Container Shipping Cost Calculator - Freightos

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Tools & Calculators

Calculate Your Container Costs Freight Rates

Our free container shipping calculator delivers accurate container rate estimates. Just tell us about your shipment to get an estimate from the world’s largest freight rate database. Then join Freightos to compare, book, and manage your upcoming shipments using our freight rate calculator.

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Instantly compare air, ocean, and trucking freight quotes from 75+ providers with the perfect balance of price and transit time.

Refreshingly easy logistics management with milestone tracking and proactive issue resolution from vetted providers you can trust.

Our Freight Team is available to help with every step of your shipment process, from documentation to delivery specifics.

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Your Shipping Route

An international container being sent from Shanghai to Los Angeles, for example, is always going to be less costly to ship than one being sent on a less common route.

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Size of Your Container

The standard container dimensions are 20 and 40 feet. But there are also other variations, including different sizes and refrigerated units.

Illustration for Freightos container shipping cost calculator update

Supply and Demand

The global freight industry is dictated by basic economics. During the busiest shipping seasons, container rates go up – sometimes substantially.

Container Rates Today: Shipping Rates Chart and Prices

Below is a port-to-port container shipping rates chart for cost ranges of common international shipping destinations (from Shanghai, China):

You can view live international freight rates, prices, and trends, updated daily from the world’s largest freight rate index on the Freightos Baltic Index (FBX).

Week of December 21st, 2025 Container Shipping Rates and Prices

Ocean Rates – Freightos Baltic Index:

Asia-US West Coast prices (FBX01 Weekly) rose 8% to $2,127/FEU.
Asia-US East Coast prices (FBX03 Weekly) fell 3% to $3,069/FEU.
Asia-N. Europe prices (FBX11 Weekly) rose 11% to $2,707/FEU.
Asia-Mediterranean prices(FBX13 Weekly) rose 15% to $3,850/FEU.

Ocean Freight Rates and Trends:

Transpacific ocean rates continued their Q4 pattern of ups and downs, with Asia–US West Coast prices increasing 8% last week to about $2,100/FEU as carriers increased blanked sailings during a low-demand period.
Despite these fluctuations, carriers have achieved residual gains that have kept transpacific rates above the year lows set in early October.
Asia–US East Coast rates decreased 3% last week, though daily rates this week are up by about $300 to more than $3,350/FEU. Rates may retreat again in the near term, but a more sustained increase is possible as Lunar New Year approaches.
Asia–Europe rates continued to rise, supported by more disciplined capacity management and reports of increasing demand tied to an early start to pre-Lunar New Year orders.
Prices to Northern Europe rose 11% last week to over $2,700/FEU, while Mediterranean rates increased 15% to $3,850/FEU, with daily Mediterranean rates already exceeding $4,000/FEU.
Continued Red Sea diversions are contributing to the early start of pre-Lunar New Year shipping, as shippers seek to avoid longer post-holiday transit delays.

Air Cargo Freight Rates and Trends:

Air cargo demand patterns have shifted following changes to US de minimis rules, with China–US e-commerce air shipments reportedly dropping by up to 50% since the exemption was eliminated for China in May.
Following the elimination of de minimis for all countries, some Chinese e-commerce platforms have redirected their focus toward Europe, where import values have recently doubled.
Overall transpacific air traffic has remained resilient despite lower China–US volumes, supported by growing electronics shipments from Southeast Asia, especially Vietnam, and Taiwan.
China–US airfreight rates have declined from year highs as peak season ends, falling 7% last week to $7.47/kg, with daily rates down to about $6.50/kg.
Southeast Asia–North America air rates are also easing after rising more than 20% since mid-October.
China–Europe air rates are holding around $3.86/kg, well below the $5.00/kg levels seen a year ago, while Southeast Asia–Europe prices are at a year high near $4.15/kg, with daily rates easing.
China – N. America weekly prices fell 7% to $7.47/kg.
China – N. Europe weekly prices rose 6% to $3.71/kg.
N. Europe – N. America weekly prices decreased 1% to $2.51/kg.

How Much Does It Cost to Ship 20FT and 40FT Containers?

When comparing prices for container shipping and transport, the size of the container will affect the price.

While there are over a dozen different-sized containers, 20-foot (TEU) and 40-foot (FEU) containers are the most frequently used.

20-Foot Container Shipping Costs:

What fits in a TEU will determine the cost of shipping. The cost also depends on the type of goods transported and how efficiently these can be packed and loaded into the container.

The dimensions of a TEU are as follows:

Length: 19.4 ft (5.9 m)
Width: 7.7 ft (2.35 m)
Height: 7.9 ft (2.39 m)

Therefore, the total cubic capacity of a TEU is 1,172 cu ft (33.2 m3) and the payload capacity is 55,126.9 lbs (25,000 kg).

This means that a 20-ft container can generally accommodate 9-10 standard pallets.

