LA/Long Beach VGM Calculator Method 1 or Method 2
For shippers loading export containers at LA/Long Beach: work out the verified gross mass (VGM) by Method 1 or Method 2, and check the limits.
Calculate the Verified Gross Mass
Pick the method, unit and container, then enter weighed figures. Results update as you type. Nothing leaves your browser.
The calculator is an aid, not a weighing method. It adds and converts the figures you enter. The shipper remains responsible for obtaining, signing and submitting an accurate VGM based on weighing that meets the rules where the container is packed.
VGM Basics: Terms, Methods and Who Is Responsible
Before a packed container goes on a ship, the carrier and terminal need its verified gross mass. The shipper is responsible for that figure. The booking-to-gate-in steps are on the Export Checklist.
Key Terms
- VGM (Verified gross mass)
- The weight of the packed container: its tare plus all cargo, pallets, packaging, dunnage and securing material. Under the International Maritime Organization's (IMO) Safety of Life at Sea Convention (SOLAS), chapter VI, regulation 2, the carrier and terminal need it before the container is loaded on a ship. Source: IMO (opens in a new tab) · MSC.1/Circ.1475 (opens in a new tab)
- Method 1 (SOLAS Method 1)
- Weigh the packed and sealed container on calibrated, certified equipment. Required for bulk cargo that cannot be weighed item by item, such as scrap metal or unbagged grain. Source: MSC.1/Circ.1475 (opens in a new tab)
- Method 2 (SOLAS Method 2)
- Weigh all cargo, pallets, packing and securing material, then add the container tare. In the U.S., existing weighing laws and practices are accepted. Source: MSC.1/Circ.1475 (opens in a new tab) · USCG MSIB 009/16 (opens in a new tab)
- Tare (Container tare)
- The empty container's own weight, marked on the door or the Container Safety Convention (CSC) plate with its maximum gross. Source: MSC.1/Circ.1475 (opens in a new tab)
- ERD (Earliest return date)
- The first day the terminal takes the loaded export container for the booked vessel. Terminals post it; carriers link to it. Source: Maersk ERD links (opens in a new tab)
- Cutoff
- The deadline the carrier and terminal set for each vessel for cargo, documents and the VGM. Read it on the booking; it varies by carrier, vessel and terminal. Source: MSC.1/Circ.1475 (opens in a new tab) · WCMTOA Rule 16 (opens in a new tab)
Who Is Responsible
- ShipperNamed on the bill of lading (B/L) or sea waybill, or the party that contracted with the carrier. Obtains, signs and submits the VGM, even when someone else loads. Source: MSC.1/Circ.1475 (opens in a new tab)
- Packer or WarehouseGives the shipper the weights of what it loaded. Source: MSC.1/Circ.1475 (opens in a new tab)
- Ocean CarrierSets the VGM cutoff on the booking. The container should not be loaded without a VGM. Source: MSC.1/Circ.1475 (opens in a new tab)
- TerminalUnder the WCMTOA schedule, the shipper shall electronically transmit the VGM to the carrier prior to the marine terminal cut-off. If a container arrives without a VGM, the carrier is deemed to have authorized the terminal to obtain a gross weight. That terminal weight may be used to execute a VGM only if the terminal receives written verification from the shipper or the carrier before loading. Rule 16 does not apply to APM Terminals Pacific LLC. Source: WCMTOA Rule 16 (opens in a new tab) · 29 CFR 1918.85 (opens in a new tab)
- First TruckerGets written notice and a weight certification when gross cargo is over 29,000 lb. Source: 49 U.S.C. 5902 (opens in a new tab)
- U.S. Coast GuardAccepts existing U.S. weighing laws and practices as equivalent to SOLAS VI/2. Source: USCG MSIB 009/16 (opens in a new tab)
Method 1 vs Method 2
Weigh the Packed Container
Weigh it packed and sealed. If weighed on a chassis, subtract the tractor and chassis tare from their registration documents.
Best for: mixed or bulk loads, and shippers with a certified scale on the route to the port.
Add Up the Weights
Weigh all packages and cargo items, pallets, dunnage and securing material, then add the container tare. The method must be approved where the container is packed.
Best for: uniform, packaged cargo with known weights per carton, crate or pallet.
