Calculate freight shipping time & transit time in seconds with this free air, ocean & trucking international transit time & shipment duration calculator.
International freight can be complicated, especially when you need to choose between different shipping modes. This international freight shipping transit time calculator helps by giving estimated shipping time for blended inland trucking, air, and ocean freight, to give a comprehensive freight shipping time estimate. Using Freightos’s transit time calculator enables you to quickly and conveniently determine the estimated transit time for your shipments. It empowers you to make informed decisions, optimize your logistics planning, and ensure timely delivery of your goods to their intended destinations.
What is transit time in shipping
Transit time is how long it takes for a shipment to be delivered to its final destination after being picked up from a designated pick-up point. The amount of time needed to move goods from one point to another varies widely, so it’s important to get this information before booking a shipment.
How long does freight shipping take?
Freight shipping transit time is impacted by factors including distance, shipping mode, route, and season. In very rough estimates: express can take as little as 1-3 days, air freight is typically 5-10 days, and sea shipping can range anywhere from 20-45 days or more. The complexity of customs procedures and potential delays at border crossings can also influence freight shipping transit time. Factors such as the volume of shipments being processed, the accuracy of documentation, and any unforeseen inspections or regulatory requirements can contribute to longer transit times. Moreover, adverse weather conditions, such as storms or extreme temperatures, may disrupt transportation networks, further extending the delivery schedule. Therefore, it is crucial for shippers and recipients to consider these variables when estimating the arrival time of their freight shipments and to plan accordingly to minimize any potential delays.
Port to port shipping transit time & sea freight transit times
Why is there such a wide range in shipment duration when shipping by sea? Because there are a lot of ways to ship. Seriously.
When it comes to transit time between ports, there are about 107,000 different UN Codes for Trade and Transport Locations (UN/LOCODE) for different shipping destinations. This means you’ll see a lot of variance. For example, shipping time for an ocean shipment from Shenzhen, China, to Miami, Florida through the Suez Canal takes 41 days while the (more expensive) Panama Canal takes only 35 days.
Use our Seaport Code Finder to find Locodes, port Names, and seaport codes for international seaports.
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When would you use this transit time calculator?
Once you have collected the key freight documents you need from your supplier and calculated your chargeable weight, use this calculator to help you select a freight mode. Whether you select air or ocean freight usually comes down to balancing cost and transit time.
Average transit times 2023
Freight shipping transit times faced extreme delays in 2021, but returned to near pre-pandemic lengths over the course of 2022. Below is a table of the most recent average transit times for port-to-port and door-to-door shipments from China to the US based on Freightos.com data.
Ocean/Sea, Air, and Express Freight Time From China To The US
| Port to Port | Door to Door | |
| Sea Freight (FCL) | 14-42 days | 19-47 days |
| Sea Freight (LCL) | 14-42 days | 22-50 days |
| Air Freight | 1-5 days | 4-11 days |
| Express* | 2-5 days |
