Freight & Logistics Calculators
Size the volume, chargeable weight, container fit and demurrage exposure of your shipment before you book - using the same IATA and carrier conventions freight forwarders use.
Freight cost is driven by whichever is greater: actual weight or volumetric weight. For ocean LCL that's 1,000 kg vs 1 CBM. For air freight it's actual kg vs (L×W×H cm ÷ 6000) - IATA's volumetric divisor. Integrator services (DHL, FedEx, UPS) use 5000 for their premium products; the Air Freight Chargeable Weight tool supports both.
The LCL vs FCL break-even is the volume at which flat FCL container rates beat per-CBM LCL rates. Depending on origin/destination pair and season, that break-even sits between 8 and 15 CBM for a 20ft container. Our tool takes your actual rates and computes the exact crossover.
Detention (equipment held outside the terminal) and demurrage (loaded container idle at the terminal) charge tiered daily rates that escalate - often USD 100/day for the first tier, USD 200 next, USD 400 thereafter. Free-time pools can be combined or separate. Our Demurrage Calculator models both structures.
Frequently asked questions
How do I calculate CBM for shipping?
CBM (cubic meters) = Length × Width × Height, with all three measured in meters. For inches or centimeters, divide the product by 1,000,000 (cm) or 61,024 (in). The CBM Calculator supports multi-item cargo, mixed units, and shows container fill percentage.
What is chargeable weight for air freight?
Chargeable weight is the higher of actual weight (kg) and volumetric weight (L × W × H in cm ÷ 6000, per IATA Res. 502). Integrators typically use a 5000 divisor. Airlines round chargeable weight up to the nearest 0.5 kg per piece.
When should I switch from LCL to FCL?
Roughly 12–14 CBM on most trade lanes, but it depends on your all-in LCL rate (per CBM), FCL rate (per box), origin/destination CFS fees and free-time. Use the LCL vs FCL Break-Even tool with your actual quotes.
How is demurrage calculated?
Demurrage applies once the free-time (usually 5–14 days) at the discharge terminal expires. Daily rates are tiered: e.g. USD 100/day for days 1–3 past free-time, USD 200 for days 4–7, USD 400 thereafter. Detention runs on the same basis but for containers held outside the terminal.