Demurrage = chargeable days × daily rate. Chargeable days are the days your full container sits at the port, minus the free days your carrier gives you. Enter your dates, free days and your carrier’s daily rates in US dollars to get the total in seconds.
1Shipment
2Free time
3Daily rates (USD)
Only one rate? Enter it in Tier 1 and set its length to 999 days.
How the demurrage calculator works
- Days at port = gate-out date minus discharge date, plus 1 if the discharge day counts as day 1.
- Chargeable days = days at port minus free days. If this is zero or less, you pay no demurrage.
- Each tier is charged at its own daily rate. Most carriers raise the rate the longer the container stays.
- Total = the sum of all tiers, times the number of containers.
Worked example
A 40ft container is discharged on 1 October and leaves the port on 20 October. Counting the discharge day, that is 20 days at port. With 5 free days, 15 days are chargeable.
Using example rates of USD 75 a day for days 6 to 10, USD 150 for days 11 to 15 and USD 250 from day 16: 5 × 75 + 5 × 150 + 5 × 250 = USD 2,375. Real rates vary by carrier, port and container type, so always use the tariff on your own contract.
Related questions
- How do I calculate demurrage charges on a container?
- What is the difference between demurrage and detention?
- How do I make sure my China freight quote has no hidden charges?
Built and maintained by Afzal Jamil. Last updated 30 October 2026.