Demurrage & Detention Calculator
Accurate, transparent D&D cost calculations – built for freight forwarders.
The YorkForte Demurrage & Detention Calculator is designed for freight forwarders who need accurate, consistent D&D cost calculations. The tool applies carrier‑specific rules, provides a transparent breakdown, and includes proactive container tracking for open shipments.
It is a secure, operator‑ready tool that standardises demurrage and detention calculations and removes the manual frustration that slows teams down.
Problem
Most forwarders still calculate demurrage and detention manually – checking carrier tariffs, working out free-time windows, multiplying days by rates, shipment by shipment…
It’s slow. Mistakes are easy to make and hard to catch.
Overcharge a client and the relationship takes a hit.
Undercharge, and you’re absorbing costs that should be recovered.
And even when the numbers are right, many forwarders wait weeks or months for the carrier’s own invoice before billing their client – tying up cash unnecessarily on charges they could calculate and bill immediately.
Solution
The YorkForte D&D Calculator provides a clear, consistent, and transparent way to calculate demurrage and detention charges.
It standardises the logic, applies carrier‑specific rules, and produces an auditable breakdown in seconds.
Features
Carrier specific rule handling
Applies each carrier’s free‑time and tariff structure consistently, reducing manual interpretation
Clear timeline and chargeable days
Shows free‑time windows, chargeable periods, and total cost in a simple, operator‑friendly layout
Transparent calculations
Every step of the calculation is visible, auditable, and easy to explain internally or to customers
Bill clients faster, not months later
Free-time rules and gate dates are known immediately - no need to wait weeks or months for the carrier's own invoice before billing your clients.
Proactive container tracking
Monitors active shipments accruing charges, giving forwarders early visibility to act before costs escalate further
Lightweight SaaS delivery
No installation, no setup — just a clean, modern interface accessible through your browser
A clean, modern interface designed for fast, accurate operational use.
FAQ
How does the Calculator handle tiered carrier rates?
Carrier tariffs are often tiered — say, one rate for days 1–5, then a higher rate from day 6 onward. Once a carrier's rate structure is set up, the Calculator applies each tier automatically, splitting chargeable days across the correct bands. You never have to work out the split by hand or risk applying a single flat rate by mistake.
Can it handle multiple container types, carriers, and ports?
Yes for container types — a single shipment can mix container sizes, and the Calculator handles this within one calculation. Carriers and ports work a little differently: any one shipment only ever involves a single carrier and port, but the Calculator stores rules for as many different carriers and ports as your operation needs, so moving between them shipment to shipment is seamless.
Do I need to re-enter rates for every calculation?
No. Rates are entered once per carrier and reused automatically going forward.
How is this different from a spreadsheet?
A spreadsheet can calculate one shipment correctly if built well. It can't watch dozens of open containers at once and flag which ones are about to run out of free time — this does. Rate updates are also applied once and available to everyone immediately, so there's no risk of someone working from an old, out-of-date copy — a common problem when rates live in a spreadsheet that gets emailed around. The Calculator also keeps a full history of every calculation ever run, so past quotes and charges are always there to check back on, rather than being overwritten the next time someone opens the file.
How many users can access it, and who maintains the rates?
As many users as your team needs — role-based access lets you control who can view, edit, or administer. Rate data can be maintained by your own team directly, or we can handle updates on your behalf — whichever suits how you work.
Is my data secure?
Yes — see our full security page for details.
What exactly are demurrage and detention charges?
Demurrage is charged while a container sits at the port past its free time; detention applies once it leaves the terminal until it's returned empty. See our full guide for the complete breakdown.
example
See It In Action
A container discharges 1 July, gates out 9 July, and the empty container is returned 17 July, against a carrier’s tiered tariff.
Demurrage (discharge → gate out, 9 days held, 3 days free)
Days 1–5 at €47/day = €235 · Day 6 at €82/day = €82 · Total: €317
Detention (gate out → gate in, 9 days held, 3 days free)
Days 1–3 at €19/day = €57 · Days 4–6 at €34/day = €102 · Total: €159
Combined charge: €476 — every tier, every day, calculated automatically and shown in full. No manual splitting, no second-guessing whether the math is right.
Want to see how this is worked out by hand? Read our full worked-example guide →
Request a Demo of the Ocean D&D Calculator
ABOUT YORKFORTE
YorkForte builds practical FP&A, analytics, and operational tools for logistics operators.
The D&D Calculator is part of a broader focus on improving profitability, reducing friction, and delivering solutions that compound value over time.
