{
  "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": "fba-shipping-calculator",
  "title": "Amazon FBA Shipping Calculator — China to US Inbound Freight (Air / LCL / FCL)",
  "shortTitle": "FBA Shipping",
  "canonicalUrl": "https://cargomath.com/tools/fba-shipping-calculator/",
  "endpoints": {
    "html": "https://cargomath.com/tools/fba-shipping-calculator/",
    "json": "https://cargomath.com/tools/fba-shipping-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 Amazon FBA inbound shipping cost from China to US FBA warehouses. Compare air, ocean LCL, and ocean FCL side-by-side with FBA-specific prep cost per carton.",
  "answer": "Amazon FBA inbound shipping cost = (chargeable weight × air rate) OR (CBM × LCL rate) OR FCL flat cost, plus prep cost × carton count. Mode choice is driven by urgency, weight, and CBM.",
  "audience": "Amazon FBA private-label sellers shipping inventory from China and Vietnam to US FBA fulfillment centers",
  "keywords": [
    "fba shipping calculator",
    "amazon fba shipping calculator",
    "amazon fba shipping cost calculator",
    "china to fba shipping",
    "amazon fba inbound shipping cost",
    "fba freight calculator",
    "china to amazon warehouse shipping cost"
  ],
  "faq": [
    {
      "q": "What does the FBA shipping calculator estimate?",
      "a": "It estimates inbound freight from China (or other origin) to a US FBA warehouse by mode — air, ocean LCL, or ocean FCL — plus prep cost per carton. The output is the freight + prep portion of your landed cost, not Amazon fulfillment fees."
    },
    {
      "q": "Does this include Amazon FBA fulfillment fees, referral fees, or storage?",
      "a": "No. Amazon FBA fulfillment fees, monthly storage fees, long-term storage fees, and referral fees are separate. This calculator is for inbound freight planning only — the cost to move cartons from your supplier to the Amazon fulfillment center."
    },
    {
      "q": "How do I decide between air, LCL, and FCL for FBA inbound?",
      "a": "Air freight makes sense for urgent replenishment or shipments under ~150 kg chargeable weight. Ocean LCL is usually cheapest between roughly 2 and 15 CBM. Ocean FCL wins above ~15 CBM because the per-CBM rate drops sharply once you fill a 20ft or 40HQ container. Compare all three by changing the mode selector."
    },
    {
      "q": "Why does the calculator include a prep fee per carton?",
      "a": "FBA shipments often require FNSKU labels, polybagging, bundling, or palletization that the freight quote does not cover. Prep typically runs USD 0.50 – 1.50 per carton in China, plus USD 5 – 15 per pallet for floor-loaded to palletized conversion at a US warehouse. Modeling it separately keeps the freight comparison honest."
    },
    {
      "q": "How long does FBA inbound shipping take from China in 2026?",
      "a": "As of May 2026, China → US FBA transit times are roughly: air express 5–8 days door-to-door, air freight 8–12 days, ocean LCL 35–50 days, ocean FCL 28–42 days. Add 3–7 days for FBA receiving once the shipment hits the warehouse."
    },
    {
      "q": "Can I ship directly to Amazon FBA, or do I need a US prep center?",
      "a": "Most ocean shipments route through a US-side prep center because FBA does not accept floor-loaded containers without an appointment, and pallets must meet ISPM-15 and Amazon stacking specs. Air shipments often go direct or via a forwarder that handles section 321 and FBA appointment booking."
    }
  ],
  "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": "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/"
    },
    {
      "slug": "amazon-fba-cbm-calculator",
      "title": "Amazon FBA CBM Calculator — Carton & Pallet Volume for FBA Inbound Shipments",
      "url": "https://cargomath.com/tools/amazon-fba-cbm-calculator/"
    },
    {
      "slug": "us-customs-duty-calculator",
      "title": "US Customs Duty Calculator — Estimate Import Duties to the US",
      "url": "https://cargomath.com/tools/us-customs-duty-calculator/"
    }
  ],
  "machine": {
    "summary": "Estimate FBA inbound freight by mode using chargeable weight (air), CBM (LCL), or flat FCL cost plus prep fees per carton.",
    "inputs": [
      {
        "name": "mode",
        "type": "string",
        "required": true,
        "enum": [
          "air",
          "lcl",
          "fcl"
        ],
        "description": "Freight mode for the FBA inbound shipment."
      },
      {
        "name": "chargeableWeightKg",
        "type": "number",
        "required": false,
        "unit": "kg",
        "description": "Chargeable weight in kg for air shipments (max of actual and volumetric weight at 6000 cm³/kg)."
      },
      {
        "name": "airRatePerKg",
        "type": "number",
        "required": false,
        "unit": "USD/kg",
        "description": "Air freight rate per kg for the lane."
      },
      {
        "name": "cbm",
        "type": "number",
        "required": false,
        "unit": "m3",
        "description": "Shipment volume in cubic meters for LCL."
      },
      {
        "name": "lclRatePerCbm",
        "type": "number",
        "required": false,
        "unit": "USD/CBM",
        "description": "Ocean LCL rate per CBM for the lane."
      },
      {
        "name": "fclFlatCost",
        "type": "number",
        "required": false,
        "unit": "USD",
        "description": "Flat all-in cost per container for FCL shipments."
      },
      {
        "name": "cartonCount",
        "type": "integer",
        "required": true,
        "description": "Number of outbound cartons in the shipment."
      },
      {
        "name": "prepFeePerCarton",
        "type": "number",
        "required": false,
        "default": 0,
        "unit": "USD",
        "description": "Prep cost per carton (FNSKU labeling, polybagging, bundling, palletization)."
      }
    ],
    "outputs": [
      {
        "name": "baseFreight",
        "type": "number",
        "unit": "USD",
        "description": "Estimated base freight cost before prep."
      },
      {
        "name": "prepTotal",
        "type": "number",
        "unit": "USD",
        "description": "Total prep cost (per-carton prep × carton count)."
      },
      {
        "name": "estimatedTotal",
        "type": "number",
        "unit": "USD",
        "description": "Estimated total inbound spend = base freight + prep total."
      }
    ],
    "formula": "air: base = chargeable_weight_kg * air_rate_per_kg; lcl: base = cbm * lcl_rate_per_cbm; fcl: base = fcl_flat_cost; prep = carton_count * prep_fee_per_carton; total = base + prep",
    "limitations": [
      "Does not include Amazon FBA fulfillment fees, storage, or referral fees.",
      "Does not price US customs duty, MPF, HMF, or section 301 tariffs.",
      "Does not include last-mile drayage from port to FBA warehouse or prep center.",
      "Treats the rate per kg/CBM as a single blended rate — actual quotes often have minimum charges and step pricing."
    ],
    "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"
}