Free Time in Shipping — What It Is and How to Negotiate It
Free time is the grace period your carrier gives you before demurrage and detention charges begin. Most shippers don't know how it's counted — or that it's negotiable.
Free Time Tracker
Enter your shipment dates to see your free time windows
Enter ETA and free days to calculate your deadlines
Calculated dates are indicative only. Always confirm free time start dates, counting method (calendar vs working days), and any excluded holidays with your carrier.
What Free Time Actually Means
Free time is not one period — it is two separate clocks running at two different locations, charged by two different parties.
Demurrage Free Time
Demurrage free time is the number of days the carrier allows your container to sit at the port or terminal after it has been discharged, before they start charging demurrage. It is counted from the day the container is made available for pickup — not from the day the vessel arrives. Standard free time is 3–7 days, but this varies enormously by carrier, trade lane, and port.
Clock owned by
Carrier / terminal
Clock starts
Container available at terminal
Clock stops
Container exits terminal gate
Both clocks run independently. If you pick up the container on day 6 of your demurrage window, you do not get those 6 days credited back on your detention clock — detention starts fresh from the moment you exit the gate.
How Free Time Is Counted
The difference between calendar days and working days can cost thousands. Here is what to check on every booking.
Calendar Days vs Working Days
Some carriers count all 7 days of the week. Others exclude Sundays and public holidays. A '5 free day' allowance can mean 5 calendar days (over by Friday if available Monday) or 5 working days (7 actual days). Always confirm which method applies — it is stated in the carrier's tariff and should be specified in your service contract.
When Does the Clock Start?
For demurrage, most carriers start the clock the day after the container is notified as available — not when the vessel berths. At congested ports this can be 2–4 days after arrival. For detention, the clock starts the day of gate-out. Some carriers use the actual date; others use noon cutoffs. Read the tariff carefully.
Public Holidays and Port Closures
At some ports, weekends and public holidays are excluded from the free time count. At others, they count. Terminal closures during storms or strikes may or may not be excluded depending on your contract. If a port is closed and you cannot pick up the container, check whether your carrier has a force majeure clause that pauses the free time clock.
Combined vs Separate Free Time
Some carriers offer a single combined free time period covering both demurrage and detention — one clock for the entire time from available at port to empty return. Combined free time is typically 10–14 days total. Separate free time (dem and det individually) gives you more flexibility but requires tracking two deadlines. Know which type your contract specifies.
How to Negotiate More Free Time
Free time is not fixed. Carriers negotiate it, especially for shippers with volume, reliable return records, or long-term commitments.
Lead with volume commitment
Carriers grant longer free time to shippers who move consistent volume on their service. Before the conversation, calculate your annual TEU count per carrier. Even 50 TEUs/year on a single trade lane gives you leverage. Frame the ask as a service contract benefit: 'We move X TEUs annually on your Asia–Europe service. We would like 7 days demurrage and 10 days detention as part of our annual contract.'
Negotiate before booking, not after
Free time is easiest to negotiate at the booking stage, before the container is loaded and the clock is ticking. Once the vessel has sailed and your container is sitting at the destination terminal, the carrier has no incentive to grant extensions. Build free time negotiations into your annual carrier contracts or at least per shipment at booking confirmation.
Use your return performance as leverage
Carriers track which shippers return empties on time. If your company consistently returns containers within free time, use that as a data point. Pull your last 12 months of detention charges — if you have a clean record, present it. Carriers are more willing to extend free time to shippers they trust to return equipment promptly.
Explain the destination constraints
If your cargo goes to an inland destination with limited customs clearance capacity, or if your warehouse only receives on specific days, explain this to your carrier in writing. Carriers have some discretion on inland delivery free time extensions for shippers with documented logistical constraints. Get any verbal agreement in writing before the vessel departs.
Play carriers against each other
When tendering freight, include free time allowance as a scored criteria — not just the freight rate. If Carrier A offers 5 dem / 7 det and Carrier B offers 7 dem / 10 det at a similar rate, the free time difference can be worth more than the rate difference on a busy trade lane. Make carriers compete on free time, not just price.
Free Time Mistakes That Generate Bills
These are the most common free time errors importers and freight teams make.
Counting from vessel arrival, not availability
The container is not available when the ship berths — it must be discharged, inspected, and notified. At busy ports this takes 24–72 hours. Shippers who plan based on ETA rather than actual availability date often lose 1–2 free days before they even start moving.
Not checking the carrier tariff
Free time is published in the carrier's tariff. Most shippers never look at it. The tariff tells you the exact free time allowance, counting method, and what happens on holidays. A 2-minute check before booking can save you days of confusion at destination.
Thinking demurrage and detention are the same clock
They are two separate clocks. Picking up your container on day 4 of your 5-day demurrage window does not give you extra detention time — the detention clock starts fresh from gate-out regardless.
Planning to use all free days
Customs delays, warehouse closures, and transport issues are common. Shippers who plan to pick up on the last free day have zero buffer. Target picking up by day 3–4 of a 5-day window. Build the buffer into your operations, not your free time negotiation.
Accepting free time extensions verbally
A customer service agent saying 'don't worry, we will give you extra time' is not enforceable. Always get free time extensions confirmed in writing — email from the carrier's documentation or operations team — before the free time expires.
Forgetting origin detention
Exporters often focus on destination charges, but carriers also impose detention at origin — for the time the empty container sits at the shipper's premises before being returned after stuffing. Origin detention is less common but equally real. Confirm both origin and destination free time on every booking.