Landed cost is the total cost of getting imported goods to their final destination, not just the supplier invoice value. A useful calculation should bring together purchase value, freight, insurance, duties, taxes and local charges so you can estimate the real cost per shipment and per unit.
What to include in landed cost
- Supplier or purchase value
- International freight
- Insurance
- Import duties
- Taxes
- Origin and destination charges
- Customs, handling and local delivery costs
Basic Excel approach
Create one row per shipment and separate each cost category into its own column. Convert foreign-currency amounts using the exchange rate applied to the operation, then calculate total landed cost and divide by total units to obtain a unit cost.
A dedicated template can reduce setup time and make comparisons easier. See the ImportVista Landed Cost Calculator.
Use the result for pricing
Once you know your landed cost per unit, you can compare it with your target selling price and margin. This is especially useful when evaluating suppliers, transport options or changes in duty rates.
If you manage several parts of the import process, the ImportVista PRO Pack also includes shipment tracking, freight quote comparison, free-days control and document management.
Always verify the customs, tax and regulatory treatment applicable to your goods and destination.
