What Is Free Time? How to Negotiate More Days
- Free time is the rent-free window before demurrage (container in port) and detention (container outside port) start.
- Standard import free time is 4–7 days, depending on port and carrier — LCL and congested ports often get less.
- After free time, charges commonly run USD 75–150/day and escalate in tiers.
- Free time is negotiable at booking — asking for 10–14 combined days is routine for slow-clearing lanes.
Free time is the number of days your container can stay at the destination terminal — or outside it — before the carrier starts charging per-day storage fees. Once it lapses, demurrage and detention begin, usually at USD 75–150 per day for a 40ft box.
Demurrage vs Detention: Which Clock Is Ticking?
Free time covers two separate meters:
- Demurrage — the container is still inside the terminal after free time ends (goods not picked up).
- Detention — the container has left the terminal but not been returned empty within the allowed days.
- Combined demurrage & detention (C-D) — many contracts pool both into one allowance, e.g. "10 days combined."
Typical Free Time by Trade Lane
| Lane / port type | Typical import free time |
|---|---|
| US West Coast majors (LA/Long Beach) | 4–5 days, some carriers 7 |
| North Europe base ports (Rotterdam, Hamburg, Antwerp) | 5–7 calendar days |
| Middle East & India ports | 3–5 days |
| West Africa (congestion-prone) | Varies widely; negotiate 14+ days |
| LCL cargo (CFS) | Often only 2–3 days at the warehouse |
These are market-typical figures; each carrier's tariff governs the actual terms. Carrier surcharge schedules, such as those published by Maersk, list the exact per-day rates for each port tier.
What Happens When Free Time Runs Out?
Charges are tiered — they climb, not just accrue. A representative schedule for a 40ft container:
- Days 1–4 past free time: USD 75–100/day
- Days 5–9: USD 100–150/day
- Day 10+: USD 150–250/day, plus possible terminal extra handling
Charges run on calendar days including weekends and local holidays. A box stuck 15 days past free time at a busy US port can easily generate USD 2,000+ before the cargo has even been released.
How to Negotiate More Free Days
- Ask at booking. After the container lands, it's too late — free time is fixed on the rate confirmation.
- Match days to your clearance speed. If your broker needs a week to clear, ask for 10–14 combined days rather than paying demurrage by default.
- Leverage volume. Regular shippers get better terms; a forwarder can pool many shipments to secure the same treatment for yours.
- Compare carriers. Free time differs more between carriers than the freight rate itself sometimes does — check the small print, as our guide to hidden fees in freight quotes explains.
- Know the full fee map. See how charges escalate in our article on demurrage and detention.
A Real Case: Seven Free Days That Paid for Themselves
A US importer of seasonal décor ships through Long Beach every August — peak season, congested terminals, slow chassis availability. Its first year, it accepted the default 4 free days and paid USD 1,860 in demurrage across three containers that waited for truck appointments. The next year, Waymore negotiated 10 days combined demurrage and detention into its carrier bookings before the season started. The same three-container volume passed through without a single storage charge, because trucking delays that previously ate into free time were absorbed by the extended window.
The negotiation itself took one email exchange at booking time. Nothing about the freight rate changed — the carrier simply priced the extra days into the rate, which the shipper recovered by not paying demurrage. This is the pattern we see repeatedly: free time is among the cheapest concessions a carrier can give at booking, and among the most expensive problems a shipper can discover after arrival.
Two final practical notes: always confirm the free time written on the rate confirmation, not what the salesperson described, and check whether days count as calendar or working days — in Europe the difference is typically two extra usable days.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is free time in shipping?
Free time is the number of days a container can sit at the destination terminal (demurrage) or outside the terminal with the consignee (detention) before per-day charges begin. It is set by the carrier at booking and typically runs 3–7 days for import, though it varies by port and contract.
How many free days do carriers usually give?
For imports into major US and European ports, 4–5 free days at the terminal is common, with some carriers granting 7. Busy ports or LCL cargo often get less. Free time can be extended at booking — typically 2–7 extra days for a small fee or as part of a negotiated contract.
What happens when free time runs out?
Demurrage starts at the terminal, often USD 75–150 per day for a 40ft container, rising in steps after each 4–5 day tier. If the box has left the yard, detention applies instead, commonly USD 50–120 per day. Charges accumulate per calendar day including weekends.
How can I negotiate more free time?
Ask at booking, not after arrival. Request 10–14 days combined demurrage and detention if your clearance is slow, cite your regular volume, and compare carriers — free time is one of the few genuinely negotiable terms in a spot rate. A forwarder can pool its volume to secure better terms than a one-time shipper.
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