Shipping is an essential part of importing from China to the US. Nowadays, many importers buy from wholesale sites, like Alibaba, Global Sources, Made in China, etc.
Generally, their suppliers will arrange the transportation for them. Some with import experiences may have their trust freight forwarders and will arrange shipments by themselves. But for newbies, shipping may be tormenting, especially when you need to compare different shipping methods and relevant costs.
So, in this article, I will share 7 major shipping methods from China to the US and their estimated costs. After reading it, you can arrange transportation with ease, whether you are using the supplier’s forwarder or your own. Anyway, this is a good guide.
Note: All the shipping cost listed in the article is regular pre-pandemic price. However, COVID-19 has a great impact on freight costs. The prices change very frequently. The latest price you get will change again after several days. In addition, the cost has been much more expensive than before. For example, the price of a container has risen to 7-8 times of the usual price. So, if you want to estimate your shipping cost, please contact us to get the real-time freight rates.
Table of Contents
- Choose a Better Express Company
- Estimate Express Shipping Cost
- Dimensional Weight VS Real Weight
- Express Shipping VS Air Freight
- Calculate All-included Air Freight Cost
- Cost Breakdown of Air Freight
- LCL & FCL of Sea Freight
- Calculate All-included Sea Freight Cost
- Cost Breakdown of Sea Freight
- Sea Freight UPS Combined
- Air Freight UPS Combined
- Epacket for Small Packages
- China Post for Small Packages
Note: trade terms (Incoterms) are what define your shipping model, which is directly related to the shipping cost. If you have no ideas about what Incoterms are, I suggest you watch the following video first.
Express Shipping from China to the US
You can find plenty of information on Google about Express companies like FedEx, UPS, and DHL. So I am not going to waste your time reading top Express couriers again here. Instead, I’ll answer the two more important questions directly:
- When is it more cost-effective to choose express?
- What type of goods can be transported via express?
Which Express Company Is Better?
Compared with sea or air freight, express is the easiest and fastest transportation method from China to the US.
You won’t have to bother about the custom clearances process. And whether you are getting the goods delivered to the east or the west of the United States, delivery fees will likely be the same. All you have to do is to find an express company that gives you a reasonable quote and waits for the goods to be delivered to your address.
About 95% of the product samples and high-value goods in small quantities are shipped by express. Besides, if you are online sellers who are in a hurry to restock, like Amazon sellers, express is highly suitable to you.
FedEx, UPS, DHL, which is the most reliable and cost-effective one for shipping from China? I recommend FedEx and UPS. Because generally, DHL’s customs clearance process is slower than that of FedEx and UPS and sometimes DHL’s shipping cost is also relatively higher.
Express Shipping Costs from China to the USA
Whether FedEx, UPS, or DHL, the official price is generally higher, because these express companies give their agents (your supplier, or freight forwarder) different discounts based on the annual shipments of each agent, usually 20% – 50% off, which further influences the prices.
If your Chinese supplier doesn’t often use FedEx to ship goods from China to the US, he can find an express agent with a discount and ask him to ship the goods to the United States. So, you’ll get a lower shipping cost.
Except for the different discounts of each agent, the impact of season, the amount of empty space left in the plane, etc., will also influence the cost of express delivery. For example, the price can quickly escalate during the high season, like a month before Christmas and Thanksgiving, and drop significantly during the low season.
So the shipping cost is quite unstable and may even change every week. You have to ask your supplier or freight forwarder to provide you with a real-time price, then choose a cheaper one.
Contact us to get the real-time shipping rates.
- We have long-term cooperative express companies to get competitive prices for you.
- We can arrange express shipping and calculate costs for you.
FedEx IP & IE
Although the delivery charges often change, the prices of FedEx are still within a specific range. Using the reference price I provided and considering the other influencing factors above, you can easily estimate the cost of delivery to your address.
FedEx offers International Priority and International Economy delivery, also known as IP and IE. Transit time for IP is faster than IE. In general, IP takes 2-3 working days, and IE takes 4-6 working days, as the picture below shows.
Then let’s have a look at the estimated shipping rates for smalle packages below 20kg and cargo above 21kg.
