Shipping cost calculator for your own courier rate cards
This shipping cost calculator compares what each of your couriers will charge for a parcel, using the rate cards from your own contracts. Enter the box size and weight, the delivery zone and whether it is cash on delivery, and it works out the volumetric and chargeable weight for every courier, rounds it into that courier’s weight slabs, adds the fuel surcharge, the COD charge and GST or VAT, and lists the couriers from cheapest to dearest.
Live quotes need a courier account and its API, so this tool takes a different route: you type or import the rates you have actually been given — first-slab and additional-slab prices for each zone, the divisor, fuel surcharge and COD terms. That makes it work for any courier, aggregator or postal service in India, the US, the UK or elsewhere, and your rate cards never leave your browser.
How to use the Shipping Cost Calculator — Compare Your Rate Cards
- Enter the parcel’s length, width, height and actual weight, and choose the delivery zone.
- Pick prepaid or cash on delivery; for COD enter the order value.
- Edit the example rate cards below the results, or use Import CSV to load your own. Each card needs its divisor, slab sizes and prices for each zone.
- Read the comparison: the cheapest courier is highlighted, and every column shows how its total is built.
- Use Export CSV to keep a copy of your rate cards; they are also saved in this browser.
Shipping Cost Calculator — Compare Your Rate Cards features
Weight slabs done properly
The first slab and each additional slab are charged separately, the way Indian and many international courier tariffs work — 1.6 kg on 0.5 kg slabs is four slabs.
Volumetric weight per courier
Each card has its own divisor (5,000 cm³/kg, 139 in³/lb and so on), so the same box can be billed differently by each courier.
COD charges
A percentage of the order value with a minimum fee, which is how most cash-on-delivery charges are quoted.
Fuel surcharge and tax
Fuel surcharge on the freight, then GST or VAT on freight, fuel and COD together.
CSV import and export
One row per courier and zone, so a rate card from a spreadsheet can be pasted in minutes.
Private by design
Rates stay on your device — nothing is uploaded or sent to a courier.
How the courier charge is calculated
- Volumetric weight = L × W × H ÷ the courier’s divisor. 30 × 25 × 10 cm ÷ 5,000 = 1.5 kg.
- Chargeable weight = the greater of actual (1.2 kg) and volumetric (1.5 kg) = 1.5 kg.
- Slabs: with a 0.5 kg first slab and 0.5 kg additional slabs, 1.5 kg is the first slab + 2 additional slabs.
- Freight = first-slab price + additional slabs × additional price for the zone: ₹55 + 2 × ₹50 = ₹155.
- Fuel surcharge = 10% of freight = ₹15.50. COD = the greater of 2% of ₹1,200 and the ₹35 minimum = ₹35.
- GST 18% on (₹155 + ₹15.50 + ₹35) = ₹36.99. Total = ₹242.49.
Typical rate-card terms
| Term | What it means |
|---|---|
| Zone | Distance band between pickup and delivery pin codes or postcodes — within city, within state, metro to metro, rest of country, special areas |
| First slab / additional slab | The price for the first block of weight (often 0.5 kg) and for each further block |
| Divisor | Converts box size to volumetric weight; 5,000 cm³/kg is common for couriers |
| Fuel surcharge | A percentage on freight that couriers revise, often monthly |
| COD charge | Fee for collecting cash: a percentage of order value with a minimum |
| RTO | Return to origin — undelivered parcels usually pay the forward charge again |
Getting closer to the invoice
- Weigh and measure the packed parcel, not the product; couriers re-weigh at the hub.
- Ask whether COD charges and fuel surcharge attract GST on your contract.
- Add RTO losses and fees when pricing — the marketplace seller profit calculator includes returns. For box sizes alone, use the volumetric weight calculator.
Shipping Cost Calculator — Compare Your Rate Cards FAQ
How do I calculate courier charges?
Work out the chargeable weight (the greater of actual and volumetric), split it into the courier’s weight slabs, multiply by the zone prices, then add fuel surcharge, COD and GST. This shipping cost calculator does each step for every courier at once.
How are COD charges calculated?
Most couriers quote a percentage of the order value or a fixed minimum, whichever is higher, plus GST. Enter your courier’s percentage and minimum on its rate card.
Can it fetch live courier rates?
No. Live quotes need an account and API key with each courier. This tool compares the rate cards you enter, which is what you are billed against if you have a contract.
Are the example rate cards real?
No — they are illustrative numbers so the comparison works straight away. Replace them with your own rates.
Where are my rate cards stored?
In this browser’s local storage on your device. Export a CSV to back them up or move them to another computer.
Does it work for US or UK carriers?
Yes. Switch to inches and pounds, use a 139 in³/lb divisor and weight slabs in pounds, and name the zones after your carrier’s zones.