Port Storage Fee Calculator
Estimate terminal yard storage charges that stack on top of carrier demurrage after free time ends.
Set a tier's days to 0 to mean “all remaining days”.
Terminal storage is billed by the terminal operator and is separate from (and additional to) carrier demurrage — many importers discover both lines on the same late container.
With your numbers: 12 days − 4 free = 8 chargeable days = 3×$85 + 4×$160 + 1×$280 + $45 = $1,220 per container.
Sources & references
- Georgia Ports Authority — Terminal Tariff (storage & free time sections)
- Pacific Maritime terminal schedules (published operator tariffs)
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.
Disclaimer: This tool is for general informational and estimation purposes only and is not professional financial, tax, accounting or legal advice. All figures are estimates — verify with a qualified professional before making decisions. Read the full disclaimer.
Marine terminals charge their own yard storage once a container exceeds the terminal's free time — and this is a separate invoice from the ocean carrier's demurrage, even though both clocks may start the same day. On a badly delayed box an importer can owe the carrier demurrage, the terminal storage, and a chassis pool per diem simultaneously; this calculator prices the terminal-storage layer.
About Port Storage Fee Calculator
The default tariff (4 free days, then $85 escalating sharply to $280 plus a flat extended-dwell admin fee) mirrors how terminal operators structure storage to clear the yard: the third tier is deliberately punitive because at that point the box is occupying ground slots the terminal needs for the next vessel. Edit the tiers from your terminal's published tariff schedule — they are public documents at most ports. Watch the free-time trigger carefully: terminal storage free time often runs from vessel discharge or from the day the container becomes 'available', which can differ from the carrier's demurrage start by a day or two. At ports with customs exam delays, days the container sat in the exam site usually shouldn't count — a frequent and winnable dispute.
How to use Port Storage Fee Calculator
- 1Enter days in the yard and how many containers are affected.
- 2Set your free days and edit the tariff tiers to match the published tariff or your contract — every figure is editable.
- 3Read the per-tier breakdown and the worked example showing exactly how the total is built, day by day.
- 4Change the inputs to compare scenarios (pick up now vs later) before the charges harden into an invoice.
Why use Port Storage Fee Calculator?
- ✓Per-tier breakdown mirrors how carrier and terminal billing systems itemise invoices
- ✓Every figure — free time, tier days, rates — is editable to match any published tariff
- ✓Instant what-if comparisons before charges harden into an invoice
- ✓Free and private — all math runs in your browser
Frequently asked questions
Is port storage the same as demurrage?+
No. Demurrage is the ocean carrier's charge for its container occupying the terminal; storage is the terminal operator's own charge for the ground slot. They run on similar clocks and frequently both apply to the same late container, which is why invoices should be reconciled against both tariffs separately.
How fast do terminal storage fees escalate?+
Brutally, by design. Under the default schedule a container at 12 days owes 3 × $85 + 4 × $160 + 1 × $280 + $45 admin = $1,220. The top tier at major gateways can exceed $300–$400/day during congestion programs.
Do customs exams pause storage charges?+
At many terminals, days in a customs exam status (or at an off-dock CES) are excluded or billed differently — but rarely automatically. You typically must dispute with the exam notice and release dates. Keep the CBP exam notification and the CES gate timestamps; the difference can be hundreds of dollars per box.
Where do I find my terminal's storage tariff?+
Terminal tariffs are published documents — look for 'schedule' or 'tariff' on the terminal operator's site (e.g., APM Terminals, TraPac, GPA) or the port authority's marine terminal tariff. The storage section lists free time, the day brackets and rates per container size, which you can paste directly into this calculator.
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