Quick Answer: With AB Group Shipping, a 20 ft container from Miami to El Salvador costs from $2,249 port to port (September 2026 quote), and a 40 ft HC from $2,591. Ocean transit runs 14 days from New Jersey or Los Angeles, 26 days from Miami and 31 days from Houston.
- Rates on this page are port to port (you deliver to the origin port, you collect at Acajutla) and move every month — the price table under the opening answer updates itself.
- Ocean transit to Acajutla: 14 days from New Jersey or Los Angeles, 26 from Miami, 31 from Houston (September 2026 schedules).
- A 40 ft HC holds considerably more than a 20 ft; for small volumes, LCL usually wins on cost per cubic meter.
- El Salvador charges DAI by tariff line (most lines capped at 15% under the Central American tariff) plus 13% IVA on CIF + duties; US-origin goods with a CAFTA-DR certificate of origin can enter at 0% DAI.
- The container calculator on this page prices your exact origin ZIP, container size and cargo in seconds — no email, no follow-up calls.
Two numbers decide your landed cost into El Salvador: the cubic meters you actually have, and the gateway your state ships through. The calculadora contenedor el salvador on this page settles both in one pass, then prices the box.
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Go to the calculator →Reference prices: container shipping from the USA to El Salvador
| Port | 20 ft | 40 HC | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| MiamiCheapestPort Everglades | $2,249 | $2,591 | 26 days |
| Houston | $2,394 | $2,845 | 31 days |
| New Jersey | ≈ $2,300 | ≈ $2,700 | ≈ 29 days |
| Los Angeles | ≈ $2,300 | ≈ $2,700 | ≈ 29 days |
Port to port to Acajutla, in USD, quoted with our system on September 28, 2026. Includes freight and US export charges; excludes import taxes and destination charges. General cargo. The calculator on this page gives your exact price, with pickup and delivery. ≈ Approximate price: what our system quotes leaving from another port, or the median of the other ports for that shipment.
Shipping from another state? Which port to read
Each port in the table is the one that cargo from these states usually leaves through. Miami: Florida. Houston: Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, New Mexico, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska. New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, District of Columbia and West Virginia ship through New York / New Jersey; California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Hawaii ship through Los Angeles / Long Beach; Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee, Kentucky and Alabama ship through Savannah; Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, Iowa, North Dakota and South Dakota ship through Chicago (rail); Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming and Alaska ship through Seattle / Tacoma: those ports are not in the table yet. We pick up in every state, and the calculator finds the best port from your city.
How much does it cost to ship a container to El Salvador?
Quick Answer: A 20 ft container from Miami to El Salvador starts at $2,249 port to port with AB Group Shipping, and a 40 ft HC at $2,591 (September 2026 quotes). From Houston the same boxes start at $2,394 and $2,845. Rates move monthly — check the live price table and the calculator below.
Those four numbers are general-cargo container rates, port to port. They are real quotes pulled from our system on September 28, 2026. Ocean freight repricing happens every month, so always confirm against the self-updating price table under the opening answer.
| Origin gateway | 20 ft general cargo | 40 ft HC general cargo | Transit (port to port) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Miami (FL) | from $2,249 · Sep 2026 | from $2,591 · Sep 2026 | 26 days |
| Houston (TX) | from $2,394 · Sep 2026 | from $2,845 · Sep 2026 | 31 days |
| New Jersey | run your ZIP in the calculator | run your ZIP in the calculator | 14 days |
| Los Angeles / Long Beach | run your ZIP in the calculator | run your ZIP in the calculator | 14 days |
What "port to port" actually covers
Port to port means the shipper delivers the loaded container to the departure terminal. The consignee collects it at Acajutla. Inland trucking, destination terminal charges, the customs agent's fee, DAI and IVA all sit outside that freight number.
That scope keeps the quote honest. An "all-in" number that silently buries origin drayage and destination handling is harder to compare between forwarders.
Port to port, general cargo, one 20 ft box. A 40 ft HC from the same gateway starts at $2,591 — about 15% more for roughly twice the usable volume, because ocean freight prices the container, not the cubic meter.
