Have you ever found yourself knee-deep in logistics planning, trying to estimate transportation costs between suppliers, warehouses, and destinations across the globe?
That was me a few months ago.
And like any good spreadsheet wizard, I opened up Google Sheets and got to work.
Today, I want to share the result with you β a Google Sheets Logistics Transport Calculator thatβs easy to use, fully customizable, and designed to help small businesses, supply chain managers, and operations teams get instant shipping cost estimates.
π¦ The Problem: Estimating Logistics Costs Is a Mess
If you’re in logistics, procurement, or just trying to run a lean operation, you know the struggle:
- Sourcing from multiple suppliers
- Shipping to multiple destinations
- Tracking container volumes and weights
- Applying fees and cost markups
- Doing it all quickly, without mistakes
Sound familiar?
I built this tool to solve all of that β using Google Sheets so anyone, anywhere, can use it for free.
π οΈ The Solution: A Smart, Simple Transport Calculator in Google Sheets
Let me walk you through how this calculator works:
β Sheet 1: The Main Calculator
This is where the magic happens. You can:
- Select source and destination from drop-down lists
- Choose the product (like table, chair, or sofa)
- Enter the quantity
- Automatically see:
- Container volume
- Metric tons
- Total weight
- Shipping cost (based on location and product)
- Final cost including fees
It even supports dynamic formulas like INDEX MATCH
and ROUNDUP
to handle container rounding and pricing accuracy.
π Sheet 2: Product Data
Define all your products here β including:
- Name (e.g., Table, Chair, Sofa)
- Volume per unit (in containers)
- Weight per unit (in metric tons)
This makes the main sheet super responsive and automatic.
π Sheet 3: Transport Cost Matrix
Set your transport fees between locations:
- Source (e.g., Paris)
- Destination (e.g., Tokyo)
- Cost per container (e.g., $500)
The matrix uses the TRANSPOSE
function to help align the data, and you can expand it easily to cover more cities, ports, or vendors.
π§ Features & Formulas
Here are a few powerful tools under the hood:
- Data Validation for drop-down lists
- INDEX MATCH for dynamic value retrieval
- ROUNDUP for cost calculation per full container
- Easy-to-modify structure β perfect for scaling your logistics planning
And yes, you can absolutely expand it to include freight types, packaging options, incoterms, or shipping schedules.
π Bonus: Download the Free Google Sheets Template
Want to skip the building part and just start using it?
π‘ Who Is This For?
This tool is perfect for:
- Logistics managers
- Operations teams
- Procurement specialists
- Amazon/Etsy sellers
- Small businesses shipping internationally
Whether you’re shipping furniture, machinery, or finished goods β this spreadsheet will help you make smarter, faster decisions.
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