Freight tools
Freight calculators our team uses every day
Chargeable weight and CBM, container fit, pallet plans, US import fees, free time and unit conversions. Free to use, no sign-up, and the results copy straight into an email.
- Free, no sign-up
- Formulas shown
- Includes 45' HC
- FY2027 CBP fees
Seven free tools
Which calculator do you need?
Free to use, no sign-up. Every tool shows the formula it uses, and every result copies straight into an email or WhatsApp. Size your shipment here, then send it to us for a real price.
Chargeable weight & CBM
Cubic metres, air volumetric weight, LCL revenue tons and LTL class for mixed pieces.
OpenContainer fit
How many cartons fit in a 20' GP, 40' GP, 40' HC or 45' HC, by space and by weight.
OpenPallet plan
Cartons per layer and per pallet, pallets needed, built height and weight.
OpenUS import duty & fees
HTS rate lookup by country, Section 301 / 232 duties, MPF and HMF.
OpenFree time & demurrage
Last free day, days charged and the cost with your tariff rates.
OpenDensity & NMFC class
Density in lb/ft³ and the freight class for US LTL trucking.
OpenUnit converter
cm and inches, kg and lb, m³ and ft³, density and temperature.
OpenWant a real price?
Send us the cargo, pickup and destination. Every quote is priced by our team against current carrier rates.
Get a quote
Air freight and LCL
Chargeable weight and CBM calculator
List what you are shipping. We work out the cubic metres, the volumetric weight for air and courier, revenue tons for LCL and the density class for trucking.
How chargeable weight and CBM are calculated
Carriers charge for the space cargo takes up as well as for its weight. For air freight the airline compares the actual gross weight with a volumetric weight worked out from the dimensions, and bills whichever is higher. Ocean LCL works the same way with the revenue ton.
Example: four crates of 120 × 100 × 150 cm at 450 kg each measure 7.2 m³ and weigh 1,800 kg. Their volumetric weight at ÷6000 is 1,200 kg, so the airline bills the actual 1,800 kg. As LCL they are 7.2 revenue tons, because 7.2 m³ is more than 1.8 metric tons.
Freight class for US LTL trucking is set by density for many commodities, and some have a fixed NMFC class regardless of density. Treat the class shown here as a starting point, or use the density and NMFC class calculator for pallets.
- CBM (cubic metres)
- L × W × H in cm ÷ 1,000,000 × pieces
in inches: in³ ÷ 61,024 - Air volumetric weight
- L × W × H in cm ÷ 6,000 = kg (IATA)
couriers: ÷ 5,000 · in inches: in³ ÷ 166 = lb - Chargeable weight
- max(actual gross kg, volumetric kg)
- LCL revenue ton (W/M)
- max(m³, gross kg ÷ 1,000)
Going by sea? Send it as an LCL quote request. More on air freight and ocean freight.
Ocean FCL · 20', 40', 40' HC and 45' HC
Container fit calculator
Enter one carton size and the quantity. We check every container type against both the space and the payload and tell you how many containers you need.
| Container | Fit per container | Containers needed | Volume used | Weight used |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20' GP | – | – | – | – |
| 40' GP | – | – | – | – |
| 40' HC | – | – | – | – |
| 45' HC | – | – | – | – |
How the container fit is worked out
For each container the calculator tries every way the carton can sit (six orientations if it may be turned on any side, two if it must stay upright), counts whole cartons along the length, width and height, and keeps the best layout. It then takes off the loading allowance and checks the weight: the payload, or your road limit if it is lower, divided by the weight of one carton. The smaller of the two numbers is what fits.
The recommended container is the one that needs the fewest boxes, then the fullest, then the smallest. If the last container would be lightly loaded, it suggests a mix, for example two 40' HC and one 20' GP.
- Fit by space
- ⌊L ÷ l⌋ × ⌊W ÷ w⌋ × ⌊H ÷ h⌋, best orientation, × loading allowance
- Fit by weight
- ⌊payload or road limit ÷ carton weight⌋
- Cartons per container
- the smaller of the two
- Containers needed
- ⌈quantity ÷ cartons per container⌉
| Container | Inside L × W × H | Capacity | Payload | Door W × H |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20' GP | 5.89 × 2.35 × 2.39 m | 33.2 m³ | 28,200 kg | 234 × 228 cm |
| 40' GP | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.39 m | 67.7 m³ | 26,700 kg | 234 × 228 cm |
| 40' HC | 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.69 m | 76.3 m³ | 26,580 kg | 234 × 258 cm |
| 45' HC | 13.56 × 2.35 × 2.69 m | 86.0 m³ | 27,700 kg | 234 × 258 cm |
Not sure which box? Send the cargo list and we will choose the container. See also ocean freight.
Palletising
Pallet calculator
Work out how many cartons go on each pallet, how many pallets you need and what each one weighs and measures once it is built.
How the pallet plan is worked out
Cartons are column-stacked with one orientation per pallet. The calculator tries the carton both ways on the deck, plus any overhang you allow, and keeps the layout that fits more per layer. It then stacks as many layers as fit between the pallet deck and your height limit. A weight limit per pallet, if you set one, caps the count.
Common pallet sizes: GMA 48 × 40 in (USA), Euro 120 × 80 cm, ISO 120 × 100 cm and 110 × 110 cm (Asia, Australia). Keep cargo inside the footprint for LTL and air.
- Cartons per layer
- max(⌊L′ ÷ l⌋ × ⌊W′ ÷ w⌋, ⌊L′ ÷ w⌋ × ⌊W′ ÷ l⌋)
L′, W′ = pallet size + overhang on both sides - Layers
- ⌊(max height − deck height) ÷ carton height⌋
- Cartons per pallet
- per layer × layers, capped at ⌊(max pallet weight − pallet weight) ÷ carton weight⌋
- Pallets needed
- ⌈quantity ÷ cartons per pallet⌉
Palletised cargo can go LTL, air or ocean LCL. Send it over and we will suggest the best way, or read about our services.