What if I am not shipping from Miami or Houston?
Your state feeds a gateway, and the gateway sets the price. Florida loads through PortMiami. Texas and the central states load through Port Houston. California and the Southwest load through Los Angeles/Long Beach. The Northeast loads through New York/New Jersey, the Southeast through Savannah, and the Midwest rails to Chicago first.
- Atlanta — approx. Miami or Savannah pricing, from $2,249 for a 20 ft (Sep 2026, departing PortMiami)
- Dallas — approx. Houston pricing, from $2,394 for a 20 ft (Sep 2026, departing Port Houston)
- Phoenix — approx. Los Angeles pricing; run the ZIP in the calculator for the live Pacific rate
MiamiUSMIA
AcajutlaEl Salvador
HoustonUSHOU
AcajutlaEl Salvador
These rates never price a vehicle
The four benchmarks above are general-cargo container rates. They carry no vehicle handling and no vehicle markup. A car, a motorcycle or machinery runs on the vehicle line, or on a RoRo or flat-rack quote. RVs, semi-trucks, heavy equipment and aircraft do not fit in a container at all — a specialist prices them after the calculator takes the request.
For the full door-to-door clock, including customs and inland delivery, see Shipping Times USA to El Salvador 2026: 1-25 Days.
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Enter your ZIP, volume and container size. Live rate in seconds — no email required.
Go to the calculator →What is a container calculator and what data does it need?
Quick Answer: A container calculator is a pricing tool that converts your shipment details into a freight number in seconds. For El Salvador it needs five inputs: origin city or ZIP, total volume in CBM, gross weight in kilos, container type (20 ft, 40 ft, 40 HC) and commodity. Everything else is derived.
Each field changes a different part of the output. Origin ZIP picks the gateway and the ocean leg. CBM decides whether you book FCL or LCL. Gross weight triggers overweight handling and chassis limits. Commodity flags permits and dangerous-goods routing.
Why the ZIP matters more than the state
Two shippers in the same state can sail from different ports. A Jacksonville exporter often loads at Savannah, not Miami. A West Texas shipper may price better through Los Angeles than Houston. The calculadora contenedor el salvador on this page runs that routing logic automatically.
Pro Tip: run it twice
Price your load once at 20 ft and once at 40 ft HC before you finalize your purchase order. Importers routinely discover that adding four more pallets costs almost nothing in freight, because ocean rates price the box, not the cubic meter.
What the calculator cannot price automatically
- Breakbulk and out-of-gauge cargo that exceeds container dimensions
- Dangerous goods with an IMO class and UN number
- RVs, motorhomes, semi-trucks and heavy machinery — flat rack or RoRo only
- Reefer and open-top equipment
Those requests route to a custom quote form at the same anchor. A human quotes them within hours.
Before booking, our operations desk will still ask you for three things: the HS code of the goods, the Incoterm agreed with your supplier, and the consignee's NIT or DUI in El Salvador. Per the Dirección General de Aduanas, clearance cannot proceed without a valid consignee tax ID.
How do I calculate the cubic meters for my El Salvador shipment?
Quick Answer: CBM equals length times width times height in meters. Measure each pallet or crate at its widest point, multiply the three dimensions, then add every piece together. A pallet of 1.2 m x 1.0 m x 1.5 m equals 1.8 CBM. Ocean LCL is billed on volume or weight, whichever comes out greater under the consolidator's weight-to-volume ratio — ask for that ratio in the quote.
If you measure in inches, convert to meters before you multiply. Round up, never down.
A worked example from a real purchase order
An e-commerce seller in Orlando buys 12 pallets of home goods. Each pallet measures 1.2 x 1.0 x 1.5 m. Total gross weight is 7,800 kg.
- Multiply one pallet: 1.2 × 1.0 × 1.5 = 1.8 CBM
- Add the pieces: 1.8 × 12 = 21.6 CBM
- Compare weight to volume using the weight-to-volume ratio in your consolidator's quote
- Charge the greater figure: 21.6 CBM wins, so the cargo is volume-based
At 21.6 CBM, that shipper is already past the LCL break-even. A 20 ft container is the cheaper booking.
