Shipping Cost Calculator for Freight, Import and Cross-Border Shipments
Estimate total shipping cost for air, sea, road or courier shipments. Enter freight rate, handling, surcharges, insurance and optional duty/tax to get a full cost breakdown including cost per kg and cost per unit.
Estimate total shipping cost for air, sea, road or courier shipments using manual inputs. Enter freight rate, handling, surcharges, insurance and optional duty/tax to get a full cost breakdown.
Shipment Mode & Currency
Weight & Volume
Freight Rate
Handling & Surcharges
Insurance
Duty & Tax (optional)
Leave at 0 if duty is not known. Use the Import Duty Calculator to estimate it.
This calculator provides a practical estimate only and does not replace a carrier, forwarder or customs quotation.
Formula
Total Shipping Cost = Freight Cost + Origin Handling + Destination Handling + Surcharges + Insurance + Duty/Tax
Freight cost is calculated as rate per kg × chargeable weight (air/courier) or rate per CBM × volume (sea/road). Chargeable weight is the higher of actual weight and volumetric weight. Insurance is typically 0.3%–0.7% of CIF value (goods + freight). Duty and tax are applied on top of all freight costs.
Worked Example
500 kg sea freight · 2.5 CBM · rate USD 120/CBM · handling USD 350 · surcharge USD 80 · insurance 0.5% on USD 10,000:
Freight = 2.5 CBM × USD 120 = USD 300
Handling = USD 150 + USD 200 = USD 350
Surcharge = USD 80
Insurance = (USD 300 + USD 10,000) × 0.5% = USD 51.50
Total = USD 300 + USD 350 + USD 80 + USD 51.50 = USD 781.50
Cost per kg = USD 781.50 ÷ 500 kg = USD 1.56/kg
Cost per unit (500 units) = USD 781.50 ÷ 500 = USD 1.56/unit
Disclaimer
- This calculator provides a practical estimate only and does not replace a carrier, forwarder or customs quotation.
- Freight rates fluctuate based on route, season, carrier and cargo type. Always obtain a current quotation from your freight forwarder.
- Duty and tax rates depend on HS code, country of origin and destination. This does not constitute customs or tax advice.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Use this in your workflow
Use the CBM Calculator to calculate your shipment volume before entering it here. For air freight, use the Freight Chargeable Weight Calculator to determine the chargeable kg. To estimate import duty, use the Import Duty Calculator. For a full per-unit landed cost breakdown including VAT/GST, use the Landed Cost Calculator.
Worked example: sea freight from China to the UK
A 500 kg, 2.5 CBM LCL shipment quoted at USD 120/CBM.
| Cost Component | Amount |
|---|---|
| Sea freight (2.5 CBM × USD 120) | USD 300 |
| Origin handling (export docs, stuffing) | USD 150 |
| Destination handling (customs broker, port) | USD 200 |
| Fuel / security surcharge | USD 80 |
| Marine insurance (0.5% on USD 10,300) | USD 51.50 |
| Import duty (entered separately) | USD 0 |
| Total estimated shipping cost | USD 781.50 |
| Cost per kg (÷ 500 kg) | USD 1.56/kg |
| Cost per unit (÷ 500 units) | USD 1.56/unit |
This estimate covers sea freight only. Import duty, VAT/GST and delivery to final destination (drayage) are not included here — use the fields above or switch to the Landed Cost Calculator for a full per-unit cost including duty and VAT.
Who uses this calculator
- →Importers and exporters comparing freight quotes from multiple forwarders
- →E-commerce sellers calculating total fulfilment cost per unit for cross-border orders
- →Supply chain and logistics teams building shipping cost models in sourcing workflows
- →Finance teams estimating freight accruals and landed cost budgets for import shipments
Frequently asked questions
How is shipping cost calculated?
Shipping cost is the sum of freight cost (rate × weight or volume), origin and destination handling charges, fuel and security surcharges, cargo insurance, and any applicable import duty or tax. The total is divided by shipment weight to get cost per kg, or by units to get cost per unit. Enter each component above and click Calculate to get an instant breakdown.
What is chargeable weight in shipping?
Chargeable weight is the higher of actual weight and volumetric weight. Airlines and couriers apply it so that bulky but light cargo is charged at its space cost, not its mass. The volumetric divisor is 6,000 cm³/kg for IATA air freight, 5,000 for most couriers, and 4,000 for road freight. Toggle the chargeable weight option in the calculator to apply it automatically.
What is a typical sea freight rate per CBM?
LCL (less-than-container-load) sea freight rates typically range from USD 50–200/CBM depending on origin, destination and current market conditions. Full-container (FCL) rates are quoted per container and work out cheaper per CBM at high volumes. Always obtain a current quotation from your forwarder — rates fluctuate significantly.
What is included in total shipping cost?
Total shipping cost includes: base freight charge (rate × weight or volume), origin handling (export docs, container stuffing, port fees), destination handling (customs broker, port fees, delivery), fuel surcharges, security surcharges, cargo insurance, and import duty and VAT/GST if applicable. This calculator covers all of these components.
How does shipping cost affect product pricing?
Shipping cost adds directly to your landed cost per unit, reducing gross margin at any given selling price. To see the full impact, use the Landed Cost Calculator which combines product cost, freight, duty and VAT into a single per-unit landed cost and minimum sell price. The rule of thumb: freight typically adds 5–20% to product cost for sea shipments and 30–80%+ for air freight.