Calculators
Sea vs Air Freight Calculator
Compare sea and air freight for a shipment on freight cost, inventory carrying cost during transit and the cost of lost sales time.
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- Nothing uploaded
The tool
Enter your numbers below. Results update as you type, and nothing leaves your browser.
Everything you enter stays on your own machine. Nothing is sent to us or to anyone else, which you can confirm in your browser network tab.
What people use it for
- Choosing a freight mode
- Expediting decisions
- Import budgeting
- Inventory planning for launches
About this tool
What the Sea vs Air Freight Calculator does
Air freight costs far more per kilogram but arrives in days instead of weeks. For high-value goods, the carrying cost of stock at sea and the sales lost while waiting can narrow the gap. This calculator compares the total cost of each mode for your shipment.
It also works as a freight vs air shipping break-even calculator or a ocean vs air freight calculator.
Formula
- Carrying cost = goods value × annual carrying rate × transit days ÷ 365
- Sea = sea freight + carrying cost
- Air = weight × air rate + carrying cost − margin gained from earlier arrival
Worked example
Using the starting values in the calculator above:
| Input | Value |
|---|---|
| Chargeable weight | 800 kg |
| Value of goods | $60,000 |
| Sea freight cost for this shipment | $1,400 |
| Sea transit time door to door | 40 |
| Air freight rate per kg | $5.50 |
| Air transit time door to door | 6 |
| Annual carrying cost of inventory | 20% |
| Gross margin lost per day of delay | $0.00 |
| Result | Value |
|---|---|
| Lower total cost | Sea freight |
| Difference | $1,882 |
| Sea total cost | $2,715 |
| Air total cost (net of extra margin) | $4,597 |
| Air freight charge | $4,400 |
| Days saved by air | 34 |
How to read the result
Air freight is charged on the greater of actual and volumetric weight; bulky light goods cost more than the kilogram weight suggests.
Many importers use air for urgent replenishment and sea for planned stock.
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Questions
Questions about this tool
The things clients actually want to know — costs, timelines, ownership and what happens after launch.
For high-value, urgent or perishable goods, or when delays would cost significant sales.
Often several times the cost of sea freight per kilogram.
The annual cost of holding inventory, including capital, storage and risk, as a percentage of its value.
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