How Much Does It Cost to Ship Freight to Puerto Rico?

We’ve been moving freight to Jones Act destinations like Puerto Rico since 1991, so we’ve got all the answers you need. First, let’s talk about the main question that likely brought you here. How Much Does It Cost to Ship Freight to Puerto Rico?

It depends on which method you use to move your freight. Let’s dive into some details so we can get more specific.

How Much Do Full-Container Load (FCL) Shipments to Puerto Rico Cost?

We handle both international and domestic FCL shipments to Puerto Rico. Let’s tackle them one by one:

Domestic FCL Shipments

Shipments between the U.S. mainland and Puerto Rico are considered domestic. To get a quote, you’ll need several details, including:

• Origin (where your shipment starts)
• Destination (where your shipment will end its journey)
• And maybe most importantly: size of the container you want to ship. For example, we ship 20′, 40′, 45′ and 53′ containers to Puerto Rico.

What about the commodity – i.e., what you’re shipping? Within these lanes, commodity doesn’t impact the price significantly, unless you’re shipping something unusual. Instead, rates are usually based on what’s called FAK—Freight All Kinds.

A few items that don’t qualify as FAK include:

For a domestic FCL shipment from Jacksonville to Puerto Rico, you could be looking at an average range of $3,500–$5,500 for a terminal-to-terminal 40′ container shipment. A few notes:

• That ballpark average just the ocean freight, and it’s heavily dependent on the commodity you’re shipping.
• Fuel surcharges and other ocean freight fees can change that number.
• Additional services like pick up, delivery, and storage will also be extra.

Additionally, cargo requiring controlled temperature protection, cargo which is prohibited by law, cargo of arms and/or ammunition, or articles of extraordinary (high-value sensitive cargo) such as works of art, fine jewelry, antiques, deeds, drafts, precious metals, precious gems/stones, etc., may not be incorporated under Freight All Kinds (FAK).

To get a complete and accurate domestic FCL quote for your shipment, we recommend reaching out to one of our Puerto Rico freight experts. They’ll be able to get you a quote you can rely on and help you customize your options to keep your supply chain moving forward.

International FCL Shipments 

As with domestic shipments, the price of international ocean freight shipments hinges largely on the size of the container, not what’s inside—unless it contains something unusual like hazardous cargo.

There are a number of different carriers that service this market, and they all have their own pricing. As such, it’s difficult to throw out a blanket number that covers all the options and variables.

To give you an idea of what an international FCL shipment might cost, we put together a sample shipment to give you a ballpark:

• Shipment Details: A full container load (FCL) of retail goods
• Origin: Shipping from the Port of Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam
• Ocean Freight: Sent to the Port of San Juan via steamship line
• Destination: Picked up at the Approved terminal in Puerto Rico

This container could cost anywhere from $4,900 – $7,200. Keep in mind that this number is simply a ballpark. It’s not a quote.

At the end of the day, the best way to price a container to Puerto Rico is to reach out to one of our experts for a free quote. We’d be happy to help you find the best rates available for your shipment. But let’s say you don’t have a full container of freight to ship. In that case, you’ll look at a different option for your Puerto Rico freight: a less-than-container load. 

How Much Do Less-Than-Container Load (LCL) Shipments to Puerto Rico Cost?

How to Measure Freight

Measuring your cargo precisely will help you ensure that your shipments stay within budget and on schedule.

Read more

If you don’t have enough cargo to fill an entire container, you can send an LCL shipment to Puerto Rico. These are primarily priced by volume (i.e., how much space they take up in the shared container). However, weight can also become a factor if a shipment is particularly dense.

As we did with the FCL discussion above, let’s put together an example to narrow the parameters a bit:

• Shipment Details: A standard-sized pallet (48″ x 40″), stacked to a total height of 48″ with retail goods shrink-wrapped to the pallet. Additionally, the pallet is stackable and falls within the FAK guidelines mentioned above.
• Origin: Delivered to the Approved terminal in Jacksonville
• Ocean Freight: Sent to the Port of San Juan via steamship line
• Destination: Picked up at the Approved terminal in Puerto Rico

This pallet could cost anywhere from $135-165 to ship. As we noted above, this number is simply a ballpark. It’s not a quote.

As we noted above, this number is simply a ballpark. It’s not a quote. As with a full container shipment, the best way to get a price that you can budget around is to reach out to one of our experts for a free quote.

How Much Does Air Freight to Puerto Rico Cost?

Air freight costs are calculated based on a shipment’s actual weight or volumetric weight (also called dimensional weight or dim weight)—whichever is greater. 

Air Freight Pricing Terms

Actual weight: The gross weight of your shipment in pounds.

Volumetric / dimensional weight: An estimate based on calculated dimensions.

Although it varies by carrier and route, two common formulas many shippers use for dimensional weight are:

• Domestic Shipments: Cubic Feet x 8.9 = Dimensional Weight
• International Shipments: Cubic Feet x 10.4 = Dimensional Weight

Note: Air freight shipments to Puerto Rico move under international parameters.

After your dimensional weight is calculated, it’s compared to the actual weight of your shipment. The larger of the two becomes your chargeable weight.

In addition to its chargeable weight, the cost of your shipment will also be based on the air freight service level you choose. The faster your shipment needs to move, the more expensive it will be. As with ocean freight, the best way to get a firm idea of the cost of your air freight shipment is to reach out for a quote.

Note: Not all goods and supplies will be suitable for air freight. High-value and/or time-sensitive goods are all great candidates for air freight. For example, electronics and precision instruments; textiles and leather; pharmaceuticals; high-end accessories like handbags and jewelry; fresh meat and seafood; and medical/surgical equipment are all common air cargo commodities.

Heavy items will usually be too costly to ship via air freight. Ocean freight is a more cost-effective freight mode for these items. Additionally, since air freight is often more expensive than ocean freight, items with very low margins aren’t ideal for air freight.

Ready to Ship Your Freight to Puerto Rico?

Reach out to our Puerto Rico freight experts. We’ll get you a great rate for your shipment—and we can deliver the flexible, nimble, and cost-effective freight solutions that will keep your Puerto Rico supply chain running smoothly.