What drives the price
No two container quotes are alike. The biggest levers are:
- Trade lane and distance — some corridors are far cheaper per mile than others.
- FCL vs LCL — a whole container versus shared space (see FCL vs LCL).
- Container size — 20ft, 40ft or 40ft high-cube.
- Season — peak season (roughly Aug–Oct) pushes rates up.
- Fuel, capacity and chokepoints — these can move lane economics in days.
- Door legs — collection and final delivery beyond the port.
Typical ranges (with a health warning)
Rates move constantly, so treat these as orientation, not quotes. As a rough guide on the Asia–North America lane in the current softer market, a 40ft FCL has ranged roughly $1,200–$4,800, and LCL roughly $60–$120 per CBM. The 2026 market has been a buyer's market with ample capacity, but peak-season and disruption spikes still happen.
The surcharges to watch
The base ocean rate is only part of the bill. Common add-ons include fuel (BAF), terminal handling (THC), peak-season surcharge (PSS), currency adjustment (CAF), security filings, customs clearance and duty — and, if a container sits too long, demurrage and detention. We break these down in Freight forwarder fees explained.
FCL vs LCL on cost
Below roughly 13–15 CBM, LCL (paying per cubic metre) is usually cheaper; above it, a full container typically wins and is faster and safer. If you're near the line, we model both.
How to get an accurate number
The sharpest quote comes from precise inputs: exact dimensions and weight, the lane, your Incoterm, and whether you need door collection or delivery. Give us those and we tender the shipment across our network so qualified partners compete on price — usually back to you within four hours.
Need help applying this to a real shipment? Share your details and we'll engineer a route and source the best rate — usually within 4 hours. Start a shipment →