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The Daily Insight

What does FOB shipping terms mean

Author

Rachel Hickman

Published Apr 12, 2026

Free on Board (FOB) is a shipment term used to indicate whether the seller or the buyer is liable for goods that are damaged or destroyed during shipping. “FOB shipping point” or “FOB origin” means the buyer is at risk once the seller ships the product.

How does FOB shipping work?

FOB freight collect specifies that the buyer must pay the freight transportation charges when the buyer receives the goods. … FOB freight collect and allowed specifies that the buyer must pay for the freight transportation costs. However, the buyer deducts the cost from the seller’s invoice.

What is the difference between FOB and delivered?

Thus, the primary difference between an “F.O.B. Origin” term of sale or an “F.O.B. Destination” term of sale is that the price of the goods sold in an “F.O.B. Destination” contract is a “delivered price” where the cost of transportation is “built in” to the price.

Who pays shipping FOB shipping?

When it comes to the FOB shipping point option, the seller assumes the transport costs and fees until the goods reach the port of origin. Once the goods are on the ship, the buyer is financially responsible for all costs associated with transport as well as customs, taxes, and other fees.

Does FOB destination mean free shipping?

FOB Destination, Freight Prepaid: The seller/shipper pays all the shipping costs until the cargo arrives at the buyer’s store. The buyer does not pay any shipping costs.

What charges are included in FOB?

There are two types of free onboard freight: free onboard shipping point and free onboard destination. The costs associated with FOB include transportation of goods to the port, loading of goods, marine freight, insurance, unloading of goods at the destination port and transportation cost up to the final destination.

Is FOB the same as landed cost?

FOB is the price a retailer pays their supplier to acquire goods, excluding shipping and import fees. … On the other hand, landed cost encompasses all of the expenses that go into shipping a product.

How does FOB shipping affect inventory?

“FOB origin” means the buyer is at risk once the seller ships the product. “FOB destination” means the seller retains the risk of loss until the goods reach the buyer. The terms of FOB affect the buyer’s inventory cost—adding liability for shipped goods increases inventory costs and reduces net income.

How do you account for FOB shipping point?

FOB Shipping Point means the buyer is responsible for shipping and must pay and record for shipping. As the seller, we will record any shipping costs in the Delivery Expense account as a debit. We will credit cash or accounts payable, depending on if we paid it or not.

Who is responsible for the freight cost when the terms are FOB shipping point?

With FOB shipping point, the buyer pays for shipping costs, in addition to any damage during shipping. The buyer is the one who would file a claim for damages if needed, as the buyer holds the title and ownership of the goods.

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What is FOB buyer?

FOB stands for “free on board” or “freight on board” and is a designation that is used to indicate when liability and ownership of goods is transferred from a seller to a buyer. Free on Board: Free on board indicates whether the seller or the buyer is liable for goods that are damaged or destroyed during shipping.

How do you calculate FOB price?

FOB Value = Ex-Factory Price + Other Costs (b) Other Costs in the calculation of the FOB value shall refer to the costs incurred in placing the goods in the ship for export, including but not limited to, domestic transport costs, storage and warehousing, port handling, brokerage fees, service charges, et cetera.

When the terms of sale are FOB shipping point the buyer pays the freight charges?

When the terms are FOB shipping point, the buyer pays the freight costs; when the terms are FOB destination, the seller pays the freight costs. Gross profit is computed by subtracting cost of goods sold from net sales. Sales should be recorded in accordance with the matching principle.

How is FOB landed cost calculated?

  1. FOB $13,000.
  2. + Seafreight $2600.
  3. + All local import costs $1500.
  4. + 5% import duty $650.

Does landed cost include overhead?

Overhead. Operating costs are the final part of the landed cost equation. Purchasing staff, due diligence cost, travel, and exchange rates are included in overhead.

How is landed cost calculated from FOB price?

