Air Express / Air Cargo (Rate per kg)
Sea Freight (Rate per CBM)
Sea Freight Fast (Rate per kg)
Enter the quote provided by your forwarder.
5000 (Standard Express)
6000 (Some Air Cargo)
Shipment Breakdown
Total Volume
0.00 m³
Total Actual Weight
0 kg
Volumetric Weight
0 kg
Chargeable Weight
0 kg
Estimated Freight Cost
$0.00
*Note: This estimate covers freight only. Customs duties, taxes, and last-mile delivery fees may apply separately.
Understanding Amazon FBA Freight Rates and Calculation
Shipping inventory to Amazon fulfillment centers is a critical component of any FBA business. Understanding how freight rates are calculated can save you thousands of dollars in logistics costs. Whether you are shipping directly from a supplier in China or a local warehouse, the cost is rarely determined by simple gross weight alone.
Actual Weight vs. Volumetric Weight
Freight forwarders utilize two different weight metrics to determine the cost of your shipment: Actual Weight and Volumetric (Dimensional) Weight. The carrier will always charge you based on whichever number is higher. This is known as the "Chargeable Weight".
Actual Weight: The physical weight of the goods as shown on a scale.
Volumetric Weight: A calculation based on the space the cargo occupies. For air freight, the formula is usually (Length x Width x Height in cm) / 5000.
For example, if you ship lightweight items like pillows in large boxes, your actual weight might be low, but your volumetric weight will be high. You will be charged for the space those pillows take up in the aircraft or container.
Air Freight vs. Sea Freight
Choosing between Air and Sea freight is a trade-off between speed and cost.
Air Freight
Air freight is typically priced per kilogram. It is the fastest option (5-10 days) but the most expensive. When calculating air freight, the "Dimensional Factor" is usually 5000 (for express couriers like DHL/UPS) or 6000 (for general air cargo). It is ideal for high-value, small electronics or when you need to restock quickly to avoid stocking out.
Sea Freight
Sea freight is usually priced per CBM (Cubic Meter) or occasionally per kg for "Fast Sea" services (LCL). It is significantly cheaper than air freight but takes much longer (25-45 days).
LCL (Less than Container Load): You pay for the specific volume (CBM) your goods occupy in a shared container.
FCL (Full Container Load): You pay a flat rate for an entire 20ft or 40ft container, regardless of how full it is.
How to Reduce FBA Shipping Costs
To optimize your margins, consider these strategies:
Optimize Packaging: Reduce empty space in your product packaging. Even a reduction of 2cm on a box side can significantly lower the volumetric weight across thousands of units.
Master Carton Density: Ensure your master cartons are packed tightly to maximize the use of space on pallets or in containers.
Split Shipments: Send a small portion of inventory via Air to get in stock immediately, and send the bulk via Sea to save money.
Using This Calculator
This calculator helps you estimate the freight cost by comparing the actual weight against the volumetric weight. Simply input your carton dimensions, weight per carton, and total number of cartons. Select your shipping method and input the rate provided by your forwarder to see your estimated total shipping cost.
function toggleRateLabel() {
var mode = document.getElementById('freightMode').value;
var label = document.getElementById('rateLabel');
if (mode === 'sea_cbm') {
label.innerHTML = "Freight Rate ($ per CBM)";
} else {
label.innerHTML = "Freight Rate ($ per kg)";
}
}
function calculateFreight() {
// Get Inputs
var len = parseFloat(document.getElementById('cartonLength').value);
var wid = parseFloat(document.getElementById('cartonWidth').value);
var hgt = parseFloat(document.getElementById('cartonHeight').value);
var wgt = parseFloat(document.getElementById('cartonWeight').value);
var qty = parseFloat(document.getElementById('totalCartons').value);
var rate = parseFloat(document.getElementById('freightRate').value);
var mode = document.getElementById('freightMode').value;
var divisor = parseFloat(document.getElementById('dimensionalDivisor').value);
// Validation
if (isNaN(len) || isNaN(wid) || isNaN(hgt) || isNaN(wgt) || isNaN(qty) || isNaN(rate)) {
alert("Please fill in all numeric fields correctly.");
return;
}
// Calculations
// 1. Total Volume in CBM
// Volume of one box in cm3 = L*W*H
// 1 CBM = 1,000,000 cm3
var volumePerBoxCm3 = len * wid * hgt;
var volumePerBoxCbm = volumePerBoxCm3 / 1000000;
var totalCbm = volumePerBoxCbm * qty;
// 2. Total Actual Weight
var totalActualWeight = wgt * qty;
// 3. Volumetric Weight (Standard Air Formula usually)
// Volumetric Weight per box = (L*W*H) / Divisor
var volWeightPerBox = volumePerBoxCm3 / divisor;
var totalVolumetricWeight = volWeightPerBox * qty;
// Determine Chargeable Weight and Cost
var chargeableWeight = 0;
var totalCost = 0;
if (mode === 'air' || mode === 'sea_kg') {
// For Air or Fast Sea (priced per kg), we compare Actual vs Volumetric
chargeableWeight = Math.max(totalActualWeight, totalVolumetricWeight);
totalCost = chargeableWeight * rate;
} else if (mode === 'sea_cbm') {
// For Standard Sea LCL (priced per CBM)
// Note: Sea freight also has a density ratio (usually 1 CBM = 1000kg or sometimes less like 1:363 or 1:167)
// But usually, if quoted per CBM, you pay per CBM unless it's extremely heavy.
// For this calculator, if user selects "Rate per CBM", we multiply CBM by Rate.
// However, we should display the weights for reference.
// In pure CBM pricing:
chargeableWeight = totalActualWeight; // Just for display, technically charge is based on volume
totalCost = totalCbm * rate;
// Edge case: Heavy cargo in Sea Freight (Revenue Tons)
// Usually 1 CBM is charged as 1000kg. If weight > 1000kg/CBM, you pay by weight.
// Let's implement a standard check: if Density > 1000kg/m3.
var densityCheck = totalActualWeight / totalCbm;
if (densityCheck > 1000) {
// Very rare for standard FBA goods, but mathematically possible.
// If heavier than 1 ton per CBM, usually charged by weight units equivalent to CBM.
// For simplicity in this tool, we assume standard FBA density (light/medium goods) and charge by CBM.
// If we wanted to be strict: totalCost = Math.max(totalCbm, totalActualWeight/1000) * rate;
}
}
// Update UI
document.getElementById('resCBM').innerHTML = totalCbm.toFixed(3) + " m³";
document.getElementById('resActualWeight').innerHTML = totalActualWeight.toFixed(2) + " kg";
if (mode === 'sea_cbm') {
document.getElementById('resVolumetricWeight').innerHTML = "N/A (CBM Pricing)";
document.getElementById('resChargeableWeight').innerHTML = totalCbm.toFixed(3) + " m³"; // Displaying volume as chargeable unit
} else {
document.getElementById('resVolumetricWeight').innerHTML = totalVolumetricWeight.toFixed(2) + " kg";
document.getElementById('resChargeableWeight').innerHTML = chargeableWeight.toFixed(2) + " kg";
}
document.getElementById('resTotalCost').innerHTML = "$" + totalCost.toFixed(2);
// Show Results
document.getElementById('resultsSection').style.display = 'block';
}