ROI Calculator
Estimate how long a shipment may take by sea or air. Select a freight mode, enter the origin and destination, and use the result to compare routes, prepare a freight quote, or work back from a target delivery date.
Your Transit Time Estimate
How to Use the Transit Time Calculator
- Choose sea or air freight. Compare both modes if the delivery deadline leaves room to consider either option.
- Enter the origin and destination. Use the ports or airports that match the planned route. Where a city has several gateways, check which one the carrier will use.
- Review the estimate and its scope. Check where the timing starts and ends before using the result in a customer quote or delivery plan. Confirm the sailing or flight schedule for the intended departure before committing to dates.
What Does the Transit Time Include?
Transit time is the elapsed time between two defined points in a shipment. For sea freight, the main transport leg usually runs from the origin port to the destination port. For air freight, it usually runs from the origin airport to the destination airport. A door-to-door estimate covers the wider journey from pickup to final delivery.
| Timing | Where the clock starts and ends | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Sea freight port-to-port | Vessel departure at the origin port to vessel arrival at the destination port | Sailing schedule, intermediate calls and any transshipment |
| Air freight airport-to-airport | Flight departure at the origin airport to flight arrival at the destination airport | Direct or connecting service, uplift availability and transfer time |
| Door-to-door delivery | Pickup at the origin address to delivery at the destination address | Pickup, cargo cutoffs, terminal handling, customs clearance, cargo release and final delivery |
For example, if the main leg is estimated at 18 days, and you allow 2 days before departure and 3 days after arrival, the initial door-to-door planning estimate is 23 days. Add only the time outside the calculator result and account for steps that overlap. Vessel or flight arrival and cargo availability can occur on different dates.
Compare Sea and Air Freight for the Same Shipment
When comparing modes, use the same cargo-ready date, pickup point, delivery address and required delivery date. An airport-to-airport estimate and a port-to-port estimate show the main transport legs. Add the relevant pickup, handling and delivery time for each option to compare their total lead times.
For sea freight, check the sailing frequency, routing and whether the service includes transshipment. LCL shipments can also need time for consolidation at origin and deconsolidation at destination. For air freight, check cargo acceptance cutoffs, flight frequency, available cargo space and any connections. A short flight can still miss a delivery deadline if the shipment misses its cargo acceptance cutoff.
See the ocean freight transit times by route guide for lane examples and a worked ocean shipment timeline.
Use Transit Time in a Freight Quote
State what the estimate covers when you share it with a customer. Record the origin and destination gateways, the planned departure and arrival, and any pickup, clearance or delivery time you have allowed. If you quote both sea and air, show the same scope for each option so the customer can compare the timelines.
Frequently Asked Questions
Measure the elapsed time between the shipment milestones you are comparing, such as scheduled departure and scheduled arrival. For a door-to-door timeline, account for the steps from pickup to departure and from arrival to final delivery. Use the time zones shown on the schedule when calculating elapsed time from departure and arrival timestamps.
Port-to-port and airport-to-airport timing generally covers the main transport leg. Allow for customs clearance separately when planning door-to-door delivery, unless the stated estimate already includes it.
Check whether the timing is in calendar days or business days. Vessel and flight movements can continue through weekends, while terminal appointments, cargo collection and final delivery may follow different operating hours. Check the local calendars for the services in your shipment plan.
A carrier schedule applies to a particular service and departure. Routing changes, connections, schedule revisions and cargo availability can change the timing. Check the carrier schedule before quoting a date and use shipment tracking to monitor actual milestones after booking.