Freight Forwarder Cost Calculator

Total forwarding cost breakdown for ocean shipments.

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

Shipment Type (1-2)

Container Size (1-3)

Cargo Value ($)

Cargo Volume (CBM)

Origin Charges ($)

Tab to move between fields

Results

Total Cost ($)

$4,210.00

≈ 4 smartphones

Ocean Freight ($)$2,500.00

Forwarder Fees ($)$360.00

Cargo Insurance ($)$125.00

Destination Charges ($)$725.00

Origin Charges ($)$500.00

Cost per CBM ($)$280.67

How to Use This Calculator

Select Shipment Type: FCL (full container load) or LCL (less than container load).
Set Container Size (20ft, 40ft, 40ft HC) for FCL, or Cargo Volume in CBM for LCL.
Enter Cargo Value for marine insurance calculation.
Set Origin Charges (pickup, loading, documentation at origin port).
Review Total Cost broken down by Ocean Freight and Forwarder Fees.
Get quotes from 3+ forwarders — rates vary significantly based on relationships and volume commitments.

How the result changes with Origin Charges ($)

Origin Charges ($)	Total Cost ($)
1,000	$4,710.00
3,500	$7,210.00
6,500	$10,210.00
9,000	$12,710.00

What each input means

Shipment Type (1-2): 1=FCL (full container), 2=LCL (less than container).
Container Size (1-3): 1=20ft, 2=40ft, 3=40ft HC (FCL only).
Cargo Value ($): Declared cargo value for insurance.
Cargo Volume (CBM): Cargo volume in cubic meters (for LCL rate).
Origin Charges ($): Pickup, loading, and origin terminal fees.

What each result means

Total Cost ($): Complete door-to-door forwarding cost.
Ocean Freight ($): Carrier shipping charges.
Forwarder Fees ($): Documentation, brokerage, ISF.
Cargo Insurance ($): Marine cargo insurance at 0.25%.
Destination Charges ($): Terminal handling, chassis, delivery.
Origin Charges ($): Pickup and origin fees.
Cost per CBM ($): Total cost per cubic meter.

How this is calculated

Worked example, using the default values

Identify Input Parameters
4 parameters
Shipment Type (1-2) = 1, Container Size (1-3) = 2, Cargo Value ($) = 50000, Cargo Volume (CBM) = 15 = 5 input(s) provided
Calculate Total Cost
Total Cost = originCharges + oceanFreight + forwarderFees + insuranceCost + destCharges
4210 = $4,210
Calculate Ocean Freight
2500 = $2,500
Calculate Forwarder Fees
Forwarder Fees = documentationFee + bolFee + customsBrokerageFee + deliveryOrder + isf10Plus2Fee
360 = $360