Most freight mistakes are made before anyone asks for a rate: the wrong volume, the wrong chargeable weight, the wrong container, the wrong Incoterm. All of those are arithmetic, and all of them are free to check. Below are 22 calculators grouped by when you need them rather than by what they are called.
Every tool listed is free, needs no sign-up, and runs in the browser. All outputs are estimates for planning — a quote from a forwarder is the only binding number.
Before you request a quote
These decide what you put in the request. Getting them wrong is the single most common reason quotes come back non-comparable.
| Tool | What it answers |
|---|---|
| CBM Calculator | Cubic metres from carton dimensions and quantity |
| Air Chargeable Weight | Whether air freight bills your gross or volumetric weight |
| Road Dimensional Weight | The same question for road and express, using cm divisors |
| Container Load Estimator | Whether your volume calls for LCL, 20ft, 40ft or 40ft HC |
| Cartons per Container | How many of your cartons physically fit in each container size |
| Pallet Calculator | Cartons per pallet and pallet count from your carton spec |
| Truck Load Calculator | Pallets per truck against dimension and weight limits |
| Freight Unit Converter | kg to lb, cm to in, CBM to CFT without arithmetic errors |
Choosing terms and classification
| Tool | What it answers |
|---|---|
| Incoterms Selector | A suggested Incoterm from a few questions about your deal |
| Incoterms Responsibility Chart | Who pays freight, insurance and customs under each term |
| HS Code Assistant | Likely HS chapters from a keyword — a starting point, not a legal classification |
| Transit Time Estimator | Indicative transit ranges by mode and lane |
Comparing the quotes you get back
| Tool | What it answers |
|---|---|
| FCL vs LCL Cost Comparison | The volume at which a full container beats consolidation |
| Currency Converter | Quotes in different currencies on one basis (live ECB rates) |
| Fuel Surcharge Calculator | What a percentage surcharge adds to the all-in cost |
| Cargo Insurance Estimator | Indicative premium from cargo value and rate |
| Freight Density Calculator | Density, which drives LTL class and many road rates |
| Stowage Factor Checker | Effective volume when cargo does not stow at 1:1 |
After you book
| Tool | What it answers |
|---|---|
| Detention & Demurrage | What storage charges accrue once free time expires |
| VGM Calculator | Verified gross mass for the SOLAS declaration |
| Carbon Emissions Estimator | Approximate CO2 by mode, weight and distance |
| Quote Margin Calculator | Margin and markup from cost and sell price (for forwarders) |
Where calculators stop
A calculator knows your cargo. It does not know the market. It cannot tell you what space costs on your lane this week, whether the carrier is rolling bookings, what the destination terminal charges, or whether a surcharge is negotiable. Those come from a forwarder quoting your actual shipment — which is why the honest framing is calculators versus real quotes.
Use them to arrive at the conversation with correct numbers, then compare the offers properly: the best way to compare freight quotes and what information a quote actually needs.
When your numbers are ready, post a freight request or find forwarders on your lane.
