Shipping costs from China to the United States

Freight determines the cost of shipping goods from one place to another. Freight costs depend on the type of goods being shipped, the mode of transport, the volume and weight of the goods, and the distance to the delivery destination.

This illustrated guide provides shipping rates from China to the United States, using advanced data from a variety of real-time sources to give you a better understanding of the cost of shipping goods from China to the United States.

Other factors that affect freight rates include seasonality, current events, and shipping capacity.

Ocean Freight from China to the United States

Sea freight

FCL or Full Container Load means your cargo fills an entire container, which is either 20 feet or 40 feet in length. If you are shipping a large volume, shipping via FCL can save you time and money. FCL pricing is a fixed rate, whether your container is completely full or not.

Learn more about FCL. FCL VS LCL - China Freight Forwarder-Logistics Services Agent in China-DTFULOGISTICS

Container shipping rates from China to the US: 40' container

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Ocean Freight

LCL, or Less Than Container Load, means your cargo will not fill a whole container, but will be shipped with other boxes or pallets. Please note that when you ship LCL, your cargo needs to be consolidated at the port of departure and deconsolidated at the port of destination.

That’s why LCL shipments take a few days longer than FCL shipments.

Air Freight from China to the United States

Air freight rate per kg from China to the United States

Air freight is generally faster than ocean freight, but more expensive, so the method you choose will depend on the size and weight of your shipment, and how quickly you need it to arrive at your destination.

Shipping time from China to the United States

Shipping time from China to the United States by sea, air and express

How long does it take to ship from China to the United States?

The time it takes to ship your shipment will be affected by location, size of shipment, and season. Shipping times are not always the same. Shipments can be delayed based on market conditions, natural disasters, and other events.

Use the table below to estimate the time for each shipping method from China to the United States.

How much is shipping from China to the United States?

International freight quote calculator and freight estimates for ocean, air and truck shipments

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Shipping Delays from China to the United States: Are shipments from China delayed?

For shippers shipping goods from China to the United States, the coronavirus has wreaked havoc, causing significant delays in both manufacturing and transportation.

Production in China has returned to normal, but the impact of the coronavirus pandemic has created a variety of other challenges, including high demand and delays at U.S. ports and warehouses.

In addition, air travel restrictions will significantly reduce air cargo capacity, leading to tight space and price fluctuations.

For the latest updates, visit dtfulogistics.com .

Popular Routes from China to the United States

When you ship goods from China to the United States, you may need to choose from a variety of different possible routes.

D tfulogistics.com has all these routes and can provide real-time FCL, LCL and air freight rates from China to the United States.

The top three cargo routes from China to the United States are:

• Shipping from Shanghai to New York
• Shipping from Shanghai to Los Angeles
• Shipping from Shenzhen to Los Angeles

Get quotes from the world's largest freight rate database, then join dtfulogistics.com to compare, book and manage your upcoming shipments.

What is the cheapest shipping rate from China to the United States?

The most important factor in shipping costs when shipping from China is usually the cost.

Shipping small packages from China

If you are importing small items, such as samples of new products, shipping is overkill. It costs more and takes longer. You can be safer by:

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For small, lightweight and small products, postage may be the most economical shipping method. For example, China Post offers a variety of postage methods : small parcels by air mail/SAL or ground mail; large parcels by air parcel, SAL or ground mail; parcels by EMS/China International Express and EUB Priority System.

But check each option carefully first and compare it to the courier costs. The heavier the package, the more likely it is that courier (express freight) will be cheaper. While postage is cheaper, you will also have to wait a long time.

Express delivery from China to the United States

Using international courier (also known as express freight) is usually more reliable and faster than postal delivery, whether it is DHL, UPS or TNT.

As a rule of thumb, courier costs are around $5 per kilogram, making it the cheapest way to ship packages or small shipments weighing no more than 150 kilograms. But be aware that some couriers charge exorbitant fees if you are not a registered customer.

