Freight Cost Calculator
Sea, air and road freight per unit.
Per m³ for sea, per chargeable kg for air, per shipment for road.
Freight per unit
$1.41
$2,810 total by sea
The ocean or airline rate is often less than half of total freight once handling, documentation and inland transport are counted.
How the Freight Cost Calculator works
Freight is priced on whichever is greater, weight or volume, with the conversion differing by mode. Sea freight is cheap and slow and priced per cubic metre; air is fast and expensive and priced on chargeable weight. The per-unit figure is what actually matters, and it depends heavily on how well you fill the space.
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 is chargeable weight calculated for air freight?
The greater of actual weight and volumetric weight, where volumetric is cubic centimetres ÷ 6000 for kilograms. Air freight is far more sensitive to bulk than sea, which is why light bulky goods rarely fly economically.
Sea or air?
Sea for anything where a 30-45 day transit is acceptable — typically 5-10 times cheaper. Air for high-value, urgent or perishable goods, and for restocking a bestseller where the cost of being out of stock exceeds the freight premium.
What is the difference between FCL and LCL?
Full container load books an entire container; less than container load shares one. LCL suits smaller volumes but costs more per cubic metre and involves consolidation delays. FCL becomes cheaper per unit somewhere around 15 cubic metres.
What else belongs in freight cost?
Origin and destination handling, documentation, customs clearance, port charges, demurrage if containers are not cleared promptly, and inland transport at both ends. The ocean rate is often less than half of total freight cost.