Sea freight is economical, but it takes 5-7 weeks. You have just moved to the USA and need your computer, documents and winter clothes right away; or your customer in New York wants product samples this week. This is where air freight comes in: door to door from Istanbul to New York, Chicago, Los Angeles or Miami in 3-7 days. Air freight is priced by weight, but the answer to the question "which weight?" surprises most shippers. In this guide we explain how air freight works, the volumetric weight formula with a worked example, the factors that affect the price, the documents, the US customs process and the items you cannot send.
Who Is Air Freight Right For?
- New arrivals: the 2-10 boxes you need before your sea container arrives (clothing, computer, documents, children's things, medicines).
- E-commerce and B2B: samples, urgent spare parts, high-value and lightweight products (textiles, leather, jewellery, electronic accessories).
- Students: a few suitcases and boxes at the start of the semester.
- Trade shows and events: stand materials for fairs in Las Vegas, New York and Chicago.
How Is Volumetric Weight Calculated?
Space on an aircraft is limited, so airlines charge light but bulky cargo not by its actual weight but by the volumetric weight that corresponds to the space it occupies. The formula:
Volumetric weight (kg) = Length (cm) × Width (cm) × Height (cm) ÷ 6000
The chargeable weight is whichever is greater: the actual weight or the volumetric weight. Courier and express services use a divisor of 5000; in air freight it is generally 6000.
Worked example
| Carton | Dimensions (cm) | Actual weight | Volumetric weight | Chargeable |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Box of books | 40 × 30 × 30 | 22 kg | 36,000 ÷ 6000 = 6 kg | 22 kg |
| Duvet + pillows | 60 × 50 × 50 | 7 kg | 150,000 ÷ 6000 = 25 kg | 25 kg |
| Computer + monitor | 70 × 50 × 30 | 12 kg | 105,000 ÷ 6000 = 17.5 kg | 17.5 kg |
| Total | 41 kg | 48.5 kg | 64.5 kg |
As you can see, the total chargeable weight is the sum of the greater value for each individual carton. The practical lesson: compressing light items such as textiles and duvets in vacuum bags directly lowers your air freight cost, while heavy items such as books are better left for sea freight.
Factors That Affect the Price
- Chargeable weight (formula above) and the tiered tariff (the unit rate drops above 45 kg, 100 kg and 300 kg)
- Destination airport: JFK/EWR (New York), ORD (Chicago), LAX (Los Angeles) and MIA (Miami) are served directly; other cities via connections
- Service type: standard air freight (3-7 days) or express/courier (2-4 days)
- Fuel and security surcharges (variable, set by the airline)
- Airport delivery or door delivery: final delivery within the USA depends on the trucking distance
- Customs services: Turkish export, US customs brokerage, and any duties payable
- Packing and insurance
Documents and the US Customs Process
Personal effects
- English inventory list (with values), copies of passport and visa/green card, US address
- CBP Form 3299 — duty-free entry declaration for used personal effects (items must have been used for 1 year)
- Power of Attorney (for the US customs broker)
Commercial shipments
- Commercial invoice (HTS code, Incoterms, consignee's EIN/IRS number), packing list
- Export declaration (Turkey), air waybill (AWB)
- Product-specific: FDA prior notice (food, cosmetics), textile labelling compliance, Lacey Act (wood), FCC (electronics)
- Commercial shipments under USD 800 may qualify for simplified "de minimis" entry (subject to product and origin rules; current practice may change)
The entry is filed before the shipment lands; release usually takes 1-2 business days. Heavy or high-value shipments may be subject to X-ray or physical examination.
The Process Step by Step
- Quotation: the chargeable weight is calculated from the carton dimensions, weights and addresses; written quote.
- Collection and packing: collection from your address or delivery to our warehouse; air-freight-standard packing (light, sturdy, corner-protected).
- Security screening and export declaration: at the Istanbul Airport cargo terminal.
- Flight: direct or via connection; 1-3 days.
- US customs: entry and release; 1-2 days.
- Delivery: by truck or courier from the airport to your address; 1-2 days.
Items That Cannot Be Sent by Air Freight
- Dangerous goods (DGR): perfume and aerosols (limited), lithium batteries (limited when inside a device; spare batteries restricted), lighters, flammable liquids, pressurised containers, magnets (depending on strength).
- Food: meat and dairy prohibited; dry food limited and subject to FDA prior notice.
- Cash, jewellery, negotiable documents: not accepted as cargo.
- Medicines: with prescription, 90-day personal supply; FDA rules apply.
Air or Sea?
| Air freight | Sea freight (LCL/FCL) | |
|---|---|---|
| Transit time | 3-7 days | 5-9 weeks |
| Suitable load | 10-500 kg, light/valuable/urgent | 1 m³ and above, furniture, whole household |
| Pricing | Chargeable kg | Per m³ or per container |
| Typical use | First essentials, samples, urgent parts | Household goods, vehicles, commercial consignments |
Most families use both: the first few weeks' essentials go by air, and the rest of the home follows in a container. For the sea-freight details, see our article on shipping household goods from Turkey to the USA.
Example Scenario: 6 Cartons from Istanbul to Chicago
A student starting a PhD in Chicago is sending 6 cartons of winter clothing, a computer, books and kitchen items. Measured at our warehouse: actual weight 78 kg, volumetric 96 kg → chargeable 96 kg. Once the textile cartons are vacuum-packed, the volumetric weight falls to 71 kg and the chargeable weight becomes 78 kg. The entry is prepared with CBP 3299 and a copy of the F-1 visa. The shipment is collected on Tuesday, flies out of Istanbul Airport on Wednesday, clears customs at ORD on Thursday and is delivered to the address in Evanston on Friday.
Why REG Transport?
- We present air and sea freight side by side in a single quote and plan combinations of the two.
- Packing that reduces the chargeable weight (vacuum bags, right-sized cartons) is done at our warehouse.
- CBP 3299 and commercial entries handled with our US customs broker; transparent quotation, insurance option and a single point of contact.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many days does air freight to the USA take?
3-7 days door to door; 2-4 days with the express service.
Why is the divisor 6000?
It is the IATA standard: 1 m³ is treated as 166.67 kg (1,000,000 cm³ ÷ 6000). Courier companies use 5000, which raises the volumetric weight.
Can I send my suitcases?
Yes; suitcases are boxed or stretch-wrapped for shipping. Dimensions and weight are calculated with the same formula.
Can I send a laptop with a lithium battery?
Yes, with the battery inside the device (switched off and protected); spare batteries are restricted and must be declared.
Get a Quote
Complete the quote form with your carton dimensions, weights and addresses; we will calculate the chargeable weight and send a written quotation the same day. Learn more about our international cargo shipping.
