CFS charges are calculated primarily by comparing the weight and volume of your cargo, then billing based on whichever produces the higher amount. A Container Freight Station (CFS) is a warehouse where less-than-container-load (LCL) shipments are consolidated or deconsolidated, and the fees cover everything from unloading and sorting to documentation and customs release. Understanding the math behind these charges helps you verify invoices and budget accurately for your shipments.
What CFS Charges Cover
A CFS invoice typically includes several line items bundled together. At the origin, fees cover receiving your cargo, handling and sorting it, and loading it into a shared container. At the destination, fees cover the reverse: unloading the container (called devanning), separating individual shipments, and staging them for pickup or further transport.
Beyond those core handling costs, CFS charges may also include:
- Trucking the container between the port and the CFS facility
- Palletizing cargo that needs to be placed on pallets for safe handling
- Documentation handling for bills of lading, delivery orders, and related paperwork
- Customs release procedures to clear your goods through the bonded warehouse
Some of these items, particularly handling fees, are billed at flat rates. Most others are calculated based on the weight or volume of your shipment.
The Revenue Ton: How Your Chargeable Unit Is Determined
The foundation of CFS billing is the “revenue ton” or “freight ton.” This is not simply your cargo’s weight. Instead, the CFS operator calculates both the actual weight and the volumetric measurement of your shipment, then charges based on whichever figure is higher. This ensures the facility is compensated fairly whether your cargo is heavy and compact or light and bulky.
Here is how both sides of the comparison work:
Calculating Volume (CBM)
CBM stands for cubic meters. To find it, measure the length, width, and height of your cargo in meters, then multiply all three together. If your crate measures 3.2 x 1.2 x 2.2 meters, the CBM is 3.2 × 1.2 × 2.2 = 8.448 CBM. If your dimensions are in centimeters, divide each by 100 first. If they are in inches, multiply the total cubic inches by 0.0000164 to convert.
Some facilities use measurement tons (MTONs) instead of CBM. One MTON equals 40 cubic feet. To convert, divide your total cubic footage by 40.
Calculating Weight (Metric Tons)
One metric ton equals 1,000 kilograms. If your shipment weighs 1,200 kg, that is 1.2 metric tons.
Picking the Higher Number
Suppose a CFS quotes a rate of $12 per freight ton. Your cargo weighs 1.2 metric tons and measures 8.448 CBM. The weight-based charge would be 1.2 × $12 = $14.40. The volume-based charge would be 8.448 × $12 = $101.38. Because the volume figure is higher, $101.38 is what you pay. This “whichever is greater” rule is standard across CFS operations worldwide, so always run both calculations before estimating your costs.
A Step-by-Step Calculation Example
Let’s walk through a complete CFS charge estimate for a shipment with these details: two crates, each 1.5 x 1.0 x 1.2 meters, each weighing 400 kg. The CFS rate is $15 per revenue ton.
First, calculate volume. Each crate is 1.5 × 1.0 × 1.2 = 1.8 CBM. Two crates total 3.6 CBM.
Next, calculate weight. Each crate is 400 kg, so two crates total 800 kg, or 0.8 metric tons.
Now compare. The volume (3.6) is higher than the weight (0.8), so 3.6 is your chargeable unit. Multiply 3.6 × $15 = $54 for the handling component. Storage, documentation, and any other flat-rate line items would be added on top of this figure.
Storage Charges and Free Time
If your cargo sits at the CFS beyond the allotted free period, storage fees begin accumulating on a tiered daily or weekly schedule. Rates increase the longer your cargo stays, creating a strong incentive to pick up shipments promptly.
For full containers (import), storage charges are assessed per container per day. A 40-foot container costs roughly double what a 20-foot container does. Rates during the first few days are relatively modest, but they escalate sharply. As a general pattern, storage costs can triple or quadruple once cargo passes the two-week mark, and they continue climbing for cargo held beyond 30 days. If a container sits for more than a month, daily charges can be several times the initial rate.
For LCL cargo stored loose in the warehouse, charges are typically assessed per CBM or per square meter (whichever produces the higher bill) on a weekly basis, often with a minimum charge per item. Expect rates to increase each week, with fourth-week-and-beyond pricing significantly higher than the first week.
Specialty cargo increases storage costs further. Refrigerated (reefer) containers and hazardous cargo commonly incur double the standard storage rate. Oversized or out-of-gauge containers can be charged at triple the normal rate. These surcharges apply on top of the already-tiered daily schedule, so delays with specialty cargo get expensive fast.
How Rates Vary by Port and Provider
CFS rates are not standardized globally. They vary based on the port, the CFS operator, the trade lane, and the type of cargo. A shipment moving through a high-traffic port in Southeast Asia will have different handling costs than one cleared through a facility in Northern Europe or the U.S. Gulf Coast.
To give a sense of scale, U.S. military port handling rates for container stuffing and unstuffing services run $153.45 per measurement ton for fiscal year 2026, a rate that applies uniformly across U.S. Atlantic, Gulf, West Coast, European, Southwest Asian, and Pacific billing areas. Commercial CFS rates at the same ports may be higher or lower depending on the operator and your freight forwarder’s negotiated terms.
When comparing quotes from different CFS providers, make sure you are comparing the same unit of measurement. Some quote per CBM, others per metric ton, and others per measurement ton (40 cubic feet). Confirm whether the quoted rate is all-inclusive or whether trucking, documentation, and customs handling are billed separately.
Tips for Keeping CFS Costs Down
The single biggest lever you have is speed. Clearing customs paperwork and arranging pickup before your free storage period expires avoids the tiered storage charges that pile up quickly. Have your documentation, including the bill of lading, commercial invoice, and packing list, ready before the vessel arrives.
Packing efficiently also matters. Because most CFS charges are based on the revenue ton calculation, reducing wasted space in your crates directly lowers your volumetric measurement. If your cargo is light relative to its size, tighter packaging can shift the chargeable unit from volume to weight, potentially cutting your bill.
Finally, request a detailed rate card from your CFS or freight forwarder before shipping. Knowing the per-unit rate, the free-time allowance, the storage tier schedule, and any surcharges for hazardous or refrigerated cargo lets you model costs in advance rather than reacting to a surprise invoice after the fact.