FBA First-Mile Freight Estimator
Definition: first-mile (head-haul) freight to an Amazon fulfillment market is billed on chargeable units — the greater of gross scale weight and volumetric weight for air and courier, or the greater of CBM and metric tonnes for ocean W/M. This estimator shows the full arithmetic: per-carton volume, divisor, density against the channel threshold, the unit that wins, and an explicit ±15% cost band around the rate you supply.
FBA First-Mile Freight Estimator
Compute chargeable weight by channel (air 1:6000, courier 1:5000, ocean W/M 1:1000) and allocate an estimated head-haul cost band.
Chargeable basis & estimated cost band
This is an estimation band, not a market quote: the ±15% range only covers typical fuel, security and peak surcharges layered on top of the base rate you typed. Final invoices may also add origin handling, customs, and destination delivery charges that no base-rate formula can predict.
Formula Table with a Worked Example
Example consignment: 100 cartons of 40 × 30 × 25 cm, 8 kg gross each — 30,000 cm³ per carton, 3.0 CBM and 800 kg total. Illustrative rate: $4.50 per chargeable kg (air).
| Step | Formula | Example (100 × 40×30×25 cm, 8 kg) | Standard |
|---|---|---|---|
| Carton volume | CBM = (L × W × H cm) ÷ 1,000,000 × qty | 30,000 ÷ 1,000,000 × 100 = 3.0 CBM | SI volume |
| Air volumetric | kg = (L × W × H cm) ÷ 6,000 × qty | 30,000 ÷ 6,000 × 100 = 500 kg | IATA Resolution 502 |
| Courier volumetric | kg = (L × W × H cm) ÷ 5,000 × qty | 30,000 ÷ 5,000 × 100 = 600 kg | Express network practice |
| Chargeable unit | max(gross, volumetric) | max(800, 500) = 800 kg → billed on scale weight | Chargeable-weight rule |
| Density verdict | density = gross kg ÷ CBM vs threshold | 800 ÷ 3 = 267 kg/CBM > 167 → weight cargo | Derived from divisor |
| Ocean W/M | RT = max(CBM, tonnes) | max(3.0, 0.8) = 3.0 RT | LCL W/M convention |
| Estimate band | cost = units × rate × [0.85 … 1.15] | 800 × 4.50 = $3,600 mid → $3,060–$4,140 | Estimation band, labeled as such |
Scope and basis statement
The rate per chargeable unit is your input, not a market quote; the ±15% band is a fixed estimation convention that surfaces surcharge risk and is labeled an estimate everywhere it appears. Divisors follow IATA Resolution 502 (air), common express network practice (courier), and the LCL W/M revenue-ton rule (ocean). Amazon-side fees — FBA fulfillment, storage, placement, or inbound processing — are out of scope for this tool, as are customs duties (see the customs duty estimator for statutory duty bases).
FBA First-Mile Freight FAQ
Which chargeable weight divisor applies to FBA air freight from China?
Consolidated commercial air cargo to Amazon fulfillment regions uses the IATA Resolution 502 divisor of 6,000 (1 CBM = 166.67 kg). Integrated express parcel networks apply 5,000 (1 CBM = 200 kg). The estimator computes both plus the ocean W/M basis so you can see which channel your carton density falls into.
How do I compute the chargeable weight of my FBA shipment by hand?
Multiply length × width × height in centimeters, divide by the channel divisor (6,000 or 5,000), multiply by the carton count, then compare the volumetric total against the actual gross weight. The carrier bills whichever number is larger — that is the chargeable weight.
What does the ±15% band on the estimate mean?
Freight invoices layer fuel surcharges, security fees and seasonal peak pricing on top of the base rate you typed. The band is a fixed ±15% around rate × chargeable units that makes the surcharge risk visible. It is an estimation convention, not a market price: your booked contract rate determines the real figure.
When does sea freight to FBA bill by weight instead of volume?
Ocean LCL and DDP truck-in legs price by the W/M rule: revenue tons equal the greater of CBM and metric tonnes. Cargo denser than 1,000 kg per cubic meter flips the basis from volume to weight — the estimator flags which side of that threshold your consignment lands on.
Last reviewed: September 2026 · Standards: IATA Resolution 502 (air), express divisor practice, LCL W/M rule.