Legal Definitions - neat weight

The term neat weight is synonymous with net weight. It refers to the weight of a product or commodity itself, completely excluding the weight of any packaging, wrapping, containers, or other materials used to hold or transport it.

In essence, it is the pure weight of the goods, without any additions from their enclosure or conveyance.

• Example 1: Packaged Food Products

  Imagine you are buying a bag of frozen vegetables from the supermarket. The label clearly states "Net Wt. 500g." This means that the actual vegetables inside the bag weigh 500 grams. The weight of the plastic bag itself, which might be a few grams, is not included in this figure. The neat weight here is precisely the 500 grams of vegetables.

• Example 2: Bulk Chemical Shipments

  A manufacturing company orders a large quantity of a liquid chemical, which arrives in several industrial drums. The purchase agreement specifies the "neat weight" of the chemical as 1,000 kilograms. This figure represents only the weight of the chemical substance itself. It does not include the combined weight of the heavy steel drums, the pallets they sit on, or any protective wrapping. The company pays for the neat weight of the chemical, not the total weight of the drums and their contents.

• Example 3: International Freight and Customs

  When a shipment of electronic components is sent from one country to another, customs declarations often require the neat weight of the goods. For instance, a declaration might list the neat weight of 500 circuit boards as 25 kg. This means the circuit boards themselves weigh 25 kilograms, excluding the weight of the cardboard boxes they are packed in, the foam inserts, or the wooden crate used for shipping. This distinction is crucial for calculating tariffs, shipping costs, and ensuring compliance with trade regulations, which are often based on the actual product weight.