Sea ratio versus air ratio
Ocean and air freight each convert volume into a chargeable weight with their own ratio, and the air ratio is much less generous to bulky cargo. Ask for the ratio in each quote. Dense cargo therefore flies cheaper than it looks, and light cargo sails cheaper than it looks. The comparison is laid out in Air Freight Calculator El Salvador: 1-3 Day Rates 2026.
Carriers re-measure at the CFS
Your measurements must include the pallet base and any carton overhang. Consolidators re-measure every piece at the container freight station and bill the difference. A 5 cm overhang on 12 pallets can add a full cubic meter to your invoice. Add 10-15% dead space for irregular cartons — no container ever loads at 100% of its nominal cube.
How many CBM fit in a 20 ft container to El Salvador?
Quick Answer: Usable volume and payload depend on the carrier's equipment and on how your cargo packs — no container loads at 100% of its nominal cube. A 40 ft HC holds considerably more than a 20 ft. Check the carrier's equipment sheet for exact internal dimensions, payload limits and pallet counts.
Internal dimensions, usable volume, maximum payload and pallet counts vary by carrier and equipment. Ask for the equipment sheet of the box your carrier assigns, and allow for packaging and dead space.
When a 20 ft "cubes out"
Light, bulky cargo fills the volume long before the weight limit. Furniture, foam products, empty packaging and apparel cube out. You pay for the box's full weight capacity and ship only a fraction of it. That is the moment to step up to a 40 ft HC.
When a 20 ft "weighs out"
Dense cargo hits the payload cap with the box half empty. Tiles, hardware, canned beverages, auto parts and machinery weigh out. Two 20 ft boxes often beat one 40 ft, because payload is per container, not per foot.
The 40 HC's extra 30 cm of height is the quiet winner for Salvadoran importers. It swallows a fourth tier of cartons on standard pallets. That makes it the usual pick for e-commerce stock and household furniture heading to San Salvador. Full equipment specs sit in FCL Container Sizes and Capacities: Complete Guide for Exporters 2026.
Reefer and open-top boxes fall outside the general-cargo calculator. Submit those through the custom request form at the same anchor.
Is LCL or a full container cheaper to El Salvador?
Quick Answer: LCL is usually cheaper for small shipments on the USA-El Salvador lane. As volume grows, a 20 ft container usually beats consolidated cargo on cost per cubic meter, and it avoids deconsolidation fees and CFS handling at destination. The break-even moves with origin, season and commodity density.
The math is simple. Divide the FCL rate by your usable CBM, then compare it to the LCL per-CBM rate plus destination deconsolidation and CFS handling. At $2,249 for a 20 ft from Miami (Sep 2026) if you load, say, 28 CBM, the box lands near $80 per CBM before local charges.
| Factor | LCL (consolidated) | FCL (full container) |
|---|---|---|
| Cost basis | Per CBM or per 1,000 kg | Flat rate per container |
| Port-to-port days | Same vessel, plus CFS time both ends | 26 days Miami, 31 Houston (Sep 2026) |
| Deconsolidation at Acajutla | Charged by the consolidator | None |
| Free time on equipment | Not applicable — cargo is stripped | Carrier free days, then per-diem |
| Damage and pilferage risk | Higher — shared handling | Lower — sealed at origin |
| Break-even | Usually best for small volumes | Usually best for larger volumes |
The hidden LCL cost at Acajutla
Consolidated cargo must be stripped before release. The break-bulk fee and the extra days in the CFS can add up to a week to your timeline. Budget for it in your stock planning.
The shared-container risk
Your LCL cargo travels with other importers. A customs hold on someone else's consignment can freeze the whole container. FCL removes that dependency entirely.
The full break-even logic across the corridor is covered in USA-Latin America FCL vs LCL: The 10 CBM Breakpoint. Rather than guess, price both modes in the calculator. Independent tools such as this free container shipping cost calculator are useful for a sanity check on market direction.
