Quick Answer: With AB Group Shipping, consolidated cargo to Colombia costs from $381 for 2 m³ / 500 kg port to port out of Miami (September 2026 quote), $888 from Houston and $917 from Los Angeles. Ocean transit runs 4 days from Miami and up to 14 days from Los Angeles.
- Consolidated (LCL) cargo is priced per cubic meter or per 1,000 kg — whichever number is higher. That rule is called weight-or-measure (W/M).
- Your gateway sets both price and transit: Florida ships via Miami, Texas and the central states via Houston, California via Los Angeles/Long Beach, the Northeast via New York/New Jersey.
- Colombia-bound LCL lands at Cartagena (COCTG) or Santa Marta (COSMR), then clears DIAN with 0-15% duty plus 19% IVA on the CIF value.
- Above roughly 10-13 m³ a 20' container usually beats LCL per cubic meter. Run both in the calculator on this page before you book.
Consolidated cargo, called LCL (Less than Container Load), lets you buy container space by the cubic meter instead of renting the whole box. The price table under the opening answer on this page refreshes monthly, so the figures you quote your buyer stay current.
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Go to the calculator →Reference prices: consolidated cargo from the USA to Colombia
| Departure port | 2 m³ | Transit |
|---|---|---|
| MiamiCheapest | $381 | 14 days |
| Houston | $888 | 20 days |
| Los Angeles | $917 | 28 days |
| New Jerseyleaves from Miami | $381 | 14 days |
Port to port to Santa Marta or Cartagena, in USD, quoted with our system on September 28, 2026. Includes freight and US export charges; excludes import taxes and destination charges. 2 m³ and 500 kg of general cargo; the price changes with the volume. The calculator on this page gives your exact price, with pickup and delivery.
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. Los Angeles: California, Nevada, Arizona, Utah and Hawaii. 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; 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 does the consolidated cargo calculator to Colombia work?
Quick Answer: The calculator on this page prices consolidated cargo to Colombia from your dimensions. Enter origin city, piece count, length, width, height and weight. It converts those into cubic meters, applies the weight-or-measure rule, adds your gateway's ocean leg, and returns a port-to-port figure in seconds.
Cubic meters come from simple math. Multiply length × width × height in meters for each piece, then add the pieces. A standard pallet at 1.2 × 1.0 × 1.5 m equals 1.8 m³.
The system then compares volume against weight. The ratio in ocean consolidation is 1 m³ versus 1,000 kg. It charges whichever number is greater.
Dense cargo prices by weight. Machine parts, tile and auto components often hit the weight side first. Light cargo prices by volume — foam furniture, plastic housings and packaging fill space without adding kilos.
- Origin ZIP — decides your gateway and therefore your rate
- Piece dimensions — measure the pallet after wrapping, not the cartons
- Gross weight — include the pallet itself, usually 20-25 kg
- Commodity — the HS code drives Colombian duty, not the freight price
Most consolidators apply a 1 m³ minimum charge. A 0.4 m³ box still bills as one full cubic meter. If you have three small shipments going to the same Colombian buyer, combine them into one booking.
Your origin ZIP picks the gateway automatically. Florida moves through Miami. Texas and the central states move through Houston. California and the Southwest move through Los Angeles/Long Beach. The Northeast moves through New York/New Jersey. Midwest cargo rails to a coastal port, usually through Chicago.
Pro Tip
Measure your pallet after shrink-wrapping and after adding corner boards. Warehouses re-measure every piece at the CFS. A pallet you declared at 1.5 m but that arrives at 1.72 m gets re-rated, and the revised invoice always lands after the vessel sails.
Sending small parcels instead of pallets? The math changes completely. Check our Shipping Calculator to Colombia: 2026 Per-Pound Rates for per-pound pricing on courier and small-package lanes.
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Go to the calculator →How much does consolidated cargo to Colombia cost per cubic meter in 2026?
Quick Answer: Price per cubic meter depends on your gateway, not on Colombia. In September 2026, a 2 m³ / 500 kg consolidated shipment ran from $381 out of Miami, $888 out of Houston and $917 out of Los Angeles, port to port. The live table under the opening answer updates monthly.
Those three figures are a September 2026 snapshot, not a fixed tariff. Rates move with BAF (bunker adjustment factor), CAF (currency adjustment factor) and peak-season surcharges. Use the self-updating price table on this page for the current month before you quote a customer.
Miami(USMIA)
Cartagena(COCTG)
Houston(USHOU)
Cartagena(COCTG)
Los Angeles(USLAX)
Cartagena(COCTG)
What does "port to port" actually include?
