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Container Free Time by Carrier Compared — Demurrage & Detention (2026)

Across published tariffs, Maersk gives among the most free time on the 8 ocean carriers we track — a typical 9 demurrage and 7 detention free days for a 40ft import container. Free time varies by country and port; open a carrier for its by-country breakdown.

Carrier	Demurrage free days	Detention free days	Countries
Maersk	9	7	96
CMA CGM	12	—	3
Regional Container Lines (RCL)	5	7	27
Ocean Network Express (ONE)	6	5	42
Yang Ming	5	6	77
SITC	6	4	2
ZIM	7	—	77
Hapag-Lloyd	5	—	53

Typical = median published import free days for a 40ft container across every country line held, as of 2026-07-14. "—" means no published line for that charge. Figures vary by country, port and container type — open a carrier for its full breakdown.

Demurrage vs detention — what's the difference?

Demurrage

Charged when a full import container stays inside the terminal past its free days — you haven't picked it up in time. Billed per container per day once free time runs out.

Detention

Charged when you keep the container outside the terminal — being unpacked or awaiting its empty return — longer than allowed. Also billed per container per day.

Free time

The calendar days a carrier lets you hold the container before either charge begins. It varies by carrier, port, container type, and import vs export — the figures on this page are the published import free days.