Import to the USA
US import duty calculator with CBP fees
Type the HTS code and the country of manufacture: the duty rate comes from the current US Harmonized Tariff Schedule (hts.usitc.gov), including free-trade rates where the country qualifies. Add the customs value and we estimate duty, the Merchandise Processing Fee and, for ocean cargo, the Harbor Maintenance Fee.
How US import duty and CBP fees are calculated
Base rates are read live from the US Harmonized Tariff Schedule at hts.usitc.gov. Free-trade rates assume the goods qualify as originating, which usually needs a certificate or statement of origin.
Additional duties (Section 301 on China, Brazil and the forced-labor action, Section 232 on steel, aluminum, copper, autos, trucks, wood products, pharmaceuticals and chips, and other trade actions) sit in Chapter 99 and depend on the country and the product. After a lookup, the ones on file for that origin, and any the schedule points to for the heading, are listed for you to tick and are added to Additional duties. Send us the code and we will confirm.
- Duty
- customs value × HTS rate (general or free-trade)
- Additional duties
- customs value × Section 301 / 232 and other Chapter 99 rates
- MPF, formal entry
- 0.3464% of value, min $34.58, max $670.86 (FY2027, CBP Dec. 26-14)
- MPF, informal entry
- $2.77
- HMF, ocean only
- 0.125% of value
- Total to CBP
- duty + additional duties + MPF + HMF
We can clear it for you. Send the HTS code, origin and value and we will confirm the duty and quote the clearance.
Ocean import · Demurrage and detention
Free time and demurrage calculator
Enter when free time starts, how many free days you have and when the container will be picked up or returned. We work out the last free day, the days that will be charged and, with the daily rates from your tariff, the cost.
Every day after that
- Free time
- Tier 1
- Tier 2
- Tier 3
How free time, demurrage and detention are counted
Demurrage is what the carrier or terminal charges when a full container stays at the port after its free time. Detention, also called per diem, is charged when you keep the carrier's container outside the terminal past its free time, until the empty is returned. Some carriers give one combined allowance for both.
Free days, daily rates and whether weekends count come from the carrier and terminal tariff or your contract, and many tariffs charge in tiers that rise the longer the container stays. Check your tariff for which day counts as day 1, then plan the pickup and return before the last free day.
- Last free day
- day 1 + free days − 1
counting only Mon to Fri if your tariff uses working days - Days charged
- calendar days from the day after the last free day to the pickup or return date
- Cost
- days in each tier × that tier’s daily rate × containers
Planning an import? Tell us the arrival port and we will line up customs clearance and trucking so the container moves inside its free time.
US LTL trucking
Freight density and NMFC class calculator
Add each handling unit as it will travel (pallet, crate or carton, pallet included). Every line can have its own units, inches or centimetres, pounds or kilos, and shows its own NMFC class. We total it all, work out the shipment density and pick the class for the whole shipment.
How freight density and class are worked out
US LTL carriers price freight by class, and for many commodities the class follows density in pounds per cubic foot: denser freight gets a lower class. Measure each handling unit as tendered, pallet included, at its longest, widest and highest points.
Some commodities have their own NMFC item with a fixed class regardless of density. Use the dropdown to set that class by hand, and confirm the NMFC item with the carrier before you book.
- Volume
- L × W × H in inches ÷ 1,728 = ft³ per unit
- Density
- total weight in lb ÷ total volume in ft³
- Class
- read from the density scale below
| Density, lb/ft³ | Class |
|---|---|
| 50 and up | 50 |
| from 35 to under 50 | 55 |
| from 30 to under 35 | 60 |
| from 22.5 to under 30 | 65 |
| from 15 to under 22.5 | 70 |
| from 13.5 to under 15 | 77.5 |
| from 12 to under 13.5 | 85 |
| from 10.5 to under 12 | 92.5 |
| from 9 to under 10.5 | 100 |
| from 8 to under 9 | 110 |
| from 7 to under 8 | 125 |
| from 6 to under 7 | 150 |
| from 5 to under 6 | 175 |
| from 4 to under 5 | 200 |
| from 3 to under 4 | 250 |
| from 2 to under 3 | 300 |
| from 1 to under 2 | 400 |
| from 0 to under 1 | 500 |
We book LTL, FTL, flatbed and drayage across the US, including pickup to the port for export.
Quick conversions
Freight unit converter
Metric to imperial and back for the figures that come up every day in freight.
- 6000 cm³/kgIATA air · 166 in³/lb · 1 m³ ≈ 167 kg
- 5000 cm³/kgCouriers (DHL, FedEx, UPS) · 139 in³/lb · 1 m³ = 200 kg
- 1 m³ = 1,000 kgOcean LCL revenue ton (W/M) · 1 m³ = 35.31 ft³
Have the numbers? Send them with your pickup and destination and our team will price the move.
Questions
Freight calculator questions
Short answers to what shippers ask us about CBM, chargeable weight, containers, duty and free time.
How do I calculate CBM for a shipment?
What is chargeable weight in air freight?
How many cartons fit in a 20 ft, 40 ft or 45 ft container?
How are US import duty and CBP fees calculated?
What is the difference between demurrage and detention?
Are these results a quote?
Still have a question? Call (908) 440-0999 or email [email protected].
Get a quote
Got your numbers? Get a real price.
Send the results with your pickup and destination. Every quote is priced by our team against current carrier rates, and cargo is released within 60 minutes of payment.
- Ocean, air, trucking and vehicles
- No obligation, no sign-up
- Cargo released within 60 minutes of payment