Air Freight Storage Fee Calculator
Estimate airport ground-handler storage charges by chargeable weight, free period and per-kg daily rates.
Air cargo storage is billed per kg of chargeable weight per day after the free period, with a per-day minimum. Import free periods are commonly 24–72 h depending on airport.
Sources & references
- IATA — Cargo handling and storage charge practices (TACT rules context)
- Published import storage tariffs of major airport ground handlers
Demurrage, detention and storage tariffs are set by each carrier, terminal and contract and change frequently. The preloaded figures are editable industry-typical examples, not quotes — always verify against the current published tariff or your service contract before paying or disputing an invoice.
Air cargo doesn't sit free for long: ground handlers bill storage per kilogram of chargeable weight per day once the free period — anywhere from 24 hours at space-starved hubs to 72 hours at Indian gateways — runs out. Because the rate multiplies across the whole chargeable weight, a one-tonne shipment forgotten over a weekend can quietly out-cost its terminal handling fees.
About Air Freight Storage Fee Calculator
Enter chargeable weight, days since arrival (handlers usually count from the flight's arrival or the cargo's check-in to the import shed), your free period and the handler's per-kg/day rate. The calculator applies the per-day minimum that virtually every handler tariff carries — small shipments almost always hit the minimum rather than the per-kg figure, which surprises first-time importers. The free-period clock and customs are the operational traps. At most airports the storage clock keeps running during customs queries unless the delay is attributable to the customs authority itself (and even then you usually must claim it). Pre-file your import documents before flight arrival, and collect within the free window — air storage rates are designed to make the shed a terrible warehouse.
How to use Air Freight Storage Fee Calculator
- 1Set each input — chargeable weight, days since arrival, free period, storage rate — using your own figures.
- 2The estimate recomputes instantly as you type; no submit button, no waiting.
- 3Review the line-item breakdown to see how each component contributes to the total.
- 4Click “Copy quote” to paste the itemised result into an email, quote or audit note.
Why use Air Freight Storage Fee Calculator?
- ✓Itemised line-by-line breakdown, not just a single opaque total
- ✓Copy-ready output for emails, quotes and audit notes
- ✓Recomputes live as you type — compare scenarios in seconds
- ✓Free and private — nothing you enter leaves your browser
Frequently asked questions
How is air freight storage calculated?+
Per kg of chargeable weight, per day (or part-day), after the free period, subject to a per-day minimum. Example with the defaults: 850 kg held 5 days with 2 free = 3 chargeable days × max(850 × $0.18, $35) = 3 × $153 = $459 — the per-kg figure wins because the shipment is heavy.
What free period do airports give for import cargo?+
Commonly 48 hours at European and North American handlers, 24 hours at congested Asian hubs, and 72 hours at Indian airports (a TIACA/regulator norm there). Export cargo accepted early can also attract storage — free periods apply on that side too, usually counted to the flight's departure.
Is storage charged on gross or chargeable weight?+
Most handler tariffs bill on chargeable weight (the greater of gross and volumetric), mirroring the AWB. A light, bulky shipment therefore pays storage on its volumetric weight — one more reason dimensional accuracy on the AWB matters beyond the freight line itself.
Can airport storage charges be waived?+
Handlers waive or reduce charges mainly when the delay is provably theirs (cargo not locatable, documentation mis-sorted) or the customs authority's. Ask for the shed's milestone log — arrival scan, document handover, release time — and dispute the days that weren't yours. Goodwill waivers for an hour or two past free time are common for regular customers.
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