Why wade through complicated pricing when our rate search tool makes everything easy to find? Get real-time updates, and filter by carrier, route, or rate type for the clearest path to your ideal shipping solution, all for free.
Want to stay in the loop? Use our portal to add services like ISF filing or customs clearance, everything is tailored to your specific needs. Cut through the murk and find the best rates, effortlessly.
- Effortless Freight Quotes from Top Carriers.
- Get Instant, Multi-Carrier Freight Rates in Seconds.
- Your One-Stop Shop for Instant Shipping Quotes.
- The Fastest Way to Compare Carrier Rates.
How Ocean Freight Works with Airlift
Four simple steps. Complete visibility. Expert support every step of the way.
STEP 1
Reach and Request
Reach and Request
- Submit shipment details through our platform
- Receive competitive rates within hours
- Compare options across multiple carriers
- Lock in rates and space with one click
STEP 2
Book & Prepare
Book & Prepare
- Complete booking through our digital platform
- Upload and manage all required documents
- Coordinate pickup or delivery to port
- Receive automated ISF filing for U.S. imports
STEP 3
Stay Informed and Manage
Stay Informed and Manage
- Real-time container tracking and updates
- Customs clearance coordination
- Proactive alerts for key milestones
- Direct communication with your account team
STEP 4
Receive & Complete
Receive & Complete
- Coordinate final delivery or pickup
- Handle documentation and customs release
- Provide proof of delivery and invoicing
- Export shipment data for your records
What Determines Your Ocean Freight Rate
Two quotes for the same container can differ by hundreds of dollars. These are the factors that move the number:
Base ocean freight
The carrier’s port-to-port price for your lane and equipment type (20′, 40′, or 40′ high-cube). Carriers price the same lane differently depending on their vessel capacity and network, which is why comparing multiple carriers matters.
Fuel and carrier surcharges
Bunker/fuel adjustments, General Rate Increases (GRIs), and peak-season surcharges move rates month to month — sometimes week to week. A quote is a snapshot; its validity window tells you how long the snapshot holds.
Origin and destination charges
Trucking to port, terminal handling, and documentation fees at both ends. These are where “cheap” headline rates often catch up with you — an all-in comparison should include them.
Spot vs. contract pricing
Spot rates follow the market and suit irregular shippers; contract rates trade flexibility for stability. Most small and mid-size importers ship on spot — which makes rate comparison at booking time the main cost lever.
Duties and tariffs (not part of the freight rate)
U.S. customs duties, Section 301/IEEPA tariffs, and HMF/MPF fees are charged on your goods, not your freight, so they never appear in a freight quote. Estimate them separately with our free tariff simulator.
Estimating total landed cost? Duties and tariffs sit outside the freight quote — run your HTS code through the free U.S. tariff simulator to see them.
FCL or LCL: Which Costs Less for Your Shipment?
Full Container Load (FCL) pricing is per container — the more you fit, the lower your per-unit cost. Less than Container Load (LCL) pricing is per cubic meter, so small shipments pay only for the space they use.
The crossover point is usually around 13–15 cubic meters: below it LCL tends to win, above it a 20′ container is often cheaper even if you don’t fill it — and it moves faster with less handling. When comparing, remember LCL quotes carry consolidation and deconsolidation charges that FCL doesn’t.
More detail: FCL ocean freight · LCL consolidation
Popular Lanes to Compare
Rate-search covers the trade lanes Airlift runs day in, day out. Lane guides with transit times and port details:
Enter your origin, destination, and container type in the rate search above. You’ll see live rates from 50+ carriers side by side — no signup, no callback required. When you’re ready to book, the same quote carries into the Airlift portal.
The base port-to-port ocean freight plus the carrier surcharges in effect (fuel, GRI, peak season). Origin and destination charges such as trucking, terminal handling, and documentation are itemized based on the service scope you choose. U.S. customs duties and tariffs are charged separately on your goods — our tariff simulator estimates those.
Spot quotes typically hold for two to four weeks, tied to the carrier’s rate validity window shown on the quote. Rates can step up at GRI dates — booking within the validity window locks the quoted level for your shipment.
Rates track vessel capacity and demand on each lane. Carriers file General Rate Increases, add peak-season surcharges before high-volume months, and adjust fuel charges with bunker prices. That volatility is why comparing live rates at booking time beats relying on last month’s quote.
As a rule of thumb: under roughly 13 cubic meters, LCL usually costs less because you pay per cubic meter; above that, a dedicated 20′ container is often cheaper per unit and moves with less handling. Compare both — the answer shifts with the lane and the season.
Rate search covers 50+ ocean carriers, including MSC, Maersk, Hapag-Lloyd, ONE, ZIM, CMA CGM, Evergreen, OOCL, and COSCO. Rates come from carrier integrations, so what you see reflects current tariffs rather than cached price lists.
No — freight rates never include U.S. duties or tariffs, which depend on your product’s HTS code and origin. Estimate those with our free tariff simulator. Customs clearance itself can be added to your booking; Airlift coordinates it through our licensed customs broker network alongside automated ISF filing.
More free freight tools
Everything Airlift publishes for importers and exporters — no signup required.
Compare live ocean freight rates across carriers by lane and equipment type.
Look up sailing schedules and transit times port to port.
Track a container, bill of lading, or booking across carriers.
Total CBM, air volumetric weight, LCL revenue tons, and chargeable weight.
Estimate how many cartons fit a 20′, 40′, 40′ HC, or 45′ HC — plus container specs.
Compare all 11 rules and find the terms that fit your shipment.
Free duty API and an embeddable landed-cost widget for your own site.
Estimate import duties, Section 301 tariffs, and HMF/MPF by HTS code.
Size a potential IEEPA tariff refund from your entry data.
Discuss your US-India shipment requirements with the Airlift USA team.