Fedex IP （<21KG)
| 0.5-5.5KG | Cost $ | 6-11KG | Cost $ | 11.5-16.5KG | Cost $ | 17-20.5KG | Cost $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 25 | 6 | 97 | 11.5 | 169 | 17 | 241 |
| 1 | 31 | 6.5 | 103 | 12 | 175 | 17.5 | 248 |
| 1.5 | 38 | 7 | 110 | 12.5 | 182 | 18 | 254 |
| 2 | 44 | 7.5 | 116 | 13 | 189 | 18.5 | 261 |
| 2.5 | 51 | 8 | 123 | 13.5 | 195 | 19 | 267 |
| 3 | 57 | 8.5 | 130 | 14 | 202 | 20 | 274 |
| 3.5 | 64 | 9 | 136 | 14.5 | 208 | 20.5 | 280 |
| 4 | 70 | 9.5 | 143 | 15 | 215 | _ | _ |
| 4.5 | 77 | 10 | 149 | 15.5 | 221 | _ | _ |
| 5 | 84 | 10.5 | 156 | 16 | 228 | _ | _ |
| 5.5 | 90 | 11 | 162 | 16.5 | 234 | _ | _ |
Fedex IE (<21KG)
| 0.5-5.5KG | Cost $ | 6-11KG | Cost $ | 11.5-16.5KG | Cost $ | 17-20.5KG | Cost $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 24 | 6 | 72 | 11.5 | 112 | 17 | 161 |
| 1 | 29 | 6.5 | 77 | 12 | 127 | 17.5 | 167 |
| 1.5 | 36 | 7 | 82 | 12.5 | 131 | 18 | 171 |
| 2 | 43 | 7.5 | 87 | 13 | 136 | 18.5 | 175 |
| 2.5 | 50 | 8 | 92 | 13.5 | 139 | 19 | 180 |
| 3 | 53 | 8.5 | 97 | 14 | 144 | 20 | 186 |
| 3.5 | 56 | 9 | 102 | 14.5 | 148 | 20.5 | 190 |
| 4 | 61 | 9.5 | 107 | 15 | 152 | _ | _ |
| 4.5 | 66 | 10 | 112 | 15.5 | 152 | _ | _ |
| 5 | 70 | 10.5 | 115 | 16 | 155 | _ | _ |
| 5.5 | 71 | 11 | 119 | 16.5 | 158 | _ | _ |
Cargo (>21KG)
| Caego Weight | Fedex IP | Fedex IE |
|---|---|---|
| 21KG-70KG | $7-$7.5 | $6.5-$6.7 |
| >70KG | $6.3-$7 | $6-$6.5 |
Note: Prices fluctuate too frequently during the pandemic. Please email us to get real-time shipping rates.
The tables above clearly show that IP delivery is more expensive than IE. Generally, Fedex IP is the best choice for sending product samples. However, if it is CARGO >21KG, I suggest you choose Fedex IE.
In addition, please note that the goods containing lithium batteries, powder and liquid are not allowed to be shipped by official Fedex. If you really want to ship these products by express, you have to find some express agents to ship the goods to Hong Kong first, and then ship them to the United States by Fedex or DHL of Hong Kong. Of course, the cost for shipping such sensitive goods is more expensive, usually around $10/kg or more.
FedEx IP & IE
Although the delivery charges often change, the prices of FedEx are still within a specific range. Using the reference price I provided and considering the other influencing factors above, you can easily estimate the cost of delivery to your address.
FedEx offers International Priority and International Economy delivery, also known as IP and IE. Transit time for IP is faster than IE. In general, IP takes 2-3 working days, and IE takes 4-6 working days, as the picture below shows.
Then let’s have a look at the estimated shipping rates for small packages below 20kg and cargo above 21kg.
FedEx IP (<21KG)
FedEx IE (<21KG)
Cargo (>21KG)
| Caego Weight | Fedex IP | Fedex IE |
|---|---|---|
| 21KG-70KG | $7-$7.5 | $6.5-$6.7 |
| >70KG | $6.3-$7 | $6-$6.5 |
Note: Prices fluctuate too frequently during the pandemic. Please email us to get real-time shipping rates.
