Estimate freight shipping cost for LTL, full truckload, partial truckload, intermodal, air, or ocean/container shipments. Enter the lane, shipment dimensions, weight, freight class, rate assumptions, fuel surcharge, and accessorial services to build a private planning estimate.
No shipment details, lanes, rates, or commodity notes are sent to a server. The calculator runs in your browser.
The estimate uses your entered rate, fuel, dimensions, and fees. It cannot confirm capacity, tariffs, discounts, or carrier minimums.
Reviewed for freight planning logic on June 29, 2026. Validate final charges with your carrier, broker, or tariff.
Use carrier lane mileage, routing software, or your planned route distance.
For LTL, enter one pallet or handling unit size, then the pallet count. Density and freight class can change the billed rate.
For FTL, dimensions are useful for load planning, but the estimate is usually driven by equipment type, lane distance, truckload rate, fuel, detention, stop-offs, and pickup or delivery windows.
Partial truckload sits between LTL and FTL. Density still matters, but space reserved on the trailer can drive the rate.
Intermodal estimates often combine drayage, rail linehaul, fuel, ramp fees, and pickup or delivery appointment assumptions.
Air freight commonly uses dimensional weight. Compare actual and dimensional weight before relying on a per-pound rate.
Ocean/container estimates depend on container size, drayage, origin and destination charges, documentation, and port fees that this calculator cannot fetch live.
Density helps estimate class, but actual NMFC class can also depend on handling, stowability, liability, and commodity.
Common parcel and air formulas divide cubic inches by a divisor such as 139 or 166. Use your carrier rule.
For LTL, use a planning rate per mile or per kilometer. If your quote is a flat linehaul, divide it by lane distance.
Applied to base linehaul. Carrier fuel programs may use a separate table.
Check each service that applies, then edit the default fee to match your carrier, broker, tariff, or internal planning rule.
Total = base linehaul + fuel + accessorials + stop-offs + density/class adjustment.
Base linehaul: Distance * entered rate. If you have a flat carrier linehaul, divide it by distance and use that as the rate.
Fuel surcharge: Base linehaul * fuel percentage. Actual fuel tables may change weekly or monthly.
Shipment volume: Length * width * height * count, converted to cubic feet. Density is weight / cubic feet.
Estimated class impact: the calculator estimates a density-based class when you do not enter one, then applies a transparent planning multiplier. This is not an official NMFC classification.
Total estimate: base linehaul + fuel + selected accessorial fees + stop-off fees + density/class adjustment.
Inputs: 4 pallets, 48 x 40 x 48 in each, 3,200 lb, 560 mi, $2.65/mi, 22% fuel.
Steps: linehaul 560 * 2.65 = $1,484; fuel $1,484 * 0.22 = $326.48; cube 213.3 ft³; density 15.0 lb/ft³, roughly class 70 by density.
Interpretation: dense palletized freight keeps class pressure low; accessorials and minimum charges may matter more than density.
Inputs: 38,000 lb dry van, 920 mi, $2.20/mi, 19% fuel, no accessorials.
Steps: linehaul 920 * 2.20 = $2,024; fuel $384.56; total before stop-offs $2,408.56.
Interpretation: truckload pricing is dominated by lane rate, capacity, fuel, equipment type, and appointment or detention risk.
Inputs: 700 mi partial truckload, $2.85/mi, 21% fuel, two extra stops at $90 each.
Steps: linehaul $1,995; fuel $418.95; stop-offs 2 * $90 = $180; total before other services $2,593.95.
Interpretation: each stop adds time and schedule risk, so stop fees should be separated from base transportation cost.
Inputs: 1 LTL pallet, 300 lb, 48 x 40 x 60 in, 180 mi, $3.10/mi, residential delivery, liftgate, appointment.
Steps: cube 66.7 ft³; density 4.5 lb/ft³, high estimated class; add selected delivery fees on top of linehaul and fuel.
Interpretation: short residential deliveries can be driven more by liftgate, appointment, and density than by mileage.
These links explain concepts the calculator uses, but your carrier, broker, tariff, or freight agreement controls the actual quote.
You usually need origin and destination, shipment date, mode, pieces or pallets, dimensions, weight, commodity, freight class if known, pickup and delivery services, and any accessorial requirements.
A planning estimate normally combines base linehaul, fuel surcharge, accessorial fees, stop-off fees, and any density or class adjustment. Live carrier quotes may also include minimum charges, tariffs, contract discounts, and capacity changes.
LTL rates are affected by origin and destination, distance, weight, dimensions, density, freight class, commodity, pallet count, accessorials, delivery type, and current carrier capacity.
Yes. Dimensions determine cubic feet, density, and sometimes dimensional weight. Large lightweight shipments may price higher because they use trailer, container, aircraft, or warehouse space.
Freight class is an LTL classification used in North America. Density is important, but class can also depend on handling, stowability, liability, and commodity characteristics.
Invoices can differ when dimensions or weight are remeasured, class changes, pickup or delivery conditions require extra services, detention occurs, fuel tables change, or a carrier minimum charge applies.
Yes. Enter a fuel surcharge percentage and the calculator applies it to the base linehaul estimate. Actual carrier fuel programs can use separate weekly or monthly tables.
Accessorials are extra charges for services or conditions beyond standard dock-to-dock transportation, such as liftgate, residential delivery, inside delivery, limited access, appointment, detention, hazardous material, refrigeration, or declared value protection.
Enter the pallet or item count and dimensions for one handling unit. The calculator multiplies volume by count and divides the total weight across the shipment to estimate density, cost per pallet, and cost per pound.
For routine LTL, a few business days is often workable. Truckload, refrigerated, hazmat, intermodal, ocean, air, peak season, or tight appointment windows usually need more lead time.
Yes. Use the residential pickup or delivery accessorial rows, and add liftgate or appointment service if needed.
No. This is a private planning estimator. It does not fetch live carrier rates, confirm capacity, create a bill of lading, or guarantee a carrier invoice.
Freight cost results are estimates for planning purposes. Carrier contracts, lane capacity, accessorial rules, measurement audits, fuel programs, tariffs, and minimum charges can change actual charges.