Container Import Cost Calculator
Cost per unit across a full container.
Duty rates and thresholds change with trade policy. These are planning estimates — the entry filed with customs decides the actual charge.
Landed cost per unit
£10.22
4,745 units at 85% fill
The freight is the same whether the container is 85% full or complete, so the 15% of air costs you £1.53 on every unit inside it. Fill is the cheapest lever in container importing.
How the Container Import Cost Calculator works
A container's economics turn on how well it is filled. The freight is broadly fixed whether you load it to 60% or 95%, so every cubic metre of air you ship raises the cost of every unit inside it.
Not financial advice. Marketplace fees change, and they vary by country, plan and seller status. Every rate here is an editable default, not a quoted price — check the platform's current fee schedule before you price a product against it. This is not tax or business advice.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a container hold?
A 20-foot container takes roughly 28-33 cubic metres of usable volume, and a 40-foot around 56-67. Weight limits bite first for dense goods — typically around 21 tonnes for a 20-foot — so the binding constraint depends on what you are shipping.
When is FCL cheaper than LCL?
Somewhere around 13-15 cubic metres, though it varies by lane and season. Below that, less-than-container-load usually wins; above it, a full container is cheaper per cubic metre and avoids consolidation delays.
What charges apply beyond ocean freight?
Terminal handling at both ends, documentation, customs clearance, duty and tax, port security fees, inland haulage, and demurrage or detention if the container is not returned within its free time.
What is detention and how is it different from demurrage?
Demurrage is the charge for leaving a container at the terminal too long; detention is for keeping it outside the terminal beyond the free period once collected. Both escalate daily and both are avoidable with planning.