The tables above clearly show that IP delivery is more expensive than IE. Generally, Fedex IP is the best choice for sending product samples. However, if it is CARGO >21KG, I suggest you choose Fedex IE.
In addition, please note that the goods containing lithium batteries, powder and liquid are not allowed to be shipped by official Fedex. If you really want to ship these products by express, you have to find some express agents to ship the goods to Hong Kong first, and then ship them to the United States by Fedex or DHL of Hong Kong. Of course, the cost for shipping such sensitive goods is more expensive, usually around $10/kg or more.
Dimensional Weight VS Real Weight
To express, you should pay special attention to the charged weight. The express company will compare the dimensional weight with the real weight, and choose whichever is larger as charged weight to calculate the shipping cost. Dimensional weight is calculated by volume, which is Length(cm) x Width(cm) x Height(cm)/5000.
Now if you are going to ship a huge foam that is 100cm x100cm x 100cm, and weighs 20kg.
Dimensional weight = 100cm x 100cm x 100cm/5000 = 200kg. It is far larger than the real weight (20kg).
Therefore, the express will charge you 200kg, rather than 20kg, because the size of the package is large and will take up a lot of space.
As for customs duties, if the value of goods is less than $800, it is duty-free by FedEx. If more than $800, the courier company will pay for you first, then you pay it to the courier when you receive the goods.
One last thing, if you ask your supplier to help you ship goods by FedEx, it’s better to pay the fee to your supplier in advance. Even if you have a FedEx account in the United States, you should not pay the freight until you sign for it, because it will be very expensive.
Air Freight from China to the USA
Both air freight and express use planes to ship cargo. If you are wondering about the differences between the two and when to choose express or air freight, please read on.
The Differences between Air Freight and Express
Express delivery is quite simple and straight-forward, while air freight is a bit more complex and its import and export procedures are similar to traditional sea freight. It includes the following three steps:
- Local logistics in China and export process.
- Air shipping from Chinese airport to American airport.
- Local logistics in USA and import process.
Usually, if your cargo is more than 500kg, air freight is cost-effective. While if your cargo is below 300kg, express shipping will be a better choice. But what if the cargo is between 300-500kg?
At this time, it’s impossible to exactly say which one is cheaper, because the prices of both are always changing in real-time. For example, FedEx is cheaper than air freight if the plane of FedEx has a lot of empty space left or when there are irregular discounts.
What Is All-Included Air Freight Cost to the US?
When you are going to ship by air, whether you are planning to consult a freight forwarder or are dealing with an Alibaba supplier, it’s essential to ask for the price of the whole shipping process, i.e. the all-included price. It covers the cost of shipping from the China airport to your door.
Pay attention, it’s important to decide beforehand whether you want to ship your goods to the airport of your country or directly to your door.
Sometimes, freight forwarders or suppliers only quote you the price of shipping from the China airport to the destination airport in order to attract you. Such price seems low but it does not include customs clearance costs and domestic land costs, which you need to pay extra.
Air Freight Costs per Kg for Your Reference
More than 500kg and the air freight all-included price is around $5.5/kg, while the express price is $6.5/kg, so you can have an intuitive comparison. But this price I gave you doesn’t include the cost from a Chinese factory to a China airport.
Shipping time for air freight =Time required for booking shipping space+flight time+Local delivery time in the USA. It usually takes 4-7 days in total.
The Cost Breakdown of Air Freight
If you are a newbie, you can just keep in mind the shipping costs mentioned above and seek help from your Chinese supplier or freight forwarder. However, you may carry out the shipping process on your own, then the next will surely interest you.
Firstly, the charged weight of air freight is also calculated by real weight or by volume, just similarly to Express. But air freight has its own formula to calculate its Dimensional Weight, which is: Length (cm) x Width (cm) x Height (cm)/6000, slightly different from Express.
Furthermore, if you’re shipping your goods yourself, you should know the cost of each part of the air freight, as it’s not just an all-included price.
Shipping Cost under FOB Term
Usually, while buying wholesale from Alibaba, most of the suppliers will quote you FOB price.
