What this calculator does
The Cross-Border Landed Cost Calculator helps ecommerce sellers, dropshipping operators, Amazon sellers, small importers, and product scouts translate a supplier quote into a realistic per-unit cost. A factory price alone is rarely enough. Importing can involve international freight, customs duty, tariffs, insurance, payment fees, brokerage, domestic handling, storage, defect allowance, and marketplace fees.
The goal is not to replace a customs broker or freight forwarder. The goal is to make the first decision easier: should you continue negotiating, change shipping method, increase price, order more units, or walk away from a product?
Quick answers
Formula and cost components
Costs many new importers forget
| Cost | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Freight | Small orders can look profitable until air freight or LCL minimum charges are included. |
| Duty and tariff | A product with a low factory price can become unattractive if the classification creates a high import rate. |
| Payment and currency fees | Wire, card, platform escrow and exchange-rate spreads can quietly reduce margin. |
| Defects and returns | Unsellable units raise the true cost of the sellable units. |
| Marketplace fees | Amazon, Etsy, eBay, Shopify apps, payment processors and fulfillment costs affect your final profit. |
How to use the result
If the landed cost per unit is close to your selling price after marketplace fees, the product may be too risky unless you can raise price, improve shipping terms, reduce defect rate, or increase order quantity. If the margin looks strong even after conservative loss and fee assumptions, the product is worth deeper validation.
Practical supplier quote checklist
- Ask whether the quote is EXW, FOB, CIF, DDP, or another Incoterm.
- Separate product cost from freight and local handling charges.
- Confirm carton dimensions and total shipment weight before choosing air, sea, or express.
- Check whether samples, molds, labels, packaging, inspection, or certifications are included.
- Run two scenarios: conservative freight and worst-case return rate.
Example
A seller orders 500 units at $6.50 each. International freight is $950, domestic handling is $250, brokerage is $150, duty is 5%, insurance is 1%, payment fee is 3%, and estimated defects are 2%. The calculator spreads those order-level costs across the sellable units, then compares the result with a planned selling price.