Compare LCL and FCL side by side
Enter your CBM once. See both options priced for your gateway — no email required.
Go to the calculator →How long does a container take from Miami to Acajutla?
Quick Answer: A full container takes 26 days port to port from Miami to Acajutla, 31 days from Houston and 14 days from both New Jersey and Los Angeles (September 2026 schedules). Miami and Houston sail Gulf routings around Panama; the Pacific services from Los Angeles run direct down the coast.
Ocean transit to Acajutla by gateway
See the data
| Origin gateway | Transit days (port to port) | Routing |
|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles / Long Beach | 14 | Direct Pacific coastal service |
| New Jersey | 14 | East Coast service via Panama |
| Miami | 26 | Gulf / Caribbean routing via Panama |
| Houston | 31 | Gulf routing with transshipment |
Source: AB Group Shipping quoting system, full-container port-to-port schedules · September 2026
Geography explains the gap. Per CEPA, the Port of Acajutla sits on the Pacific coast in Sonsonate department, with three piers: A, B and C. Pacific sailings reach it without crossing Panama. Gulf and East Coast services must transit the Canal, and many add a transshipment call.
Cut-off is not ETD
Your container must be at the terminal days before the vessel sails. Typical documentation cut-off runs 72 hours before ETD, with a separate gate cut-off. The calculator's transit clock starts at departure, not at the day you load. Miss the cut-off and you wait for the next weekly sailing.
Midwest and Canadian shippers add inland time before the ocean leg. Chicago rails to Houston or Los Angeles. Toronto and Montreal feed the Northeast services, Vancouver the Pacific ones. Build five to eight extra days into your plan.
Overland alternatives exist. Cargo can land at Puerto Quetzal in Guatemala or Puerto Cortés in Honduras, then cross by truck. Per the DGA's office locations, vehicles and cargo routed through Guatemala enter El Salvador at the La Hachadura or Anguiatú crossings. El Amatillo handles the Honduran side. The full timeline breakdown is in Shipping Times USA to El Salvador 2026: 1-25 Days.
What taxes do I pay importing a container to El Salvador?
Quick Answer: El Salvador charges DAI (import duty) by tariff line plus 13% IVA. Most tariffs do not exceed the 15% Central American maximum, with exceptions: some dairy, rice, pork and poultry pay 40% and alcoholic beverages 20% to 40%. IVA is calculated on the CIF value plus duties and any specific consumption taxes.
Start with the CIF value. It equals the cost of the goods, plus international freight, plus insurance. Under the Ley de Impuesto a la Transferencia de Bienes Muebles y a la Prestación de Servicios, articles 48-g and 54, IVA applies to that customs value plus the tariff duties and any specific consumption taxes.
A worked calculation with visible math
Say you buy $18,000 of goods FOB Miami and ship a 40 ft HC at $2,591 (Sep 2026 rate). Insurance costs $205.
- CIF value = $18,000 + $2,591 + $205 = $20,796
- Sample DAI at 10% = $20,796 × 0.10 = $2,079.60
- IVA base = $20,796 + $2,079.60 = $22,875.60
- IVA at 13% = $22,875.60 × 0.13 = $2,973.83
- Total duties and tax = $5,053.43 · Landed cost = $25,849.43
The 10% DAI above is an illustrative rate, not your rate. Each article classifies into its own SAC tariff line.
The CAFTA-DR route to 0% DAI
US-originating goods that meet CAFTA-DR rules of origin can enter at 0% DAI, per the International Trade Administration. The 13% IVA still applies. That single step can erase thousands of dollars from the example above.
Per the Ministerio de Economía (InfoTrade), the CAFTA-DR certificate of origin is issued by the exporter, producer or importer — there is no stamped government form. Claim preference at entry to get the lower duty immediately. An importer who paid full duties may still claim preference and request a refund within one year of importation, according to the ITA.
There is no per-item duty rate
No official rate exists "for furniture" or "for electronics". Duty depends on each article's tariff line in the Central American tariff (SAC). Confirm your HS codes with a licensed Salvadoran customs agent before you buy, not after the container sails. AB Group Shipping is a freight forwarder, not legal counsel.
