20′ General Purpose (GP)
40′ General Purpose (GP)
40′ High Cube (HC)
45′ High Cube (HC)
20′ Refrigerated (RF)
40′ Refrigerated (RF)
Enter details to see the estimated cost
Understanding Sea Freight Costs
Calculating the precise cost of sea freight involves many variables, and this calculator provides an estimation based on common factors. Below is an explanation of the inputs and the general logic used.
Key Factors Influencing Sea Freight Costs:
Container Type: Different container sizes and types (e.g., General Purpose, High Cube, Refrigerated) have different base rates due to their capacity, construction, and specialized requirements.
Weight and Volume: Shipping lines often charge based on the greater of actual weight (in kilograms) or dimensional weight (calculated from volume). This calculator uses both actual weight and volume inputs. The charge is typically per kilogram or per cubic meter (CBM), whichever yields a higher charge.
Distance: Longer shipping routes generally incur higher costs due to increased transit time, fuel consumption, and port charges.
Insurance: Cargo insurance protects against loss or damage during transit. The cost is usually a small percentage of the cargo's declared value (though value is not an input here; the rate is applied to the base freight cost for estimation purposes).
Fuel Surcharge: Fluctuations in global fuel prices directly impact shipping costs. Carriers apply a fuel surcharge, often as a percentage of the base freight rate.
Handling Fees: These are fixed or variable charges associated with loading, unloading, and terminal handling at the origin and destination ports.
Other Fees: Additional charges may include documentation fees, customs duties, port security fees, etc., which are not included in this simplified calculator.
Calculator Logic:
This calculator estimates the sea freight cost using the following simplified approach:
Base Rate Determination: A base rate is assigned based on the selected container type and distance. For simplicity, predefined base rates are used internally.
Weight vs. Volume Charge: The higher of the cost calculated by weight (e.g., $X per kg) or volume (e.g., $Y per CBM) is determined. For this calculator, we'll simplify by using the container's capacity as a proxy for generating a base charge that's influenced by weight and volume inputs.
Fuel Surcharge: Calculated as a percentage of the combined base rate and weight/volume charge.
Insurance Cost: Calculated as a percentage of the estimated freight cost (base + fuel surcharge).
Total Estimated Cost: The sum of the base rate, fuel surcharge, insurance cost, and handling fee.
Disclaimer: This calculator provides an estimate only. Actual shipping costs can vary significantly based on the carrier, specific trade lane, market conditions, and additional services required. Always obtain a formal quote from a freight forwarder for accurate pricing.
function calculateSeaFreightCost() {
// — Input Values —
var containerType = document.getElementById("containerType").value;
var weightKg = parseFloat(document.getElementById("weightKg").value);
var volumeCbm = parseFloat(document.getElementById("volumeCbm").value);
var distanceKm = parseFloat(document.getElementById("distanceKm").value);
var insuranceRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById("insuranceRate").value);
var fuelSurchargeRate = parseFloat(document.getElementById("fuelSurchargeRate").value);
var handlingFee = parseFloat(document.getElementById("handlingFee").value);
// — Input Validation —
var errorMessage = "";
if (isNaN(weightKg) || weightKg <= 0) {
errorMessage += "Please enter a valid positive weight in kilograms.\n";
}
if (isNaN(volumeCbm) || volumeCbm <= 0) {
errorMessage += "Please enter a valid positive volume in cubic meters.\n";
}
if (isNaN(distanceKm) || distanceKm <= 0) {
errorMessage += "Please enter a valid positive distance in kilometers.\n";
}
if (isNaN(insuranceRate) || insuranceRate < 0) {
errorMessage += "Please enter a valid non-negative insurance rate.\n";
}
if (isNaN(fuelSurchargeRate) || fuelSurchargeRate < 0) {
errorMessage += "Please enter a valid non-negative fuel surcharge rate.\n";
}
if (isNaN(handlingFee) || handlingFee 6000km)
var baseRates = {
"20GP": { "Short": 1200, "Medium": 1500, "Long": 1800 },
"40GP": { "Short": 1800, "Medium": 2200, "Long": 2700 },
"40HC": { "Short": 1900, "Medium": 2300, "Long": 2800 },
"45HC": { "Short": 2200, "Medium": 2600, "Long": 3100 },
"20RF": { "Short": 2500, "Medium": 3000, "Long": 3500 },
"40RF": { "Short": 3200, "Medium": 3800, "Long": 4500 }
};
// Rate per CBM or KG for overweight/volumetric charges. Simplified here.
// We'll use the base rate as the primary driver and adjust slightly with inputs.
var ratePerCbmOrKg = {
"20GP": 50, "40GP": 60, "40HC": 65, "45HC": 70, "20RF": 100, "40RF": 120
};
// — Calculation Logic —
var selectedBaseRate = 0;
var distanceTier = "";
if (distanceKm <= 2000) {
distanceTier = "Short";
} else if (distanceKm <= 6000) {
distanceTier = "Medium";
} else {
distanceTier = "Long";
}
if (baseRates[containerType] && baseRates[containerType][distanceTier]) {
selectedBaseRate = baseRates[containerType][distanceTier];
} else {
document.getElementById("result").innerText = "Error: Invalid container type or distance combination.";
document.getElementById("result").style.backgroundColor = "#dc3545";
return;
}
// Simplified calculation: Use base rate adjusted slightly by weight/volume relative to container capacity.
// This is a simplification. Real calculators use more complex LCL/FCL rules.
var maxWeightCapacity = { "20GP": 28000, "40GP": 34000, "40HC": 37000, "45HC": 40000, "20RF": 25000, "40RF": 30000 };
var maxVolumeCapacity = { "20GP": 33, "40GP": 67, "40HC": 76, "45HC": 86, "20RF": 27, "40RF": 54 };
var weightFactor = (weightKg / maxWeightCapacity[containerType]) || 1;
var volumeFactor = (volumeCbm / maxVolumeCapacity[containerType]) || 1;
var factor = Math.max(weightFactor, volumeFactor); // Use the greater of weight or volume impact
// Adjust base rate slightly based on utilization (simplified)
var adjustedBaseRate = selectedBaseRate * (1 + (factor – 1) * 0.2); // Max 20% adjustment for full/over utilization
// Calculate fuel surcharge
var fuelSurcharge = adjustedBaseRate * (fuelSurchargeRate / 100);
// Calculate subtotal before insurance and handling
var freightSubtotal = adjustedBaseRate + fuelSurcharge;
// Calculate insurance cost (applied to the subtotal for this estimation)
var insuranceCost = freightSubtotal * (insuranceRate / 100);
// Calculate total estimated cost
var totalCost = freightSubtotal + insuranceCost + handlingFee;
// Display the result
document.getElementById("result").innerText = "Estimated Cost: $" + totalCost.toFixed(2);
document.getElementById("result").style.backgroundColor = "var(–success-green)"; // Green for success
}