand on Your Next Shipment?
From quotations and Incoterms to documentation and payment terms, Hexaco Global helps exporters get the details right the first time. Tell us what you are shipping — we reply within 24 hours.
Talk to Our Team →