Amazon FBA Logistics Cost Calculator

Calculate the true landed cost for your FBA shipments. Compare sea, air, and express — pick the right method based on your margin, volume, and urgency.

Commands

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What Data to Provide

• - Product details — dimensions (cm), weight (kg) per unit and per carton
• Quantity — total units to ship
• Origin — factory location (city/country)
• Destination — Amazon FBA warehouse country/region
• Timeline — how urgently do you need stock?
• Product value — for duty calculation

Shipping Method Comparison

Sea Freight (FCL / LCL)

Type	When to Use	Transit Time	Cost Estimate
FCL 20ft	>15 CBM, frequent shipper	25–35 days	$1,500–$3,000/container
FCL 40ft

>28 CBM | 25–35 days | $2,500–$5,000/container |

| LCL | <15 CBM, small shipments | 35–45 days | $80–$150/CBM |

Best for: Large shipments, low-margin products, planned inventory restocks
Avoid when: Urgent, small shipment, or product is high value/low volume

Air Freight

Service	Transit Time	Cost Estimate
Standard Air	7–14 days	$4–$8/kg
Economy Air

14–21 days | $2.5–$5/kg |

Chargeable weight = max(actual weight, volumetric weight)
Volumetric weight = L × W × H (cm) / 6,000

Best for: New product launches, seasonal restocks, high-value low-weight products
Avoid when: Heavy/bulky products, cost is main concern

Express Courier (DHL/FedEx/UPS)

Service	Transit Time	Cost Estimate
DHL Express	3–5 days	$8–$15/kg
FedEx International

3–5 days | $8–$15/kg |

| UPS Worldwide | 3–5 days | $8–$15/kg |

Best for: Urgent stock-outs, samples, <50kg shipments
Avoid when: >100kg (air freight becomes cheaper)

Landed Cost Formula

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Import Duty Rates (US HTS Common Categories)

Product Category	HS Code Range	US Duty Rate
Electronics	8471–8529	0–3.7%
Clothing/Apparel

6101–6217 | 12–32% | | Footwear | 6401–6403 | 20–37.5% | | Kitchen tools | 7323–7326 | 0–3.9% | | Toys/Games | 9501–9508 | 0% | | Sports equipment | 9506 | 4–5.1% | | Furniture | 9401–9403 | 0–7% | | Yoga mats/Fitness | 3926/9506 | 4–5.3% |

Note: Section 301 China tariffs add 7.5–25% on many Chinese-origin products. Always verify current rates at USITC.gov.

Shipping Timeline Planner

Work backwards from your target in-stock date:

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Decision Framework: Which Method to Choose?

Scenario	Recommended Method
First shipment, <200kg	Air freight or Express
Regular restock, >500kg, >30 days lead time

Sea LCL | | Large seller, >15 CBM per shipment | Sea FCL | | Running out of stock, <2 weeks | Express (DHL/FedEx) | | High-value, low-weight product | Air freight | | Low-margin, heavy product | Sea freight only | | Seasonal launch (e.g., Christmas stock) | Sea: ship by Oct 1 |

Carton Optimization Tips

• - Keep carton weight under 23kg (FBA requirement, safety)
• Standard carton size for FBA: 60×40×40cm (1 CBM = 25 cartons)
• Maximize carton fill to minimize LCL costs
• Match master carton quantity to FBA box limits (no more than 150 units/box for standard)

Freight Forwarder Selection Criteria

Factor	What to Look For
Amazon FBA experience	Must know FBA label requirements
US customs broker

In-house or established partner | | Tracking system | Real-time shipment visibility | | Communication | English-speaking, responsive | | Price | Get 3+ quotes, compare apples-to-apples | | Insurance | Cargo insurance included or available |

Recommended: Always get quotes from at least 3 forwarders

Output Format

1. 1. Cost Comparison Table — sea vs. air vs. express for your shipment
2. Recommended Method — best option with reasoning
3. Full Landed Cost Breakdown — every line item to final unit cost
4. Timeline — ship-by date based on your target in-stock date
5. Red Flags — duty risks, seasonal surcharges, FBA restrictions