Container Detention Fee Calculator

Detention charges from days held beyond free time.

Legal Disclaimer

This calculator provides general estimates only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws, regulations, and court procedures vary significantly by jurisdiction. Consult a licensed attorney in your area for advice specific to your situation.

Inputs

Free Time (days)

Total Days Held

Tier 1 Rate ($/day)

Tier 2 Rate ($/day)

Tier 1 Duration (days)

Number of Containers

Tab to move between fields

Results

Total Detention ($)

$2,100.00

≈ 16 pairs of sneakers

Per Container ($)$1,050.00

Chargeable Days10

Tier 1 Charges ($)$450.00

Tier 2 Charges ($)$600.00

Avg Daily Rate ($)$105.00

How to Use This Calculator

Enter Free Time Days — the demurrage-free period granted by the carrier (typically 3–7 days).
Set Total Days Held — how long your containers were or will be at the port.
Enter Tier 1 Rate per Day, Tier 2 Rate per Day, and the Tier 1 Duration before escalation.
Set Number of Containers subject to detention.
Review Total Detention Cost and Per Container cost.
Request detention fee waivers immediately if delays were caused by port congestion or carrier issues beyond your control.

How the result changes with Total Days Held

Total Days Held	Total Detention ($)
9	$750.00
31	$7,200.00
59	$15,600.00
81	$22,200.00

What each input means

Free Time (days): Days allowed before detention charges start.
Total Days Held: Total calendar days container is held.
Tier 1 Rate ($/day): Daily rate for first tier of detention.
Tier 2 Rate ($/day): Escalated rate for extended detention.
Tier 1 Duration (days): Days at Tier 1 rate before escalation.
Number of Containers: Containers subject to detention.

What each result means

Total Detention ($): Total detention charges for all containers.
Per Container ($): Detention cost per container.
Chargeable Days: Days beyond free time.
Tier 1 Charges ($): Charges at the lower rate.
Tier 2 Charges ($): Charges at the escalated rate.
Avg Daily Rate ($): Average per-day detention cost.

How this is calculated

Worked example, using the default values

Identify Input Parameters
4 parameters
Free Time (days) = 4, Total Days Held = 14, Tier 1 Rate ($/day) = 75, Tier 2 Rate ($/day) = 150 = 6 input(s) provided
Calculate Total Detention
Total Detention = costPerContainer * containerCount
2100 = $2,100
Calculate Per Container
Per Container = tier1Cost + tier2Cost
1050 = $1,050
Calculate Chargeable Days
Chargeable Days
10 = 10