Freight & Logistics Calculators
Free calculators for CBM, chargeable weight, container and pallet loading, landed cost, shipping cost, and cargo insurance. Built for importers, exporters, and logistics teams.
Who these calculators are for
Freight and logistics calculators on this page serve anyone involved in moving goods internationally or domestically:
- →Importers calculating CBM and container requirements before placing a supplier order
- →Exporters quoting freight costs and checking dimensional weight for air shipments
- →Procurement teams comparing landed cost from suppliers in different countries
- →Logistics coordinators planning pallet configurations and container utilisation
- →Finance teams budgeting freight, duty, and insurance for imported inventory
- →Operations managers benchmarking freight cost per kg across carriers and routes
Key freight concepts
CBM (cubic metres): The standard volume unit for sea freight pricing. LCL (less than container load) is priced per CBM; FCL (full container load) pricing depends on whether your cargo fills a 20ft or 40ft container.
Chargeable weight: Carriers charge the higher of actual gross weight and dimensional (volumetric) weight. For air freight, the IATA standard divisor is 6,000 cm³/kg. Courier services (DHL, FedEx, UPS) typically use 5,000. Road freight may use 3,000 or 4,000 depending on carrier.
Landed cost: The total cost of goods when they arrive at your warehouse, including the supplier price, international freight, cargo insurance, import duty, and destination handling charges. Landed cost is the correct base for pricing decisions on imported goods.
Incoterms: The International Chamber of Commerce rules that define which party (buyer or seller) is responsible for each element of cost and risk in an international sale. The most common terms are EXW, FOB, CIF, DAP, and DDP.
Freight & logistics calculators
CBM Calculator
Calculate total cubic metres (CBM) for a sea freight shipment. Enter carton dimensions and quantity to get total volume — essential for LCL (less-than-container-load) pricing and FCL container selection.
Use when: Quoting or booking LCL sea freight, or checking container utilisation.
Freight Chargeable Weight Calculator
Carriers charge the greater of actual gross weight and dimensional (volumetric) weight. This calculator applies the correct divisor for sea, air, courier, and road freight and returns the billable chargeable weight.
Use when: Getting an accurate freight rate quote — especially for bulky, light cargo.
Volumetric Weight Calculator
Calculate dimensional weight for IATA air freight (6,000 cm³/kg), courier services (5,000 cm³/kg), and road freight (3,000 cm³/kg or 4,000 cm³/kg depending on carrier). Shows which weight is billable.
Use when: Air freight or courier shipments where dimensions may exceed actual weight.
Container Loading Calculator
Calculate how many cartons fit in a 20ft or 40ft standard or high-cube container. Assumes basic floor-loading by carton dimensions — a starting point before engaging a freight forwarder for actual load planning.
Use when: FCL container booking decisions and early freight planning.
Pallet Calculator
Calculate how many cartons fit on a EUR, UK, or US GMA pallet. Enter carton dimensions and stacking height to get cartons per layer, layers per pallet, and total cartons. Supports multi-SKU configurations.
Use when: Warehouse planning, truck loading, and outbound distribution scheduling.
Landed Cost Calculator
Calculate the full landed cost of imported goods: supplier cost + international freight + insurance + import duty + destination charges. Returns total landed cost and landed cost per unit.
Use when: Procurement decisions, pricing imported goods, or comparing supplier quotes from different countries.
Shipping Cost Calculator
Estimate total shipment cost by combining freight rate, fuel surcharge, handling fees, and port charges. Supports per-CBM, per-kg, and flat-rate pricing structures.
Use when: Budgeting for a shipment or comparing quotes from multiple forwarders.
Cargo Insurance Calculator
Estimate the cargo insurance premium for a sea, air, or road freight shipment. Based on CIF value + 10% over-insurance margin as per standard marine insurance practice.
Use when: Budgeting insurance cost before booking a shipment.
Air Freight Chargeable Weight
IATA standard air freight dimensional weight calculator: L × W × H (cm) ÷ 6,000 = volumetric weight. Returns actual weight, volumetric weight, and chargeable weight side by side.
Use when: Air freight bookings, especially for large or bulky cargo.
Freight Cost per kg
Normalise freight quotes from different carriers or modes to a cost-per-kg figure for fair comparison. Enter total freight cost and chargeable weight.
Use when: Comparing freight quotes across carriers or modes (air vs express courier).
Freight Density Calculator
Calculate shipment density (kg per cubic metre or lbs per cubic foot) for freight class determination in LTL and road freight. Required for US NMFC freight classification.
Use when: LTL shipping in North America or classifying freight for road carriers.
Incoterms Cost Split Calculator
Shows which costs (freight, insurance, export clearance, import clearance) are borne by buyer vs seller under EXW, FOB, CIF, DAP, DDP, and other Incoterms 2020 rules.
Use when: Contract negotiation, supplier onboarding, or understanding a new trade lane.
Import planning workflow
A complete import-cost planning workflow typically uses these tools in sequence:
- Use the CBM Calculator to calculate the total volume of your shipment from carton dimensions and quantities.
- Decide on FCL or LCL — use the Container Loading Calculator if FCL is possible to check utilisation.
- Use the Freight Chargeable Weight Calculator to confirm the billable weight for your mode of transport.
- Use the Cargo Insurance Calculator to estimate the insurance premium for the shipment value.
- Run the Landed Cost Calculator to combine all costs and get a full landed cost per unit.
- Use the Pallet Calculator for outbound planning once goods arrive.
Responsible use
Freight calculations are planning estimates. Actual container utilisation depends on carton stacking strength, carrier restrictions, and packing method. Cargo insurance premiums depend on the insurer, cargo type, and route — always obtain a formal quote from a licensed insurer. Import duty estimates are guides only; actual duty is determined by the customs authority of the importing country. Confirm all figures with your freight forwarder or customs broker before booking.