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An air freight quote is built from one number multiplied by one rate, plus a predictable set of surcharges. The number is your chargeable weight. The rate depends on the lane, the week and whether you are buying spot or contract capacity. Spot pricing for general cargo currently runs $4.00 to $6.00 per chargeable kilogram from Asia to North America, $3.00 to $5.50 from Europe, $2.00 to $4.00 intra-Asia and $2.50 to $5.00 from Latin America. This guide breaks down every line inside an air freight quote, the current rate ranges by lane, how spot and contract pricing differ, and when in the year quotes move up or down.
What an air freight quote actually covers
A complete quote has four blocks. The air freight rate itself, charged per chargeable kilogram on the origin to destination airport leg. The surcharges, mainly fuel and security, which move independently of the base rate and can add 20% to 40%. The terminal and handling fees at both ends, covering acceptance, screening, documentation and the air waybill. And the optional legs: pickup at origin, customs clearance and final delivery.
A quote that shows only the first block is not comparable to one that shows all four. For the full charge-by-charge breakdown and two worked examples, see how air freight charges are calculated.
Current air freight rate ranges by lane
The following ranges reflect spot market prices for general cargo, expressed in USD per chargeable kilogram. Off-peak figures sit at the low end. Peak season and disruption events push to the upper bound.
- Asia to North America: $4.00 to $6.00 average, $3.50 to $8.00 during the China to US peak
- Europe to North America: $3.00 to $5.50
- Intra-Asia: $2.00 to $4.00
- Latin America to United States: $2.50 to $5.00
Two indices track these spot levels publicly. The TAC Index, also known as the Baltic Air Freight Index, reports weekly spot rates by major lane and is the reference benchmark used by airlines, forwarders and analysts. The Freightos Air Index publishes a real-time spot rate from a marketplace dataset.
How chargeable weight decides your quote
Air cargo is priced on chargeable weight, defined as the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight. The volumetric formula is length x width x height in centimetres divided by 6000, which yields a kilogram equivalent. A pallet of 120 x 100 x 150 cm weighing 200 kg has a volumetric weight of 300 kg, so the carrier bills 300 kg. Dense freight pays on actual weight. Light, bulky freight pays on volume.
This is why pallet dimensions, ULD build and shrink-wrap height change the quote. A pallet that exceeds the height limit of an LD3 or LD7 unit load device gets reweighed at the higher volumetric figure.
Spot rates and contract rates
Air freight pricing has two layers. Forwarders sign Block Space Agreements with airlines, committing to weekly tonnage on specific lanes in exchange for guaranteed allocation and lower per-kg rates. The forwarder then resells that capacity, either as a contract rate fixed for 30, 60 or 90 days, or as an ad-hoc spot rate quoted at booking time.
Spot rates respond to weekly capacity. Contract rates smooth out volatility but include a risk premium. In a soft market, spot beats contract. In a peak or a disruption, contract holders keep moving while spot shippers face rolled bookings.
When quotes rise and when they fall
Rates rise during the pre-Chinese New Year rush in January, the August to October peak, Q4 e-commerce surges, fuel price rallies, passenger capacity cuts and modal shift events. Rates fall in February after Chinese New Year when factories are closed, in mid-Q2 once peak inventory has shipped, and during fuel price slides.
The structural floor on a major lane is roughly the marginal cost of operating a freighter. Below that level carriers ground aircraft and capacity exits, which is what turns a soft market back into a firm one.
How to compare air freight quotes properly
- Normalise the weight. Confirm every quote used the same chargeable weight, not one on actual and another on volumetric.
- Ask what is excluded. Pickup, clearance, delivery, and any accessorial such as residential delivery or inside pickup.
- Check the surcharge basis. Fuel and security should be shown as a figure, not as an unquantified percentage to be confirmed later.
- Match the service level. Airport to airport against door to door is not a like-for-like comparison.
- Check the validity window. A spot quote can expire in 24 to 72 hours in a moving market.
If the decision is still open between modes, the air freight versus ocean freight decision framework sets out the break-even by weight and value.
Get an instant air freight quote
ExFreight returns live air freight pricing online from multiple airlines on the same lane, with fuel and security surcharges, terminal handling, customs clearance and delivery already inside the number. No sales call, no quote request form, and the booking can be completed in the same session. Get an instant air freight quote.
Frequently asked questions
How much does an air freight quote cost per kg?
General cargo runs $4.00 to $6.00 per chargeable kilogram from Asia to North America, $3.00 to $5.50 from Europe, $2.00 to $4.00 intra-Asia and $2.50 to $5.00 from Latin America. Peak season on the China to US lane pushes the top of the range to $8.00. Those are spot levels for general cargo and exclude pickup, clearance and delivery unless the quote is door to door.
Why do two air freight quotes for the same shipment differ so much?
Because they may not be quoting the same thing. Differences come from the airline and routing, the surcharge levels applied, whether pickup and delivery are inside the price, and whether customs clearance is included. A low headline rate usually omits lines that reappear on the invoice. Compare on an all-in basis, with every component visible.
Is my quote based on actual weight or volumetric weight?
On whichever is higher, which is called chargeable weight. Volumetric weight is length x width x height in centimetres divided by 6000. A pallet of 120 x 100 x 150 cm weighing 200 kg carries a volumetric weight of 300 kg, so the quote is built on 300 kg. Dense cargo pays on actual weight, light and bulky cargo pays on volume.
Should I take a spot rate or a contract rate?
In a soft market the spot rate is cheaper. In a peak or a disruption, contract holders keep moving while spot shippers face rolled bookings. Contract rates are fixed for 30, 60 or 90 days and carry a risk premium in exchange for that stability.
When are air freight quotes cheapest?
In February, once Chinese New Year has closed the factories, and in mid-Q2 after peak inventory has shipped. Quotes are most expensive during the January pre-CNY rush, the August to October peak and Q4 e-commerce surges.
Can I get an air freight quote online without contacting sales?
Yes. ExFreight returns live all-in air freight pricing online from multiple airlines on the same lane, with surcharges, handling and clearance already inside the number, and the booking can be completed in the same session.