40-Foot Container Shipping Costs:

An FEU has double the capacity of a TEU but is not charged at double the price.

If you want to ship a 20-foot container instead of a 40-foot container, it’s worth noting that the latter usually costs just 20-25% more than the former.

These are the dimensions of a FEU:

Length: 39.5 ft (12.03 m)
Width: 7.7 ft (2.35 m)
Height: 7.9 ft (2.39 m)

The total cubic capacity of an FEU is 2,389 cu ft (67.7 m3) and the payload capacity is 61,200 lbs (27,600 kg).

This means you can fit between 20-21 standard pallets in an FEU.

Note that if you’re shipping temperature-sensitive, hazardous, or oversized cargo, you may need a specialized container such as a reefer, open-top, or flat rack.

If you don’t need a full 20′ or 40′ container, you may not need full container load shipping (FCL) and may want to consider less than container load (LCL) shipping. With LCL, you only pay for the space your cargo takes up. One caveat: LCL shipments typically have longer transit times than FCL since they need time for consolidating smaller shipments into a single container.

How Are Container Shipping Prices, Rates & Transport Costs Calculated?

Container shipping rates and prices are determined by the form of the cargo, the mode of transport, the weight of your goods, and the distance and popularity of the delivery destination from the point of origin.

Understanding the total cost of importing or exporting your goods is vital to determining the total landed cost of the goods and what your bottom line will be. Check out the Container Shipping Cost Calculator to help you estimate what it will cost to ship your goods. Once booked, it’s time to see how to track your container.

In addition to base transport costs, shipping quotes often include surcharges such as fuel adjustments (BAF), peak season fees (PSS), terminal handling charges (THC), and currency adjustment factors (CAF). The Freightos Marketplace includes these in your quotes wherever forwarders provide this information, helping you compare more complete pricing.

Your total shipping cost includes components such as pickup from origin, export documentation, origin terminal handling, the ocean leg, import customs, destination terminal handling, and final delivery. On the Freightos Marketplace, you’ll see all of your charges in single quote view, depending on the selected service level and what’s included by the freight provider.

Your costs will also vary depending on the incoterm you choose (e.g. FOB, CIF, DDP), which defines whether the buyer or seller is responsible for each segment of the shipment.

How Much Does It Cost to Ship From China/Central Asia to the United States?

Currently, prices are around $2,100/FEU on the China/Central Asia to North America West Coast route and about $3,350/FEU on the China/Central Asia to North America East Coast route.

Container Shipping Calculator FAQ

Can I compare shipping costs to multiple destinations on the Freightos Marketplace? Yes, the Freightos Marketplace makes it easy to compare shipping costs across different destinations. You can easily change origin and destination inputs to generate different quotes for comparison. In addition, the platform saves your previous searches, making comparison extra-easy. What charges and fees are included in my Freightos quote? Freightos quotes are comprehensive and include main freight services, documentation, fuel and security surcharges, handling charges, and standard pickup/delivery fees based on your shipment details. You can also add insurance and customs brokerage during your search for complete coverage.Your quote covers all standard transportation costs, but excludes the Freightos Platform Fee (shown at checkout), any disbursement or convenience fees for payment processing, and actual duties and taxes which are calculated at the port of entry.Are customs clearance charges included in container shipping quotes? When you book a shipment on the Freightos Marketplace, you can include customs brokerage right on the platform. For US-bound shipments, Clearit USA handles these services and creates a dashboard for direct communication.In order for your goods to clear customs, you’ll need to complete a Power of Attorney form and provide accurate tariff codes and commodity descriptions. Duties and taxes aren’t included in your initial quote because they are calculated at the port of entry. These must be paid before your goods are cleared. If customs flags your shipment for examination, the broker will handle arrangements and pass any additional charges through the platform.What happens if my shipment dimensions or weight change after booking? If your actual shipment differs from what you booked, your freight forwarder will confirm the new details and any additional charges on the Freightos Marketplace platform. Any new charges will be based on the chargeable/volumetric weight.Your freight forwarder must notify you of adjustments and get your approval before proceeding with your shipment. Can I ship dangerous, refrigerated, or oversized cargo with Freightos? While Freightos primarily handles general commercial cargo, special shipments may be possible by reaching out to our team for a custom quote. For special cargo, expect additional handling charges, possible rate adjustments, and requirements for special documentation. You must declare any dangerous materials, and oversized or overweight shipments will need detailed specifications. The platform will notify you if your shipment requires a custom quote instead of an instant quote based on the commodity information you provide.How are storage and delay charges handled? Storage charges may occur if your shipment is held due to incomplete payment of duties/taxes, incomplete customs clearance, or customs exams. Each location has a period of free storage time before paid storage begins.Your freight forwarder will notify you before storage charges take effect. For shipments with up to 5 paid storage days, charges are added on the platform. Beyond that, the seller invoices you directly off-platform.