Rules checked on 17-10-2026
How to use the calculator
- Pick the date and time the e-way bill was generated with the vehicle details (Part-B). Times are Indian Standard Time.
- Type the approximate distance in kilometres, the same figure you enter on the portal.
- Choose normal or over-dimensional cargo (ODC).
- Read the validity, the expiry and the extension window. Press Enter to move between boxes.
The validity rule
Rule 138(10) of the CGST Rules sets validity by distance.[1] Since 1 January 2021 it is:
- Normal cargo: 1 day for every 200 km or part of 200 km.
- Over-dimensional cargo: 1 day for every 20 km or part of 20 km. ODC is a single, indivisible load that is larger than the limits in rule 93 of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules.
A "day" does not mean 24 hours. Each day ends at midnight of the day after the e-way bill is generated. So validity always ends at 23:59 on the last day, and the first day can be anything from just over 24 hours to almost 48 hours.
Worked examples
| Generated | Distance | Days | Valid until |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16-10-2026, 10:00 | 150 km | 1 | 17-10-2026, 23:59 |
| 16-10-2026, 23:30 | 150 km | 1 | 17-10-2026, 23:59 |
| 16-10-2026, 10:00 | 201 km | 2 | 18-10-2026, 23:59 |
| 16-10-2026, 10:00 | 705 km | 4 | 20-10-2026, 23:59 |
| 16-10-2026, 10:00 | 150 km, ODC | 8 | 24-10-2026, 23:59 |
The second row shows why the time matters: an e-way bill generated at 23:30 for a short trip still gets the whole of the next day, about 24½ hours, while one generated at 10:00 gets about 38 hours.
Extending an e-way bill
If the goods cannot reach in time because of a breakdown, an accident, transhipment or another genuine reason, the generator or the transporter in charge can extend the e-way bill. The rule allows extension within 8 hours of expiry, and the portal opens the option from 8 hours before expiry, so the window is 16:00 on the last day to 08:00 the next morning.[1] Verify You give the reason, the current place and the remaining distance; the new validity is counted on that distance.
Missed the window? The e-way bill cannot be extended any more and a fresh one is needed before the goods move. From 1 January 2025 the portal limits extensions to 360 days from the original generation, and an e-way bill can be generated only for documents up to 180 days old.[2] Verify
Tips that avoid penalties on the road
- Generate the e-way bill close to dispatch, not the evening before, so the first day isn't spent in the godown.
- Use the real road distance. The portal works out the distance between the two pincodes and may refuse a figure far above it. Verify
- When the truck changes, update Part-B with the new vehicle number before the goods move again.
- Set a reminder for the afternoon of the last day, when the extension option opens.
Sources
Checked on 17 Oct 2026. Official portal: ewaybillgst.gov.in.
- CGST Rules 2017, rule 138(10) and its provisos, as amended from 1 January 2021: cbic-gst.gov.in. Link pending
- GSTN advisory on e-way bill and e-invoice system updates from 1 January 2025 (document age and extension limits). Link pending