Port to port means you deliver the cargo to the origin CFS warehouse and collect it at Cartagena or Santa Marta. Inland pickup in the USA is a separate charge. Colombian destination charges and inland delivery are billed locally, in pesos, by the destination agent.
That split matters when you compare quotes. An "all-in" number from one forwarder and a port-to-port number from another are not the same product. Ask for the itemized breakdown every time.
- Origin THC (terminal handling charge)
- Consolidation / CFS handling
- Ocean freight on a W/M basis
- BAF and ISPS security surcharge
- House Bill of Lading issuance fee
- Destination THC and deconsolidation, billed in Colombia
The first cubic meter absorbs the fixed costs: documentation, ISF filing and CFS handling. Cost per m³ drops steadily as volume rises, which is why 6 m³ rarely costs three times what 2 m³ costs.
Shipping from a city that is not a gateway? Atlanta and Charlotte cargo usually moves through Savannah or Miami. Use the Miami figure as an approx. reference and let the calculator price your exact lane with the trucking leg included.
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Go to the calculator →LCL or FCL to Colombia: where is the breakpoint?
Quick Answer: Consolidated cargo wins below roughly 10 cubic meters. Above that, a 20' container — which holds about 28 usable m³ — normally costs less per cubic meter and skips deconsolidation at destination. Run both options before booking, because surcharges and free time shift the crossover point every season.
Container capacity sets the ceiling. Know the real packed numbers, not the brochure numbers.
Usable capacity by container type
| Equipment | Gross volume | Realistic packed volume | Max payload |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20' standard | 33 m³ | ~28 m³ | ~28,200 kg |
| 40' standard | 67 m³ | ~58 m³ | ~26,700 kg |
| 40' high cube | 76 m³ | ~65 m³ | ~26,500 kg |
| LCL booking | n/a | 1 m³ minimum | W/M 1:1,000 kg |
Source: ISO container specifications and standard stowage practice · September 2026
Consolidated cargo (LCL)
You pay only for the space you use, with a 1 m³ minimum. Weekly departures mean you never wait to fill a box. The trade-off: your pallets share a container with other shippers, get handled twice at CFS warehouses, and face shorter free time at destination.
Full container (FCL)
One seal from origin to Cartagena. No deconsolidation, no co-loader handling, and fewer damage claims. Free time at the Colombian terminal is longer, which buys your broker breathing room with DIAN. You pay for the whole box even at 15 m³.
Deconsolidation is the hidden cost people forget. At the Colombian CFS, a forklift operator breaks down a container that holds eight shippers' cargo. That extra handling step is where most LCL damage claims start.
Free time differs too. LCL cargo typically gets less free time at destination than FCL. If DIAN flags your declaration for inspection, storage charges start accruing faster on consolidated cargo.
The full cost math — including when 13 m³ still favors LCL — is laid out in our USA-Latin America FCL vs LCL: The 10 CBM Breakpoint guide. For a parallel Central America lane with the same structure, see LCL Shipping USA to Guatemala 2026: Instant Quotes.
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Go to the calculator →How long does consolidated cargo take to reach Colombia?
Quick Answer: Ocean transit to Colombia runs 4 days from Miami, 6 from New York/New Jersey, 10 from Houston and 14 from Los Angeles, port to port. Consolidated cargo adds roughly 5-10 days for CFS cut-off, consolidation and deconsolidation at Cartagena or Santa Marta.
Ocean transit to Colombia by US gateway
See the data
| Gateway | Ocean transit (days) | Serves |
|---|---|---|
| Miami | 4 | Florida, Southeast |
| New York / New Jersey | 6 | Northeast, Mid-Atlantic |
| Houston | 10 | Texas, central states |
| Los Angeles / Long Beach | 14 | California, Southwest |
Source: AB Group Shipping port-to-port transit data · September 2026
Cut-off time is not vessel ETD. These are two different dates, and confusing them is the most common booking mistake. Cargo must physically reach the CFS 3-5 days before sailing, and LCL cut-offs close earlier than FCL cut-offs because the box still has to be stuffed.
Miami sails weekly to Cartagena. That frequency is why Florida-origin cargo dominates this lane. West Coast cargo transits the Panama Canal, which explains the 14-day figure from Los Angeles.
Deconsolidation at destination adds 2-4 working days. Your broker cannot file the declaración de importación until the cargo is stripped and the warehouse issues the arrival notice.
