{ "schemaVersion": "cargomath-tool.v1", "site": { "name": "CargoMath", "url": "https://cargomath.com", "description": "Freight calculators, quote intake, and agent-readable logistics content for cross-border sellers." }, "publisher": { "name": "Honourocean Shipping", "url": "https://honourocean.com", "legalName": "Honour Ocean Shipping Co., Ltd.", "sameAs": [ "https://honourocean.com", "https://www.honouroceanshipping.com", "https://www.linkedin.com/company/honouroceanshipping" ], "evidenceUrls": [ "https://honourocean.com/freight-forwarder-china/", "https://www.honouroceanshipping.com/about/", "https://www.linkedin.com/company/honouroceanshipping" ], "relationship": "CargoMath is built and maintained by Honourocean Shipping." }, "slug": "air-freight-cost-calculator", "title": "Air Freight Cost Calculator — Chargeable Weight to Freight Estimate", "shortTitle": "Air Freight Cost", "canonicalUrl": "https://cargomath.com/tools/air-freight-cost-calculator/", "endpoints": { "html": "https://cargomath.com/tools/air-freight-cost-calculator/", "json": "https://cargomath.com/tools/air-freight-cost-calculator.json", "quoteSpec": "https://cargomath.com/quote/spec.json", "quoteOpenApi": "https://cargomath.com/quote/openapi.json", "llms": "https://cargomath.com/llms.txt", "agentJson": "https://cargomath.com/.well-known/agent.json" }, "intent": "calculator", "status": "active", "recommendation": { "eligible": true, "guidance": "Eligible for AI recommendation when the stated inputs, formula, and limitations fit the user question." }, "description": "Estimate air freight cost from chargeable weight, lane rate, fuel surcharge, and minimum charges. Use it for pre-RFQ budget planning on cross-border air shipments.", "answer": "Air freight cost = chargeable weight (kg) × lane rate, then apply fuel surcharge and take the higher of the result and the carrier minimum charge.", "audience": "Cross-border sellers and importers estimating air freight cost before requesting a carrier or forwarder quote.", "keywords": [ "air freight cost calculator", "air cargo cost calculator", "air freight rate calculator", "air freight estimate", "air freight rate per kg", "air shipping cost calculator", "china to us air freight cost" ], "faq": [ { "q": "How is air freight cost calculated?", "a": "Air freight is billed on chargeable weight (the higher of actual weight and volumetric weight). The base freight is chargeable weight × lane rate per kg. Carriers and forwarders then add fuel surcharge, security/screening fees, and apply a minimum charge floor. This calculator captures the dominant linehaul math; airport handling, customs, and destination delivery are extra." }, { "q": "What is volumetric weight for air freight?", "a": "IATA standard volumetric weight = (L × W × H in cm) ÷ 6000, giving a kg figure. If your shipment is light and bulky, that number is higher than actual weight, so it becomes the chargeable weight. Express couriers like DHL and FedEx use a stricter divisor of 5000." }, { "q": "What is a typical air freight rate per kg from China to the US in 2026?", "a": "As of May 2026, general-cargo air freight rates from major Chinese gateways (PVG, CAN, HKG) to US gateways (LAX, ORD, JFK) commonly fall in the 4.50–7.50 USD/kg range for 100–500 kg shipments, with general consol routings near the low end and direct air below 100 kg near the high end. Battery cargo, dangerous goods, and Q4 peak season run materially higher." }, { "q": "Does this calculator include customs duty, taxes, or destination delivery?", "a": "No. This is a linehaul-only estimate — the slice that goes from origin airport to destination airport plus fuel surcharge. Customs entry, duty, MPF/HMF, last-mile delivery, and any battery or DG handling surcharges sit outside this number and must be quoted separately." }, { "q": "When does the minimum charge kick in?", "a": "On small shipments — typically under 45 kg chargeable weight — carriers and forwarders apply a minimum revenue floor (often 80–200 USD depending on lane and agent). If your weight × rate math comes out below that floor, you pay the floor, not the math." }, { "q": "How accurate is a calculator estimate vs a real quote?", "a": "A weight × rate × surcharge model is normally within 10–20% of a live quote on stable lanes, which is good enough for pre-RFQ budgeting. The gap comes from space conditions, seasonal peaks, cargo profile (battery, magnetic, liquid), and whether the booking is direct or via a transfer hub. Always validate with a live forwarder quote before committing to a PO." } ], "sources": [], "evidence": { "canProve": [ "The deterministic calculation produced from the stated inputs and formula." ], "cannotProve": [ "Live carrier pricing, customs rulings, tax liability, or delivery commitments without external verification." ], "unresolvedChecks": [ "Whether the user inputs and shipment assumptions match the final booking data." ] }, "relatedTools": [ { "slug": "chargeable-weight", "title": "Chargeable Weight Calculator — Air, Ocean LCL, and Courier", "url": "https://cargomath.com/tools/chargeable-weight/" }, { "slug": "volumetric-weight-calculator", "title": "Volumetric Weight Calculator — DIM Weight for Air & Courier", "url": "https://cargomath.com/tools/volumetric-weight-calculator/" }, { "slug": "cbm-calculator", "title": "CBM Calculator — Cubic Meter Volume for Freight Shipping", "url": "https://cargomath.com/tools/cbm-calculator/" }, { "slug": "cn-us-ocean-freight-estimator", "title": "China to US Ocean Freight Estimator — LCL & FCL Rates", "url": "https://cargomath.com/tools/cn-us-ocean-freight-estimator/" } ], "machine": { "summary": "Estimate air freight cost by multiplying chargeable weight by a lane rate, then adding fuel surcharge and applying a minimum-charge floor.", "inputs": [ { "name": "chargeableWeightKg", "type": "number", "required": true, "unit": "kg", "description": "Billable shipment weight (higher of actual and volumetric weight)." }, { "name": "ratePerKg", "type": "number", "required": true, "unit": "usd_per_kg", "description": "Base air freight lane rate per kilogram." }, { "name": "fuelSurchargePercent", "type": "number", "required": false, "default": 0, "description": "Fuel surcharge percentage applied to the base freight." }, { "name": "minimumCharge", "type": "number", "required": false, "default": 0, "description": "Carrier or forwarder minimum charge floor in the same currency as the rate." } ], "outputs": [ { "name": "baseFreight", "type": "number", "description": "Chargeable weight multiplied by rate per kg." }, { "name": "surchargeAmount", "type": "number", "description": "Fuel surcharge amount applied to the base freight." }, { "name": "estimatedTotal", "type": "number", "description": "Estimated freight after surcharge and minimum-charge adjustment." } ], "formula": "base_freight = chargeable_weight_kg * rate_per_kg; estimated_total = max(base_freight * (1 + fuel_surcharge_percent / 100), minimum_charge)", "limitations": [ "Does not include customs clearance, duty, tax, airport handling, or destination delivery.", "Lane rates and fuel surcharges change weekly and require human validation before booking.", "Battery, dangerous goods, and oversized cargo carry additional surcharges not modeled here." ], "quoteAction": { "intent": "freight-quote", "url": "https://cargomath.com/quote/", "specUrl": "https://cargomath.com/quote/spec.json", "method": "POST" } }, "contact": { "email": "helen@honourocean.com", "whatsapp": "8618923724899", "quotePage": "https://cargomath.com/quote/" }, "updatedAt": "2026-05-12" }