Pricing for shipping from China to the United States

Air Freight Costs and Rates from China to the United States

Air freight costs approximately $3 per kg and is the cheapest option for shipments weighing between 150 kg and 500 kg . Very light shipments may be charged based on volumetric weight rather than actual weight.

Freight rates vary widely between freight forwarders and prices change frequently, so be sure to shop around.

For larger shipment sizes and origin/destination pairs, LCL ocean freight costs may actually be cheaper than air freight costs – be sure to check!

Ocean Freight Costs and Rates from China to the United States

Once the weight of the goods exceeds 500 kg, sea transport becomes the cheapest option. Sea transport has huge economies of scale (some ships can carry 20,000 20-foot containers).

Some freight forwarders offer a premium service, often called expedited freight, which is slightly more expensive than regular ocean freight. As with air freight, ocean freight rates can vary widely from one freight forwarder to another and can change over time, so it’s important to shop around.

You can even start shopping around right away with our handy freight calculator . It will give you instant freight estimates for both air and ocean freight.

How can air freight be cheaper than sea freight?

Each mode of transport has its own combination of base and variable costs. For small shipments, modes with lower base costs are cheaper, while for large shipments, modes with lower variable weight costs are cheaper, even if they start with a higher base cost.

How long does it take to ship from China to the United States?

The rule of thumb for delivery times (under normal circumstances) is 1-2 weeks for regular mail, 3 days for air express, 8-10 days for air freight, and 30-40 days for sea freight.

These estimates can be affected by a number of circumstances, so it’s worth checking with your logistics provider.

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Shipping from China via surface mail takes a long time. China Post offers faster and more economical air mail and Express Mail Service (EMS), both of which take about one to two weeks.

If there is a problem with the documentation, US Customs will lower the release priority of the package. So before sending, check that the supplier gets the documentation right to increase the likelihood that regular mail will only take a week.

Express Shipping Options

Shipping from China via international express takes three days. This includes picking up the goods from the supplier in China, unless the supplier has delivered the package to their warehouse. If the situation is really urgent, there are more expensive premium services that can even deliver overnight.

air transport

Standard air freight between China and the United States usually takes about 8-10 days. This is not because airplanes are slow; it is because the air freight process is more complicated than express delivery. Express air freight service usually shortens the transit time by 2-3 days compared to standard air freight.

Ocean Freight

Door to door shipping takes about 30-40 days, with ocean shipping being the mode of transport with the longest shipping time. This is because ships move much slower than airplanes.

In addition to the extra preparation required, ocean liners are also starting to slow down their sailings to save fuel (and money). For example, U.S. Customs requires importers who use a single entry bond and ship by ocean freight to also purchase an ISF bond.

In addition, port congestion, customs delays and adverse weather conditions have a greater impact on sea freight than air freight.

If you need your shipment shipped faster, ocean freight offers an excellent service. Depending on the shipping requirements, expedited freight may be able to actually reduce shipping times. In some cases, it may even be competitive with air freight delivery times.

Expedited freight works by streamlining the ocean shipping process and combining it with only faster ocean shipping services and premium trucking services. This makes expedited freight a great option for shipping from China.

More about shipping from China to the United States

Cost and speed are very important when shipping from China, but you should also be aware of some key details and the differences between different shipping methods.

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It may be cost-effective to ship small packages of samples via regular mail. In addition, importers who are just starting out may want to consider this model, mailing directly from the factory to the customer - essentially drop shipping .

This process can be set up quickly and avoids paying storage fees upfront, but from a cost perspective, you'll need to rethink your strategy when sales start to pick up.

Express delivery from China to the United States

FedEx and UPS, the two major domestic express delivery companies in the United States, are also popular choices for express delivery between China and the United States. Other major international express delivery companies such as DHL and TNT are also popular choices for express delivery between China and the United States.