Build your door-to-door window honestly:
- Deliver to the origin CFS, 3-5 days before vessel cut-off
- Sail — 4 to 14 days depending on your gateway
- Deconsolidate at Cartagena or Santa Marta — 2-4 working days
- Clear DIAN — typically 2-5 days with complete documentation
Missing the CFS cut-off costs a full week
Consolidated cargo runs on fixed weekly sailings. Arrive at the warehouse one hour after cut-off and your pallets wait for the next vessel. That is a 7-day delay on the Miami–Cartagena lane, and longer from Houston or Los Angeles where sailings are less frequent.
For a side-by-side look at how transit windows are built across modes, see Shipping Times USA to El Salvador 2026: 1-25 Days.
What documents and DIAN duties apply to consolidated cargo?
Quick Answer: Colombian imports clear through DIAN with a commercial invoice, packing list, Bill of Lading and certificate of origin. Duty runs 0-15% depending on HS code, plus 19% IVA calculated on the CIF value plus duty. Shipments above USD 1,000 generally require a licensed customs agency (SIA).
Get the paperwork right before the vessel sails. Fixing documents after arrival means storage charges.
- Factura Comercial — commercial invoice with Incoterm stated
- Packing list — piece count, dimensions, gross and net weight
- House Bill of Lading — issued by the NVOCC consolidator
- Certificado de Origen — required for duty-free treatment
- RUT / NIT — the importer's tax registration with an active import code
Under the US-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement, qualifying US-origin goods enter at 0% duty. That benefit only applies with a valid certificate of origin on file. No certificate, no preference — DIAN applies the general rate.
How the duty and IVA math works
Colombia charges duty on the CIF value, then charges IVA on the CIF value plus the duty. Here is a worked example with a 10% duty rate:
| Step | Basis | Rate | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| CIF value | Goods + freight + insurance | — | $5,000 |
| Import duty | CIF | 10% | $500 |
| Taxable base | CIF + duty | — | $5,500 |
| IVA | CIF + duty | 19% | $1,045 |
| Total import charges | — | — | $1,545 |
Your own HS code may carry 0%, 5% or 15% instead. Classification drives everything — the same shipment can swing hundreds of dollars on a single digit. Our Importing Auto Parts from USA to Guatemala: Full Guide shows how HS classification changes duty outcomes in practice.
The ISF 24-hour rule is not negotiable
On the US side, the consolidator files the Importer Security Filing ("10+2") at least 24 hours before the vessel loads. Late or inaccurate filings trigger CBP holds and liquidated damages. Send your commercial invoice and consignee details to the forwarder the moment you book — not the day of cut-off.
Confirm your duty rate and classification with a licensed Colombian customs broker before you commit to a landed-cost price with your buyer. AB Group Shipping moves the freight; a SIA files the declaration.
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Go to the calculator →Price your Colombia shipment now
Quick Answer: Enter your origin city, piece dimensions and weight in the calculator on this page. It applies the weight-or-measure rule, selects your gateway and returns a port-to-port price for Cartagena or Santa Marta in seconds — no email, no sales call, no waiting for a reply.
With thousands of shipments processed across the USA–Latin America corridor, the pricing logic in this tool reflects real bookings, not list rates. Compare a consolidated booking against a 20' container in the same session and see exactly where your volume crosses the breakpoint.
Use the calculator on this page to price your exact lane — Miami, Houston, Los Angeles, New York/New Jersey or any US origin — and check the live price table for the current month before you quote your Colombian buyer.
Multiply length × width × height in meters for each piece, then add the pieces together. A box of 80 × 60 × 50 cm equals 0.24 m³. Enter those same dimensions in the calculator on this page and it applies the weight-or-measure rule automatically.
Yes, below roughly 10 cubic meters consolidated cargo is normally cheaper, because you pay only for the space you use. Above that threshold a 20' container usually costs less per cubic meter. Compare both in the calculator and check the price table on this page for current rates.
Most consolidated cargo from the USA arrives at Cartagena (COCTG) or Santa Marta (COSMR) on the Caribbean coast. Cartagena handles the largest share of LCL deconsolidation volume and has the widest selection of weekly sailings from Miami, Houston and New York/New Jersey.
Yes, in most cases. DIAN generally requires a licensed customs agency (SIA) for commercial imports valued above USD 1,000. The importer also needs an active RUT with the correct import activity code registered before the shipment arrives.
Duty ranges from 0% to 15% depending on the HS code, plus 19% IVA charged on the CIF value plus duty. Qualifying US-origin goods can enter duty-free under the US-Colombia trade agreement with a valid certificate of origin. Confirm your classification with a licensed Colombian customs broker.
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