March 1, 2026

How to Calculate Your Total Landed Cost

The biggest pricing mistake importers make is judging a deal by the product price alone. To know whether an import is actually profitable, you need the total landed cost, what the product costs you delivered, all fees included.

What goes into landed cost

Add up every cost from factory to your door:

Product cost, the price from the supplier
Shipping, by sea or air freight
Insurance, if you insure the cargo
Customs duty, based on your HS code
VAT and other taxes, where they apply
Local charges, including port handling, clearance, and inland delivery

A simple way to think about it

Landed cost equals product plus shipping plus insurance plus duties and taxes plus local charges. Divide that total by the number of units and you get your real cost per unit, the number that tells you your true margin.

Why it changes your decisions

A product that looks cheap can become expensive once duty and shipping are added. Another that looks pricey may be a bargain if it is light and low-duty. Only landed cost reveals the truth, and it can completely change which supplier or product you choose.

Watch the volume effect

Shipping cost per unit usually falls as your order grows, especially when you fill a container or consolidate suppliers. Always calculate landed cost at your real order quantity, not for a single unit.

We will calculate it for you

Tell us the product, supplier price, and quantity, and we will work out your full landed cost, including duty and taxes, so you can decide with real numbers. Use the CBM calculator at https://decl.bd/cbm-calculator.html to estimate your shipping volume.

Ready to ship? Explore our sea freight, air freight, sourcing, and customs clearance services from China to Bangladesh.

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