As with postal delivery, the process is simple: prices can usually be found directly online, without the need for a formal quote. As with other shipping methods, most couriers also offer air express services. If the value of the goods exceeds $800, it will need to go through US customs, but customs clearance is much simpler than air or sea freight.

Importers who plan to purchase large quantities of inventory and use sea or air freight should still arrange a trial express shipment before signing a large contract with a supplier. This way they can test the waters for product sales. It also helps estimate profitability: the cost of this shipment is an upper limit for ongoing freight costs.

Air Freight from China to the United States

The larger the shipment, the more complicated the shipping process. Finding space in the aircraft cargo hold is more difficult than with regular express services. The shipment must first be delivered to a facility for consolidation (packing with other shipments).

The process is repeated in reverse at the other end. The U.S. customs process is also much more complicated than express shipments.

International law, national law, carrier organization regulations and individual carrier regulations all play a role in defining and limiting which goods are considered hazardous for transport.

Generally speaking, there are more restricted commodities for air transport than for sea transport, including: gases (such as light bulbs), all flammable items (such as perfume, Samsung Galaxy Note 7), toxic or corrosive items (such as batteries), magnetic substances (such as speakers), oxidizing agents and biochemical products (such as chemicals), and items that are dangerous to public health (such as untanned hides and skins).

For more information on shipping dangerous goods, please refer to the Freightos Dangerous Goods Table .

FCL and LCL shipping from China to the United States

Ocean freight usually refers to container shipping. However, if your cargo is not large enough to fill a 20ft or 40ft container (FCL), it is often worth shipping less-than-load (LCL).

With LCL shipping, multiple shipments are consolidated and packed into one container. This means that the freight forwarder has more work to do than just the manual labor of consolidating multiple shipments into one container before the main shipment and then unpacking the goods at the other end.

Tracking one item among many in a container is more difficult than tracking the entire box. Of course, it requires extra paperwork and the risk of delays is greater.

For larger LCL shipments, it often makes more sense to upgrade to a 20-foot container and ship it in FCL. The tipping point is usually around 15 cubic meters. FCL has three major advantages over LCL:

1. FCL shipping takes less time than LCL shipping. For China-U.S. routes, LCL shipping usually takes one to two weeks longer.
2. Full container shipping is less likely to be damaged, misplaced, and lost.
3. FCL shipping costs are lower. For general cargo, prime shipping costs are usually twice the FCL shipping costs per cubic meter.

Freight Forwarding from China to the United States

Of course, there is a lot to learn about becoming a master of shipping from China. Mastering the right model is a good start.

If you are considering air or sea freight, make sure you choose a good freight forwarder as well as a good price when you request a freight quote .

Using a freight forwarder will help you avoid pitfalls, taking over organizational work and troubleshooting when necessary. But there is usually one step you need to take before hiring a freight forwarder. Before you make a deal with your supplier, make sure you understand how to choose an Incoterm .

Importers often sign Incoterms without understanding the risks they are taking. Sometimes they can get away with it, but shipping the goods can easily turn into a nightmare, wiping out profits, or more.

Shipping Documents and Forms

Having a freight forwarder means you don’t have to know everything about freight. But be prepared for a lot of paperwork and be knowledgeable about freight documentation .

You should take a few extra minutes to ensure all your documentation is complete and accurate. These few minutes are well worth it. Have a reference to shipping costs on hand ; do not blindly accept every surcharge and fee.

Use the right packaging

If you are considering continuous shipping, discuss packaging options with your supplier. You may be able to slash your shipping costs significantly.

purchase insurance

What about cargo insurance?

You can do a ton of research, but it's really not necessary. The bottom line is this: make sure you get comprehensive cargo insurance - basic carrier insurance coverage is limited.

On Dtfulogistics.com, you can add insurance to your reservation so you can be confident that your shipment is safe while it's in transit and protected from damage, loss, and other potential problems.

Learn more about importing from China