One confirmed exemption helps families. Under DGA administrative rule DACG No. DGA 006-2025, small non-commercial family shipments of $500 or less in customs value pay no taxes or other charges. Vehicle-specific DAI rates are broken down in El Salvador Car Import Tax Calculator: 2026 DAI & IVA.
Know the freight before you model the duty
Freight is part of your CIF base. Price it first, then calculate duty and IVA.
Go to the calculator →Which Incoterm should I pick, and how does it change the price?
Quick Answer: Incoterms 2020 decide which costs sit inside your quote. EXW puts everything on the buyer, FOB starts the clock at the origin port, CIF adds ocean freight and insurance to destination, and DDP reaches furthest toward the destination, but who can actually clear and pay Salvadoran duties and IVA under it depends on the case and the contract — confirm with a licensed customs agent. The calculator prices the port-to-port core.
| Incoterm | Origin haulage | Export clearance | Ocean freight | DAI + IVA |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXW | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer | Buyer |
| FCA | Seller | Seller | Buyer | Buyer |
| FOB | Seller | Seller | Buyer | Buyer |
| CIF | Seller | Seller | Seller (+ insurance) | Buyer |
| DAP | Seller | Seller | Seller | Buyer |
| DDP | Seller | Seller | Seller | Depends on the case — confirm with a customs agent |
Our port-to-port rates map closest to a FOB-origin to arrival-Acajutla scope. The buyer still adds destination terminal handling, the customs agent's fee, duties, IVA and inland delivery.
DDP into El Salvador is a trap for sellers
DDP looks clean on paper but raises real import-side questions for the seller. The consignee of record still needs a valid NIT or DUI, per the DGA. Whether a foreign seller can act as importer depends on the case — confirm it with a licensed Salvadoran customs agent before agreeing DDP. Sell CIF or DAP and let the Salvadoran buyer clear.
Watch the tax effect too. Switching from FOB to CIF raises the customs base, because freight and insurance enter the CIF value that DAI and IVA are charged on. That is not a penalty — it is how the law defines the base.
For first-time Salvadoran buyers, CIF is the simplest term. Put this line on the Factura Comercial: "CIF Acajutla, El Salvador — Incoterms 2020."
What extra charges appear after the freight quote?
Quick Answer: Destination charges at Acajutla are not freight and are billed locally: terminal handling, BL release, storage, the customs agent's fee and the DUCA-D declaration. Customs itself charges one official payment of USD 18 for inspection, according to the DGA, which warned in March 2026 about improper fees.
Accessorials arrive in stages. Knowing the sequence stops surprises.
- Origin: THC, documentation fee, seal, export filing
- Ocean: BAF, peak season surcharge, GRI, Panama Canal adjustments
- Destination: THC at Acajutla, BL release, storage, drayage inland
- Clearance: the customs agent's fee and the DUCA-D filing
On the Customs side, the DGA is explicit for household-goods entry: the only official payment to Customs is the USD 18 inspection fee. In March 2026 the authority publicly warned about improper fees being charged for bringing in household goods. Anything else billed to you is a private service charge — ask for the breakdown.
What DUCA-D actually is
DUCA stands for Declaración Única Centroamericana — the Central American Single Declaration, not "Documento Único". Per SIECA, it merges the FAUCA, the international land transit declaration (DUT) and the goods declaration (DUA/DM). Your Salvadoran customs agent files the DUCA-D for an import.
Demurrage and detention, plainly
Free time on your container ends on a fixed date. Per-diem starts the day after. Plan release and return before free time expires. On a 26-day Miami transit, the clock that hurts you starts at discharge, not at loading.
- Factura Comercial (commercial invoice)
- Packing list with CBM and gross weight per piece
- Bill of Lading (original or telex release)
- CAFTA-DR certificate of origin, where preference is claimed
- Consignee NIT or DUI
Permit-controlled cargo — check before booking
Per the DGA's guidance: weapons, ammunition and explosive articles need a permit from the Ministerio de la Defensa Nacional. Dangerous goods need the MARN. Plant and animal products and agrochemicals need the Ministerio de Agricultura. Food raw materials and machines with ionizing radiation need the Ministerio de Salud. Confirm your case with a licensed customs agent before you purchase.
