Free Container Shipping Cost Calculator

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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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 September 1st, 2025 Container Shipping Rates and Prices

Ocean Rates – Freightos Baltic Index:

• Asia-US West Coast prices (FBX01 Weekly) dropped 1% to $1,725/FEU.        
• Asia-US East Coast prices (FBX03 Weekly)  dropped 1% to $2,708/FEU.
• Asia-N. Europe prices (FBX11 Weekly) dropped 7% to $2,841/FEU.
• Asia-Mediterranean prices (FBX13 Weekly) dropped 2% to $3,033/FEU.

Ocean Freight Rates and Trends:

• Ocean freight rates dropped to around $1,900 per container in August, which is 20% cheaper than July and 65% less than last year
• Traditionally peak season months are seeing lower demand with rates from Asia to the US West Coast having fallen to $1,700 per container, the lowest since December 2023
• Dropping rates are due to a number of factors, including many businesses having rushed shipments earlier this year to beat tariff deadlines, and overcapacity of cargo ships
• Rates from Asia to Europe have fallen to their lowest since early summer, with prices to Northern Europe down 18% and Mediterranean routes down 9% compared to July
• Shipping companies are changing routes and schedules to avoid new fees that US ports will charge Chinese ships starting in mid-October

Air Cargo Freight Rates and Trends:

•  US tariffs on India have boosted air cargo from neighboring Bangladesh, while Vietnam is seeing significant growth in electronics exports by air to both US and Europe
• The US has now eliminated the de minimis exemption (which allowed duty-free entry of low-value shipments) for all countries, not just China
• Since May, when de minimis was eliminated for China, some China-US e-commerce air shipments have reportedly dropped by up to 50%
• Chinese e-commerce platforms have redirected focus to Europe, where import values have doubled recently
• Despite all these shifts, air cargo prices have remained fairly consistent since spring. China-Europe rates are around $3.70/kg, China-North America at $5.30/kg, and Southeast Asia-North America at $4.63/kg.

Use the cost calculator and keep up to date with container shipping pricing trends to get a better idea of what your total landed costs will be.

• China – N. America weekly prices dropped 5% to $5.30/kg.
• China – N. Europe weekly prices rose 5% to $3.70/kg.
• N. Europe – N. America weekly prices dropped 3% to $1.67/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 start from $2,327 in the China/Central Asia to North America West Coast route, and $3,395 in the China/Central Asia to North America East Coast route.