Full Voyage Cost Breakdown Included

Free TCE Calculator
for Dry Bulk Shipping

Calculate Time Charter Equivalent (TCE) from freight rate, bunker costs, port expenses and voyage days. Compare voyage earnings against TC market rates instantly.

USD/day
TCE Output
VLSFO
+ MGO ECA Split
Reverse
Freight Calc
100%
Free to Use

How TCE is Calculated

TCE converts voyage earnings into a daily rate for easy comparison across different voyages and vessel sizes.

TCE Formula

Gross Freight
USD Revenue
Voyage Costs
Bunker + Port + Canal + Comm.
÷
Total Voyage Days
Sea Days + Port Days
=
Result
TCE (USD/day)

TCE with Full Cost Breakdown

VoyBulk calculates TCE with every voyage cost component accounted for precisely.

Bunker Cost (VLSFO + MGO)

Separate sea consumption and port consumption. ECA zone mileage auto-split for MGO calculation. Ballast and laden legs treated independently.

Port Disbursements

Enter DA (Disbursement Account) estimates for each loading and discharging port. Supports multiple port rotation.

Canal Dues

Suez Canal and Panama Canal toll calculation based on vessel GT. Cape routing option included with correct distance calculation.

Broker Commission

Deduct broker commission (address commission + broker fee) as a percentage of freight before calculating net TCE.

Sensitivity Matrix

See how TCE changes across a grid of freight rates vs. bunker prices. Identify your break-even freight rate and bunker sensitivity instantly.

Reverse TCE Calc

Enter a target TCE and back-calculate the minimum freight rate needed. Essential for cargo negotiations and offer evaluation.

Typical TCE Ranges by Vessel Size

Reference breakeven TCE levels by vessel type (vary significantly with market cycle and vessel age).

Vessel Type DWT Range Typical OPEX Breakeven TCE Strong Market TCE
Handysize10,000 – 35,000 MT$8,000 – $11,000/day$15,000+/day
Supramax / Ultramax50,000 – 65,000 MT$9,000 – $13,000/day$18,000+/day
Panamax / Kamsarmax65,000 – 82,000 MT$10,000 – $14,000/day$20,000+/day
Capesize100,000 – 180,000 MT$14,000 – $20,000/day$30,000+/day

* Reference only. Actual breakevens depend on vessel age, flag, crew nationality, financing, and market conditions.

TCE — Common Questions

What is TCE in shipping?
TCE stands for Time Charter Equivalent. It is a daily earnings metric that converts voyage charter revenue (net of voyage costs) into a per-day rate, comparable to a time charter hire rate. It is the standard benchmark used by shipowners to evaluate voyage charter profitability and compare it against time charter market levels.
What is the TCE formula?
TCE = (Gross Freight Revenue − Voyage Costs) ÷ Total Voyage Days. Voyage costs = VLSFO bunker + MGO bunker + port DA (loading + discharging) + Suez/Panama canal dues + broker commission. Total voyage days = ballast sea days + laden sea days + port days at load + port days at discharge.
How do I calculate TCE from a freight rate?
Step 1: Multiply freight rate ($/MT) by cargo quantity to get gross freight. Step 2: Deduct voyage costs (bunker, port DA, canal tolls, commission). Step 3: Divide the net result by total voyage days (sea + port). For example: $25/MT × 70,000 MT = $1,750,000 gross freight. Deduct $650,000 voyage costs = $1,100,000 net. Divide by 22 days = TCE $50,000/day.
What is the difference between TCE and hire rate?
A hire rate is a fixed daily payment under a time charter contract. TCE is a calculated metric from a voyage charter that converts net earnings to a daily equivalent. When deciding between a voyage fixture and a time charter offer, owners compare the voyage TCE against the TC hire rate — the higher number wins.
Is the VoyBulk TCE calculator free?
Yes. The full TCE calculator — including bunker split, ECA detection, port rotation, canal dues, sensitivity matrix and reverse freight calculation — is completely free. Register for a free account with no credit card required.

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