Product + shipping + customs + risk + overhead = landed cost After accounting for product and shipping costs, add customs, which includes all tariffs, taxes, and duties required by the country’s regulations.

Does FOB price include taxes?

FOB and sales tax compliance For packages that are FOB origin, the buyer will often contract with the shipper and pay the freight costs directly, not arranging it through you, the seller. … If the customer pays you for the lamp on delivery (FOB destination), some states will add sales tax to your delivery charge.

Does FOB include insurance?

The seller meets cost of goods, freight and marine insurance. Costs: FOB covers those costs such as ex-factory costs, packing charges, inland transportation charges, documentation and loading charges. CIF price includes free on board and charges of Freight and marine insurance.

Does FOB destination include unloading?

The term is always used in conjunction with a port of loading. Indicating “FOB port” means that the seller pays for transportation of the goods to the port of shipment, plus loading costs. … The buyer pays for all costs beyond that point, including unloading.

Who bears the freight when the terms of sale are a FOB shipping point B FOB destination?

If the goods are lost or damaged in transit on that vessel, the buyer must eat the cost. If, on the other hand, the contract includes FOB destination language, the liability for the goods during transit lies with the seller or supplier.

How do you record shipping charges to customers?

To record shipping costs, a corporate bookkeeper debits the shipping expense account and credits the vendor payable account or the cash account. The last item comes into play if the business pays for merchandise conveyance immediately.

How do FOB terms Affect title and risk of loss?

If goods are shipped FOB destination, transportation costs are paid by the seller and title does not pass until the carrier delivers the goods to the buyer. … This means that the seller retains title and risk of loss until the goods are delivered to a common carrier in Denver who will act as an agent for the buyer.

What happens if goods in transit are shipped FOB destination?

If goods in transit are shipped FOB destination a. the seller has legal title to the goods until they are delivered. … the transportation company has legal title to the goods while the goods are in transit.

When goods are shipped FOB destination the buyer would?

FOB destination is a contraction of the term “Free on Board Destination.” The term means that the buyer takes delivery of goods being shipped to it by a supplier once the goods arrive at the buyer’s receiving dock.

What is difference between CIF and FOB?

In CIF, the seller is responsible for transporting goods to the nearest port, loading the goods on the ship and paying freight for the goods to be delivered to a port chosen by the buyer. … In FOB trading, the seller is only responsible for taking the goods to the nearest port on his or her end.

Why is it called a key fob?

History of the Key Fob The word fob is believed to have originated from watch fobs, which existed as early as 1888. The fob refers to an ornament attached to a pocket-watch chain. Key chains, remote car starters, garage door openers, and keyless entry devices on hotel room doors are also called fobs, or key fobs.

What is the difference between invoice value and FOB value?

The above circular reiterates that zero-rated supplies (export of goods or services) are effected under GST laws and thereby value of supply shall be the invoice value (transaction value). The above circular is often misunderstood as the “value in the corresponding shipping bill” refers to “FOB value”.

How is CIF and FOB calculated?

In order to find CIF value, the freight and insurance cost are to be added. 20% of FOB value is taken as freight. Means USD 200.00. Insurance is calculated as 1.125% – USD 13.00 (rounded off).

What means EXW price?

Ex works (EXW) is a shipping arrangement in which a seller makes a product available at a specific location, but the buyer has to pay the transport costs.

When goods are shipped FOB shipping point title passes when the goods reach the buyer's Dock?

FOB Shipping Point or ‘Free on Board Shipping Point’ or ‘FOB Origin’ is a shipping term indicating that a buyer must pay for the delivery of the goods. This means that the title of the goods passes to the buyer as soon as the shipment leaves the seller’s warehouse (or shipping dock).

What variations are there in FOB terms?

  • FOB Destination, Freight Prepaid. The supplier pays the freight charges and owns the goods while they are in transit.
  • FOB Destination, Freight Collect. …
  • FOB Destination, Freight Collect and Allowed.