Build the full landed cost
Start with the freight number. The calculator prices your container in seconds.
Go to the calculator →Price your container to El Salvador now
Quick Answer: Measure your CBM, pick 20 ft or 40 ft HC, enter your origin ZIP, and the calculator on this page returns a live port-to-port rate to Acajutla. September 2026 benchmarks start at $2,249 from Miami for a 20 ft and $2,591 for a 40 ft HC.
Guessing costs money on this lane. A shipper who books LCL at 18 CBM overpays. A shipper who books a 20 ft for dense tiles weighs out and splits the load late. Run the numbers first.
The calculadora contenedor el salvador on this page prices your exact origin, container size and cargo type in seconds — no email, no follow-up calls. Need a reefer, a flat rack, dangerous goods or project cargo? The same anchor switches to a custom request form, and a specialist answers with a real quote.
It depends on the carrier's equipment and on how your cargo packs once you allow for packaging and dead space. A 40 ft HC holds considerably more than a 20 ft. Check the carrier's equipment sheet for exact figures, or enter your dimensions in the calculator on this page.
Port to port, a full container takes 14 days from New Jersey or Los Angeles, 26 days from Miami and 31 days from Houston, based on September 2026 schedules. Add origin inland transit if your cargo starts in the Midwest or Canada, plus customs clearance days at Acajutla.
You pay DAI (import duty) by tariff line plus 13% IVA. Most El Salvador tariffs do not exceed the 15% Central American maximum, though some dairy, rice, pork and poultry pay 40% and alcoholic beverages 20% to 40%. IVA is charged on the CIF value plus duties and any specific consumption taxes.
Usually, for small volumes. Past the break-even, a 20 ft container is usually cheaper per cubic meter and avoids deconsolidation and CFS handling fees at destination. Price both options in the calculator on this page — the break-even shifts with your origin gateway and the season.
Yes, if the goods meet CAFTA-DR rules of origin and you claim preference at entry with a certificate of origin. Per the Ministerio de Economía, that certificate is issued by the exporter, producer or importer, with no stamped government form. The 13% IVA still applies. An importer who paid full duties may claim preference and request a refund within one year of importation.
Sources
We checked the rules and figures in this guide against these sources on October 21, 2026.
- International Trade Administration (trade.gov): El Salvador - Market Overview
- Ministerio de Economía de El Salvador (InfoTrade): Documentos de origen (DR-CAFTA) · 2022-07-28
- International Trade Administration, U.S. Department of Commerce: 7.2-CAFTA-DR Documenting Origin · 2016-10-18
- Dirección General de Aduanas, Ministerio de Hacienda de El Salvador: DISPOSICIÓN ADMINISTRATIVA DE CARÁCTER GENERAL DACG No. DGA 006-2025 · 2025-03-10
- Dirección General de Aduanas de El Salvador: Proceso Aduanero
- SIECA: Preguntas frecuentes — Secretaría de Integración Económica Centroamericana (SIECA)
- Dirección General de Aduanas de la República de El Salvador: Importación Definitiva de Mercancías · 2026-06-09
- Electronic Code of Federal Regulations (U.S. Office of the Federal Register / GPO): eCFR :: 19 CFR Part 192 -- Export Control
- Comisión Ejecutiva Portuaria Autónoma (CEPA): Historia - Comisión Ejecutiva Portuaria Autónoma
- U.S. Department of State: FY 2001 Country Commercial Guide: El Salvador · 2000-07-01
✓ Fact-checked by AB Group Shipping on October 21, 2026. Prices come from our own rate system. How we check our guides · Spotted an error? [email protected]
Guides for shipping to El Salvador
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- Air Freight Calculator El Salvador: 1-3 Day Rates 2026 · Air freight calculator
- Shipping Times USA to El Salvador 2026: 1-25 Days · Transit times
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