Calculator Inputs
Example Data Table
| Carrier | Base Fee | Rate / Kg | Fuel % | Insurance % | Handling Fee | Remote Fee | Transit Days |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carrier A | $12.00 | $3.20 | 11.50% | 1.10% | $4.50 | $6.00 | 3 |
| Carrier B | $10.50 | $3.55 | 9.75% | 0.90% | $5.00 | $4.00 | 4 |
| Carrier C | $14.25 | $2.95 | 12.25% | 1.30% | $3.75 | $7.50 | 2 |
Formula Used
Dimensional Weight per Package = (Length × Width × Height) ÷ Dimensional Divisor
Billable Weight per Package = max(Actual Weight, Dimensional Weight)
Total Shipment Billable Weight = Billable Weight per Package × Number of Packages
Freight Cost = Base Fee + (Rate per Kg × Total Shipment Billable Weight)
Fuel Cost = Freight Cost × Fuel Surcharge %
Insurance Cost = (Declared Value per Package × Packages) × Insurance %
Other Charges = Handling Fee + Remote Area Fee + Peak Surcharge + COD Fee + (Packaging Cost × Packages)
Subtotal = Freight + Fuel + Insurance + Other Charges
Discount Amount = Subtotal × Discount %
Total Cost = Subtotal − Discount Amount
Cost per Package = Total Cost ÷ Number of Packages
Cost per Billable Kg = Total Cost ÷ Total Shipment Billable Weight
Balance Score blends price and transit time. Lower scores are better. Speed Priority changes how strongly delivery days affect ranking.
How to Use This Calculator
- Enter package count, physical weight, and parcel dimensions.
- Set the dimensional divisor used by your target market or carrier rules.
- Add declared value, packaging cost, COD fee, peak surcharge, and discount.
- Choose a speed priority to balance cheapest pricing against faster delivery.
- Fill in each carrier’s base fee, per-kilogram rate, surcharges, insurance rate, and transit days.
- Click Compare Shipping Rates to see ranked totals, savings, and the chart.
- Use the export buttons to save results as CSV or PDF for reporting.
FAQs
1. What does this shipping rate comparison calculator do?
It compares multiple carrier quotes using dimensional weight, actual weight, insurance, fuel, handling, remote surcharges, discounts, and delivery time. It helps you spot the cheapest option and the best overall balance between cost and speed.
2. Why does dimensional weight matter so much?
Many carriers bill by space used, not only mass. Large but light packages can cost more than expected because dimensional weight exceeds actual weight. This calculator automatically chooses the higher value for accurate billing comparisons.
3. Why can a lower base fee still produce a higher total?
A carrier may look cheaper upfront but become expensive after fuel percentage, insurance, remote area fees, or higher per-kilogram charges are added. Total landed shipment cost is more reliable than base pricing alone.
4. What is the balance score?
The balance score combines price and delivery time into one comparison value. Lower is better. When speed priority is higher, faster carriers gain more weight in the final ranking.
5. Should I compare by package or by shipment?
Use shipment comparison when you want the full order cost, including common shipment-level fees. Use cost per package when you need operational planning, product margin checks, or customer shipping charge decisions.
6. Can I use this for domestic and international shipments?
Yes. The structure works for both. You only need to enter the correct divisor, rate per kilogram, surcharge pattern, insurance rate, and expected transit days based on the service being reviewed.
7. When should I include insurance in the comparison?
Include insurance when shipment value is high, damage risk matters, or loss exposure could affect customer satisfaction. Excluding it may understate true shipping cost and make one carrier appear cheaper than it really is.
8. Why export the results to CSV or PDF?
CSV is useful for spreadsheet analysis, audit trails, and recurring carrier reviews. PDF is helpful for quick reporting, approvals, vendor discussions, and sharing a clean comparison summary with internal teams.