Gross Weight and Net Weight
Gross weight (G.W.) is the goods plus all packaging; net weight (N.W.) is the goods alone. Both figures appear on shipping documents.
TL;DR: Net weight (N.W.) is the weight of the goods themselves. Gross weight (G.W.) is the net weight plus all packaging, such as cartons, fillers, pallets, and crates.
The difference between the two is called tare, which is the weight of the packaging alone. For heavy goods on wooden crates or pallets, tare can be a noticeable share of the total, so the gap between net and gross weight is often larger than buyers expect.
Both figures appear on the Packing List, usually per carton and as a total. Gross weight is also shown on the Bill of Lading or Air Waybill, and weight details often appear on the Commercial Invoice. These numbers must match across all documents. Customs authorities compare them, and a mismatch can lead to questions, inspections, or delays at clearance.
Carriers price and plan loads on gross weight. Air and express carriers compare it with Volumetric Weight to find the Chargeable Weight. For containers, the total gross weight must stay within the container and road weight limits, and ocean carriers require a verified gross mass (VGM) before loading.
For glass mosaic, the goods are dense, so a full container can reach weight limits before it is full by volume. Ask your supplier for both weights per carton and per crate before booking freight. This lets your forwarder confirm the right container type and avoid overweight surcharges.