Enter your cargo volume and weight, the quoted freight line and your landed-cost assumptions. Step 1 flags whether air/volumetric rules will price you on space, Step 2 computes the LCL vs FCL break-even on destination-all-in numbers, Step 3 skeletons the duty + tax add-on. Everything below the calculator explains the formulas so you can argue with them.
1 · Cargo profile
2 · Quote assumptions
| Volumetric weight (air, 1 CBM = 167 kg) | — |
| Billable basis: freight pricing applies to | — |
| LCL cost at your quote | — |
| 20ft FCL cost at your quote | — |
| Break-even CBM (below = LCL wins) | — |
| Duty skeleton (goods value × rate) | — |
| Tax skeleton (value + duty × rate) | — |
Benchmarks: LCL destination-all-in $55-80/CBM, 20ft $2,200-3,800 CN→US West, 40ft ~28/58/65 packed CBM (20/40/40HQ). Duty is a skeleton only — confirm the exact HS line with your broker.
The Three Formulas, Explained
Step 1 — Volumetric / chargeable weight. Air and express freight bill the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight; sea freight bills the greater of weight-tonnage and CBM. The air constant for most forwarders' consolidated lanes is 1 CBM = 167 kg (i.e. divide cm dimensions by 6,000). If your cargo is light-but-bulky — plush, pillows, lampshades, empty storage bins — you pay for space, and the calculator's "billable basis" row shows which number applies.
Step 2 — LCL vs FCL break-even. LCL looks cheap at the headline rate and settles expensive at destination: CFS handling, devanning and documentation stack $55-80/CBM all-in on the 2026 benchmark. FCL is one flat rate whether it ships at 60% or 90% utilization. The break-even is simply FCL all-in ÷ LCL all-in per-CBM — at the defaults, $2,900 ÷ $68 ≈ 43 CBM against a 40ft, but against the 20ft quote entered, anything under the result row's value favors LCL. Enter your quotes: destination-fee discipline matters more than any benchmark (read the full LCL vs FCL breakdown).
Step 3 — Duty + tax skeleton. Duty base = declared goods value (customs valuation rules can add freight in some countries); tax base = goods value + duty in most VAT/GST jurisdictions. The calculator shows both add-ons against your value input so a "cheap" quote with a 35% Section-301-style exposure can't slip through un-modeled. For the HS-code workflow behind the rate you typed, see import duty & HS codes.
2026 Benchmark Table (Preloaded Values)
| Vector | 2026 benchmark | Source discipline |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai → LA 40ft | $2,180 (▲4.2% WoW, Sept 12) | Market pulse, refreshed monthly |
| Shanghai → Rotterdam 40ft | $3,050 (▼2.8% WoW) | Market pulse |
| LCL all-in per CBM | $55-80 | Consolidator fee stacks, 2026 audits |
| 20ft packed capacity | ~28 CBM | FCL utilization math |
| Air volumetric constant | 1 CBM = 167 kg (÷6,000) | IATA volumetric standard |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is chargeable weight and why does it matter?
Air and express couriers bill on the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight (length × width × height in cm divided by 6,000 for many express lanes, or 1 CBM = 167 kg for air freight). Light-but-bulky cargo pays for space, not mass — which is why a 40 kg carton of plush toys can cost more to fly than a 40 kg box of steel parts.
When should I switch from LCL to a full container?
Our 2026 benchmark puts the LCL-to-20ft break-even at roughly 13-15 CBM. Below that, LCL usually lands cheaper all-in; above it, a 20ft container is safer, faster and cheaper per CBM. Run both quotes at destination-all-in level before deciding.
Does this calculator give me the final duty bill?
No — it is a skeleton, not a customs ruling. HS-code duty rates vary by exact code and origin conditions, and VAT or sales-tax treatment depends on your registration status. Use the output to sanity-check quotes, then confirm the exact rate on your government tariff schedule or with your broker.