Freight Forwarding Cost Calculator
Forwarder charges from origin to your door.
Door-to-door total
£3,973
freight is only 60.4% of it
The rival's lower freight line does not survive the all-in comparison — it is £77 more expensive door to door. Freight is only 60.4% of the bill, so it is the wrong line to shop on.
How the Freight Forwarding Cost Calculator works
A forwarder quote splits into origin charges, the freight itself, and destination charges — and the freight line is often the smaller half. Comparing forwarders on the ocean rate alone is how importers end up choosing the more expensive one.
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
What is included in a forwarder's quote?
Typically export clearance and origin handling, the freight, destination terminal handling, import clearance, and inland delivery. Ask for an all-in door-to-door figure, because origin and destination charges vary far more between forwarders than the freight does.
What is a house bill versus a master bill?
The master bill is issued by the carrier to the forwarder; the house bill is issued by the forwarder to you. It matters for release and for who controls the cargo — a house bill means dealing with the forwarder rather than the shipping line.
Should I arrange insurance through the forwarder?
Marine cargo insurance is cheap, typically well under 1% of value, and carrier liability alone is very limited — often a few dollars per kilogram regardless of what the goods are worth. Insure separately if the forwarder's cover looks expensive.
How do I compare forwarder quotes fairly?
On the all-in door-to-door total for the same Incoterm, with every charge itemised. A low freight rate with inflated destination charges is the oldest trick in the quote comparison, and it is still common.