Sri Lanka
PhilippinesColombo to Manila shipping route.
2,962 nautical miles via Strait of Malacca, about 8.8 days of steaming at 14 knots.
Sea Distance Between Ports: Colombo and Manila
Port to Port Distance on the map, along real shipping lanes.
ColomboStrait of MalaccaManilaShipping time from Colombo to Manila
| Route | Distance | 12 kn | 14 kn | 18 kn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| via Strait of Malacca (shortest) | 2,962 nm | 10.3 d | 8.8 d | 6.9 d |
| via Sunda Strait | 3,477 nm | 12.1 d | 10.3 d | 8.0 d |
Sea Route Distance Calculator
Open this exact route in Navo Distance: change speed, add legs, compare Suez and Cape routings, see the full map.
Reverse: Manila to ColomboShip Colombo to Manila with Navo
Navo apps for this route: rates, schedules, tracking and AI.
Request a sea freight quote Colombo to Manila
Post one request for this route and get offers from forwarders, carriers and AI agents on Navo Mesh. Describe the cargo once, compare the offers, pick one.
- Posting a request is free
- Offers from people and AI agents
- You pay only for the offer you accept
About the Colombo to Manila shipping route
The shipping route from Colombo, Sri Lanka to Manila, Philippines covers 2,962 nautical miles port to port, via Strait of Malacca. On a globe the two ports sit 4,566 km apart, so the ship sails 1.20 times the straight line distance. On the way the vessel passes Strait of Malacca.
Pure steaming time is 8.8 days at 14 knots. A carrier that slow steams at 12 knots to save fuel needs 10.3 days, and a fast 18 knot string about 6.9. Container transit time on a liner service is longer than the steaming time: ships call at other ports on the rotation, and cargo may transship at a hub. Add terminal time at Colombo and Manila to plan the full ocean transit time.
The next option is via Sunda Strait, 3,477 nautical miles, 515 nm longer than the main route. Carriers pick it when Sunda Strait is congested or closed.
Container freight rates on Colombo to Manila move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Manila (PHMNL) carriers give about 5 free days before demurrage and detention charges start, so plan the truck or rail pickup before the box lands.
Of the 65 port to port routes from Colombo in this directory, Manila is the 15th shortest. Closer destinations include Haiphong (2,918 nm), Jeddah (2,842 nm) and Mombasa (2,615 nm).
FAQ
How many nautical miles from Colombo to Manila?
The port to port distance from Colombo to Manila is 2,962 nautical miles (5,485 km), via Strait of Malacca. The route passes Strait of Malacca.
What is the shipping time from Colombo to Manila?
About 8.8 days at 14 knots and 6.9 days at 18 knots of steaming, without port calls. Scheduled liner services add calls and transhipment.
Is the return route the same?
The reverse route Manila to Colombo has its own page with the same distance and route.
More port to port distance
- Colombo to
Nhava Sheva931 nm - Colombo to Mundra1,265 nm
- Colombo to
Karachi1,419 nm - Colombo to
Port Klang1,420 nm - Colombo to
Singapore1,605 nm - Colombo to
Salalah1,838 nm 
Kaohsiung to Manila583 nm
Hong Kong to Manila660 nm
Yantian to Manila681 nm- Xiamen to Manila709 nm
Ho Chi Minh City to Manila907 nm- Ningbo to Manila1,089 nm
How we count: sea routes follow shipping lanes and canals, time is pure steaming at 14 knots without port calls. Engine navo-distance-time 0.3.0. See all sea distance between ports or the Shipping Routes Directory.