Detention
What Is Detention?
A detention charge is a daily fee that an ocean carrier applies when its container is kept outside the terminal beyond the free time allowed for return. The carrier owns the box, and every day it sits at a warehouse, factory, or yard is a day it cannot be reused on another shipment. Once the free days run out, the carrier bills a per-day rate until the container is returned empty to the designated location.
Detention applies to the container itself, not to loose cargo. It usually starts after the container has been picked up from the port and continues until the empty box is returned. It is separate from THC, which covers the normal handling of the container through the terminal.
Detention is distinct from demurrage. Demurrage applies while the container is still inside the port terminal past its free time. Detention applies after the container leaves the terminal, while it is out at a consignee’s site awaiting return. The two are often billed together on the same invoice, which is one reason they are easy to confuse.
How Detention Is Charged
Free time is set by the carrier and the lane. A common range is two to seven days after pickup, counted from the date the container leaves the terminal. After free time ends, the carrier bills a per-day rate until the empty container is returned. In many tariffs the daily rate rises in tiers — the longer the box stays out, the more each extra day costs. This example shows the tier pattern:
| Days past free time | Rate tier | Typical daily rate |
|---|---|---|
| Day 1–3 | Tier 1 | USD 50–75 |
| Day 4–7 | Tier 2 | USD 75–125 |
| Day 8+ | Tier 3 | USD 125–200+ |
These numbers are an illustration. The exact amounts are set by the carrier’s tariff, quoted per container — a 40ft usually costs more than a 20ft — and can differ sharply between ports, lanes, and carriers. Extended free time or a combined demurrage and detention agreement can often be negotiated before shipment.
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