Published Container Figures
| Container | Tare (Maersk) | Tare (Hapag-Lloyd) | Max gross |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20' Standard (Dry) | 2,280 kg5,030 lb | 2,350 kg5,181 lb | 30,480 kg67,200 lb |
| 40' Standard (Dry) | 3,700 kg8,157 lb | 3,750 kg8,267 lb | 32,500 kg71,650 lb |
| 40' High Cube (Dry) | 3,880 kg8,554 lb | 3,900 kg8,598 lb | 32,500 kg71,650 lb |
Three Weights, Three Different Numbers
Exporters often carry three weights for one container. Mixing them up is a common reason a VGM or a cargo weight comes out wrong.
| Weight | What it includes | Who uses it |
|---|---|---|
| EEI shipping weight | Commodity and its normal packaging, in kilograms | AES export filing (15 CFR 30.6 (opens in a new tab)) |
| Gross cargo weight | Cargo, packaging, pallets and dunnage, without the container | Weight certification to the trucker over 29,000 lb (49 U.S.C. 5901 (opens in a new tab)) |
| Verified gross mass (VGM) | Everything packed in the container, including securing material, plus the container tare | Ocean carrier and terminal before vessel loading (MSC.1/Circ.1475 (opens in a new tab)) |
Short Answers
Who is responsible for the VGM when a packer or forwarder loads the container?
The shipper: the party named as shipper on the bill of lading or sea waybill, or the party that made the contract of carriage with the ocean carrier. A warehouse, packer or forwarder that loads the container should give the shipper the weights of what it packed, and the shipper still declares the verified gross mass (VGM). Source: MSC.1/Circ.1475 (opens in a new tab)
Is the VGM the same as the cargo weight on the bill of lading?
No. The VGM includes the empty container's tare. The cargo or gross cargo weight on a bill of lading usually covers the cargo with its packaging, pallets and dunnage, without the container. Check which field your carrier shows before you subtract a tare. Source: MSC.1/Circ.1475 (opens in a new tab) · 49 U.S.C. 5901 (opens in a new tab)
Can I use a tare weight from a spec sheet?
Use the tare marked on the container itself, on the door or the CSC plate. Published figures for the same container size differ by carrier and by build. The calculator fills in a published figure so it works offline, and you should replace it with the marked tare. A current Maersk FAQ lists different maximum payloads and says limits can vary by country. The marked tare and maximum gross on the container control. Source: MSC.1/Circ.1475 (opens in a new tab) · Maersk specs (opens in a new tab)
Is there a weight tolerance?
The IMO guidelines do not set one, and enforcement is left to each country. Declare the weight you verified, not an estimate, and make sure the scale meets the accuracy standards where it is used. Source: MSC.1/Circ.1475 (opens in a new tab)
Can a container be within its maximum gross and still too heavy for the road?
Yes. A 40 ft container can be rated to 32,500 kg (71,650 lb) gross, but a tractor, chassis and container on the highway are limited to 80,000 lb in total under federal and California rules unless they run on permit. The road check in the calculator adds your tractor and chassis tare to the VGM. Source: Maersk specs (opens in a new tab) · 23 CFR 658.17 (opens in a new tab) · CVC 35551 (opens in a new tab)
Where can I read more?
See the Export Checklist for the booking-to-gate-in steps, and the Freight Glossary.
Sources
Last reviewed: November 2026. Each source was read on the date of review.
- IMO: Verification of the Gross Mass of Packed Containers (SOLAS VI/2) (opens in a new tab)
- IMO MSC.1/Circ.1475, Guidelines Regarding the Verified Gross Mass of a Container (opens in a new tab)
- U.S. Coast Guard MSIB 009/16: U.S. Equivalency to SOLAS VI/2 (opens in a new tab)
- WCMTOA Marine Terminal Operator Schedule, Rule 16 (opens in a new tab)
- 29 CFR 1918.85, Containerized Cargo Operations (opens in a new tab)
- 49 U.S.C. 5902, Notification and Certification of Gross Cargo Weight (opens in a new tab)
- 49 U.S.C. 5901, Definitions (gross cargo weight) (opens in a new tab)
- 15 CFR 30.6, Electronic Export Information Data Elements (opens in a new tab)
- 23 CFR 658.17, Weight (opens in a new tab)
- California Vehicle Code 35550 (opens in a new tab)
- California Vehicle Code 35551 (opens in a new tab)
- Port of Los Angeles: Trucks, Cargo Weight Guidelines (opens in a new tab)
- Maersk dry equipment specifications (tare and max gross) (opens in a new tab)
- Hapag-Lloyd 20' standard container (opens in a new tab)
- Hapag-Lloyd 40' standard container (opens in a new tab)
- Hapag-Lloyd 40' high cube container (opens in a new tab)
- Maersk: How Do I Submit My Verified Gross Mass (VGM)? (opens in a new tab)
- Hapag-Lloyd: VGM Submission (opens in a new tab)
- Maersk: LA/Long Beach terminal earliest return date (ERD) links (opens in a new tab)
- DCLI 40 ft gooseneck chassis (tare 6,700 lb) (opens in a new tab)
See also the Export Checklist, the Freight Glossary and Container Drayage: Exports.
Informational only, not legal or customs advice. Rules, systems and terminal practices change. Confirm current requirements with the agency, your customs broker or your counsel before relying on any item here.