Air vs Sea Freight Cost Comparator
Compare user-entered air and sea-LCL quotes using packed CBM/gross weight, air dimensional chargeable weight, sea W/M, local charges and quoted transit days.
Air vs sea depends on the actual quotes, not a universal weight cutoff.Enter the carrier/forwarder divisor, chargeable-rate basis, local charges and transit estimates. The comparison does not include inventory carrying cost, urgency value, customs variability or product-specific handling unless you add them to the quoted charges.
Use the same packed shipment basis.
Air quote
Compare the entered W/M basis.
Use the exact dimensional divisor, minimums and chargeable-weight rules from the air quote; they vary by carrier/service.
Sea W/M rules, minimums and local charges vary by forwarder/lane; use the actual quotation.
Transit days are entered estimates/quotes and do not include every pickup, consolidation, customs, handoff or delay risk.
Air versus sea is a commercial tradeoff, not a fixed kilograms rule. This tool compares the exact quote assumptions you enter and keeps the air dimensional-weight and sea W/M math visible.
Compare like with like
- Use the same packed shipment CBM and gross weight for both modes.
- Enter the carrier/forwarder dimensional divisor, rate, minimum and local charges exactly as quoted.
- Record quoted transit days but keep customs, pickup and exception risk outside the headline promise unless the quote includes them.
How OpenFileTools processes it
Source-backed inputs, explicit assumptions.
The browser calculates air volumetric and chargeable weight from the divisor you enter, sea W/M from CBM vs metric tonnes, totals only the entered charge rows and exports a local comparison snapshot.
Questions, answered.
Does the tool tell me when air becomes cheaper than sea?
Only from the actual rates and charges you enter. There is no trustworthy universal weight or CBM crossover.
Related guide
Read the related guide