What actually drives the price of air and sea freight to Kenya — and how to get an accurate quote without surprises.
“How much will it cost?” is the first question almost everyone asks about shipping to Kenya. The honest answer is: it depends on a handful of factors you can control. Understanding them helps you plan, compare quotes fairly and avoid surprise charges.
1. Air or sea
Mode is the biggest driver. Air freight is charged per kilogram of chargeable weight and is fastest. Sea freight is charged per cubic metre (LCL) or per container (FCL) and is far cheaper for heavy or bulky goods.
2. Weight and volume
Airlines charge the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight. A large, light box can cost more by air than a small, heavy one. For sea freight, volume usually matters more than weight.
3. Origin and destination
Pickup from Kansas City costs differently from pickup in rural Montana. On the Kenyan side, delivery to Mombasa is different from delivery to Eldoret or Kisumu.
4. What you are shipping
Some goods need extra documentation, special packing or certificates such as a KEBS Certificate of Conformity. Vehicles, electronics and machinery each have their own considerations.
5. Duties and taxes in Kenya
Most imports attract duties and taxes assessed by the Kenya Revenue Authority, based on the type and value of the goods. A good quote shows these separately from freight so you can see the full landed cost.
How to get an accurate quote
- Pickup ZIP code and delivery town
- An itemised list of what you are sending
- Approximate dimensions and weights
- Your deadline
Send those details through our quote form and we will reply with a real, itemised figure.
Worked example: comparing air and sea for the same shipment
Imagine you are sending eight boxes, each 60 × 40 × 40 cm and weighing 18 kg, from Dallas to Nairobi. The actual weight is 144 kg. The volumetric weight for air freight is 8 × (60 × 40 × 40 ÷ 6,000) = 128 kg, so air freight is charged on the actual weight of 144 kg. The same boxes occupy about 0.77 cubic metres, which is a small shared-container (LCL) shipment by sea.
In practice, air would deliver in about one to two weeks at a much higher cost per kilogram, while sea freight would take several weeks but cost considerably less. If nothing in the shipment is urgent, sea freight usually wins; if a few items are urgent, split the shipment and send only those by air.
Charges people forget to budget for
- US pickup — collection from your address to the departure gateway.
- Origin handling and documentation — export processing and paperwork.
- Destination handling — port or airport charges in Kenya.
- Clearing agent fees — for lodging the import declaration.
- Storage — if documents are not ready when the cargo arrives.
- Inland delivery — from Mombasa or Nairobi to your town.
- Insurance — optional but recommended for valuable goods.
Ways to lower your shipping cost
- Consolidate purchases from several suppliers into one shipment.
- Pack efficiently to reduce volume — remove bulky retail packaging where it is safe to do so.
- Choose sea freight whenever your timeline allows.
- Prepare documents early to avoid storage and demurrage charges.
- Book ahead of peak seasons when space is tight and rates rise.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a price per kilo to Kenya? Air freight is priced per kilo of chargeable weight, but the rate varies with route, season and volume, so we quote each shipment individually.
Do you charge for quotes? No — quotes are free and without obligation. See our shipping rates guide or freight estimator.
Ready to ship?
Get a real, itemised quote for your shipment — air or sea, door to door.
