Freight tools
Calculate the freight inputs behind your landed cost
Freight is one of the largest variable costs in importing, and carriers bill on volume and chargeable weight rather than the number you might expect. These calculators produce the freight figures that feed your landed cost.
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Choose a freight calculation
Who this is for
- Importers estimating freight before a shipment is booked
- Ecommerce sellers costing air, courier and sea options
- Warehouse and logistics teams planning pallet and container loads
- Anyone reconciling a carrier freight quote
What you need
- Carton dimensions and quantity per shipment
- Actual gross weight of the cartons
- The transport mode (sea LCL/FCL, air or courier)
- The carrier volumetric divisor for air/courier
- A total freight quote if you want cost per kg or per unit
How it works
- 1
Measure the volume
Carton dimensions give cubic metres (CBM) — the basis for sea LCL pricing and container planning.
- 2
Find the chargeable weight
Air and courier carriers compare actual weight with volumetric weight and bill on whichever is greater.
- 3
Convert a quote to a rate
A total freight quote divided by chargeable weight gives cost per kg; divided by units gives freight per unit.
- 4
Plan the load
The container-load calculator shows how cartons and pallets use available space, helping you avoid paying for wasted capacity.
- 5
Carry it into landed cost
The freight figure feeds directly into the landed-cost calculation for a true per-unit cost.
Worked example
Hypothetical: 200 cartons, 40 × 30 × 25 cm, 12 kg each
Illustrative inputs; each calculator uses its own deterministic formula.
- Volume per carton (0.40 × 0.30 × 0.25)
- 0.030 m³
- Total CBM (200 × 0.030)
- 6.00 m³
- Actual weight (200 × 12)
- 2,400 kg
- Volumetric weight (air, ÷6000)
- 1,000 kg
- Chargeable weight (greater of the two)
- 2,400 kg
- Freight quote (user-entered)
- USD 3,600.00
- Cost per kg (3,600 ÷ 2,400)
- USD 1.50
Illustrative only. Volumetric divisors and rates vary by carrier and mode — confirm with your freight forwarder before booking.
Common mistakes
- Pricing sea freight on weight instead of CBM
- Ignoring volumetric weight on light, bulky air shipments
- Using the wrong volumetric divisor for the carrier
- Forgetting that cartons rarely fill a container perfectly
- Leaving carrier surcharges out of the freight quote
- Quoting freight per shipment but pricing per unit
What UtilityPilot calculates
- Shipment volume (CBM) and volumetric weight
- Chargeable weight and freight cost per kg
- Freight cost per unit for pricing
- Carton, pallet and container loading and utilisation
What you must verify
- The carrier volumetric divisor for your mode
- The actual freight quote for your route and dates
- Pallet and container limits with your forwarder
- The freight cost basis and any carrier surcharges
Official sources to verify
- U.S. Customs and Border Protection
United States · Entry procedures, valuation, additional duties and rulings guidance.
- UK Trade Tariff
United Kingdom · UK commodity codes, duty rates, VAT and preferential rates.
- Singapore Customs
Singapore · Dutiable goods, GST on imports and classification enquiries.
- Australian Border Force — Working Tariff
Australia · Australian tariff classification, duty rates and FTA preferences.
UtilityPilot links to official authorities for verification. UK beta retrieval is available in the tariff calculator; US and EU duty rates require manual entry. Reference figures and scenario timestamps are not live tariff verification. Source list last updated 4 September 2026.