3PL Invoice Variance Calculator
Compare the rate and quantity you expected with what your 3PL billed. See whether the difference comes from rate drift, quantity or invoice arithmetic.
✓ No account✓ No file upload✓ Runs in your browser
Free browser-based calculator
Compare one invoice charge with what you expected.
Example values are loaded below. Replace them with one line from your own rate card and invoice.
Total variance vs expected+€13.20
The invoice line is above the calculated expectation.
+8.80% versus expectedWhat explains the difference?
Rate variance+€10.00
Quantity variance+€3.20
Invoice math variance-€0.00
A positive variance is not automatically an overcharge. Minimums, tiers, tolerances, amendments and other commercial rules may change the valid expected amount.
Separate the source of the variance before you question the charge.
One invoice line can differ from your expectation for several reasons. The calculator keeps those reasons separate so you can see which assumption deserves review.
Rate variance
Measures the impact of the billed unit rate being different from the agreed unit rate while holding the expected quantity constant.
Quantity variance
Measures the impact of the invoice quantity being different from the expected quantity using the billed rate.
Invoice math variance
Checks whether the entered invoice line amount differs from billed quantity multiplied by billed rate.
What the calculator is actually doing.
Expected amount
expected quantity × agreed rateRate variance
expected quantity × (billed rate − agreed rate)Quantity variance
(billed quantity − expected quantity) × billed rateInvoice math variance
invoice line amount − (billed quantity × billed rate)A positive variance is a finding, not automatically an overcharge.
The calculator compares the numbers you enter. A valid contract can still contain minimum charges, volume tiers, effective dates, tolerances, rounding rules, surcharges or amendments that change the correct expected amount.
Before raising a query, verify that the expected quantity uses the same billing basis as the rate card and that the agreed rate was actually valid for the invoice period.
One line is only the beginning
Run free 3PL invoice auditCheck the complete invoice against your own data.
BillDrift compares your rate card, invoice and operations CSV and checks up to 100 invoice rows free.