Freight Cost Calculator: Compare Air and Ocean Quotes
Quick Overview
Calculate international freight costs through your iContainers account. Enter your route, shipping date and cargo details to view available air or ocean freight quotations for your shipment.
Registration is required to view freight rates. Already have an account? Log in to continue your quotation.
How to View Your Freight Rates
- 1. Log In or Register: Access your iContainers account to view shipment-specific freight rates.
- 2. Add Your Shipment Details: Provide your origin, destination, cargo-ready date and the details required for your shipping mode. Have your packed dimensions, gross weight and container requirements ready.
- 3. Review Available Quotations: Check the available services for your shipment, including the transport scope, estimated transit time, charges, validity and exclusions.
- 4. Confirm the Details Before Booking: Make sure the quotation matches your goods and the services you need. Report changes to your shipment details before confirming the booking.
Choose Air or Ocean Freight for Your Shipment
Your delivery deadline, packed shipment size and required service scope help determine which freight options to compare.
| Shipping Option | When to Consider It | Information to Prepare |
|---|---|---|
| Air freight | Your delivery deadline is a priority and the shipment is suitable for air transport. | Packed dimensions, gross weight, package count, goods description and route. |
| Ocean freight: FCL | You need a dedicated container, whether or not your goods fill it completely. | Container type, quantity, cargo weight, goods description and route. |
| Ocean freight: LCL | Your goods can travel in shared container space. | Package count, packed dimensions, gross weight, goods description and route. |
For a closer look at FCL and LCL quotations, use our ocean freight calculator. For air-specific guidance, visit our air freight calculator.
Freight rates are available after registration and depend on the shipment details and services selected.
Shipment Details You Will Need
Accurate shipment details make quotes more useful and help reduce changes caused by missing information.
| Detail | What to prepare |
|---|---|
| Origin and destination | Countries, cities and postal codes for collection or delivery, or the relevant ports and airports. |
| Cargo description | What you are shipping and any special handling requirements. |
| Package count | The number of pallets, crates, cartons or other shipping units. |
| Dimensions | The external length, width and height of each packed unit, including pallets and packaging. |
| Gross weight | The weight of the goods plus packaging, clearly identifying whether the figure is per unit or for the whole shipment. |
| Cargo ready date | When the shipment will be packed and available for collection or handover. |
| Service scope | Whether you need pickup, main transport, destination delivery or additional services. |
| Delivery requirements | Your target arrival date and any collection or delivery restrictions. |
Tell the shipping team about batteries, dangerous goods, temperature requirements, oversized pieces or cargo that cannot be stacked. These details may affect service availability and pricing.
For example, a useful enquiry would describe four pallets, each measuring 120 × 100 × 110 cm, with a combined gross weight of 800 kg, together with the pickup and delivery locations, goods description and cargo ready date.
What Determines Your Freight Cost?
Freight costs depend on the shipment and the services required. The same weight can produce different quotations when the route, packed dimensions, transport mode or delivery requirements change.
| Cost Factor | How It Can Affect Your Quotation |
|---|---|
| Origin and destination | The route and inland locations affect transport options and local charges. |
| Shipping mode | Air freight, FCL and LCL use different charging methods. |
| Dimensions and gross weight | Air freight commonly uses chargeable weight. LCL may use chargeable volume or weight, while FCL pricing depends on the equipment and service. |
| Shipping date | Capacity, equipment availability and quotation validity can affect available prices. |
| Service scope | Collection, main transport and final delivery involve different services and charges. |
| Cargo requirements | Dangerous goods, oversized pieces, temperature control and other requirements may need additional review. |
Use our CBM calculator to prepare your shipment volume, and our chargeable-weight tool to understand how dimensions and weight can affect air freight billing.
Understand Your Shipping Service Scope
A freight quotation is easier to compare when you know where the quoted service begins and ends.
| Service scope | Journey covered |
|---|---|
| Port to port or airport to airport | Transport between the specified departure and arrival terminals. |
| Door to port or door to airport | Collection from the agreed origin address and transport to the destination terminal. |
| Port to door or airport to door | Transport from the departure terminal through to the agreed delivery address. |
| Door to door | Collection and delivery between the agreed addresses. |
These descriptions identify the transport endpoints. Check the quotation for terminal handling, customs services, duties, taxes, insurance and other charges; a door-to-door service does not automatically include every cost.
How to Compare Freight Quotes Fairly
The lowest main transport rate may not produce the lowest total shipping cost. Compare quotations for the same shipment and service scope. Before choosing, check:
- Cargo details: Are package counts, dimensions and weight identical?
- Transport coverage: Do both quotes include the same pickup and delivery arrangements?
- Additional charges: Which origin, destination and handling charges are included?
- Timing: Does the estimate cover the main transport leg or the full collection-to-delivery journey?
- Currency and validity: Are the prices in the same currency, and how long are they valid?
- Conditions: Could revised measurements, storage, delays or special handling create additional charges?
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Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Registration is required to view freight rates through iContainers. Prepare your route and shipment details so you can review available quotations after accessing your account.
The freight calculator helps you start a quotation for air or ocean shipping. The ocean freight calculator focuses on sea freight, including full container load and less than container load shipments.
Weight alone is usually insufficient. The route, packed dimensions, shipping mode, date and services required also affect the quotation. Prepare both the gross weight and external dimensions of your cargo.
Start with your delivery deadline and shipment size. Air freight generally offers shorter main transit times, while ocean freight is often suitable for larger shipments with more flexible schedules. Compare available quotes and the full delivery timeline for your route.
A quotation applies to the shipment details, services and conditions stated. Changes to dimensions, weight, routing or requested services may change the price. Check its validity and exclusions before booking.
Get an estimate from your supplier or packing team to begin planning. Replace estimated measurements with the final packed dimensions and weight before confirming the shipment, and request an updated quote if they change.