This means, your Chinese supplier is responsible for the transportation cost from a Chinese factory to the Chinese airport and Chinese export costs, while you are responsible for:
- The cost from China airport to an American airport.
- The cost from American airport to your door.
Thus, by FOB, Shipping cost (FOB) = Cost for air shipping from Chinese airport to American airport + American customs clearance cost+ Local logistics cost in the USA
For the accurate cost of American customs clearance and local logistics in the USA, you’d better ask your local freight forwarder. Additionally, the type of cargo and the destination airport will make a great variation in the cost.
Shipping Cost under EXW Term
But when you get EXW price from your supplier, it means that the supplier won’t offer any shipping and exporting service. That is, you’ll be responsible for the whole transportation cost:
- from the Chinese factory to a Chinese airport
- from China airport to an American airport.
- from American airport to your door.
So, by EXW, Shipping cost = Local logistics cost in China + China export cost + Cost for air shipping from Chinese airport to American airport + American customs clearance cost + Local logistics cost in the USA
As you can see, the shipping costs consist of several parts, the price of air freight is not fixed, and you have to consult some of the costs by yourself, which makes your estimation very complicated. As a leading sourcing company in China, we can help you source and ship goods to the US and help you calculate your shipping cost.
Jingsourcing can help you source and ship goods as well as calculate your shipping cost.
- Have Long-term cooperative freight forwarders;
- Provide you with real-time and competitive freight rates;
- Arrange shipment in time, even during the epidemic;
Sea Freight from China to the USA
If your goods exceed 2 CBM (Cubic Meters), you should consider sea freight. Though it is the most complex shipping method, you don’t need to worry as this guide will make the process simple and clear for you.
Less Than Container Load (LCL) and Full Container Load (FCL)
The cargo shipped by sea freight is carried in containers. There are two types, LCL and FLC.
If the quantity of your goods is small and its volume is less than 15 CBM, the freight forwarder will help you ship your goods by LCL. It implies you have to share a container with other importers because your cargo load is less than a container size.
LCL uses CBM (Cubic Meter) as the unit to calculate the freight. For example, if your product is 12 CBM, then the shipping fee = the price per CBM * 12CBM.
FCL is when your cargo is enough to fill one or more containers. In this case, the freight is calculated on the quantity of the whole container. For example, if your goods can fill 2 containers, then the shipping fee = the price of a full container * 2. Generally, it will be cheaper than LCL.
Furthermore, the container model is mainly divided into three types:
Full container load | 20”GP | 40”GP | 40”HQ |
|---|---|---|---|
| CBM contained | 28CBM | 58CBM | 68CBM |
What Is All-Included Sea Freight Cost to the US?
Just like air freight, I will also provide you with an all-included price so you can compare the prices and roughly calculate the shipping cost. This cost includes the delivery to your door but excludes the local logistics cost in China.
For bulk cargo, i.e. LCL, I’ll provide the price to the western, central, and eastern United States. However, for the FCL price, I can only provide the cost to the Los Angeles port, because the cost to different American ports varies a lot. And, there are more than 100 ports in the US. The table below will give you an overview of container freight rates based on cargo CBM.
Note: Sea freight rates change frequently during the pandemic. Please directly email us to get the real-time quotation.
Then how can you calculate the rough shipping cost by this chart and better estimate the profit of your products? Here is a real-life example.
Now you want to purchase 400 red wine glasses from China to Los Angeles (western United States), and the size of the red wine cup with the package is 19cm x 23cm x 19cm.
The total CBMs for the 400 PCS will be: 400 x19cm x23cm x19cm/1,000,000=3.3CBM
According to the chart above, the freight rate should be $310 per CBM.
So, the total shipping cost will be $310*3.3CBM=$1,023.
Then, the average shipping cost of a wine glass will be:
Total shipping cost/400 units=$1023/400=$2.56
What Is All-Included Sea Freight Cost to the US?
Just like air freight, I will also provide you with an all-included price so you can compare the prices and roughly calculate the shipping cost. This cost includes the delivery to your door but excludes the local logistics cost in China.
For bulk cargo, i.e. LCL, I’ll provide the price to the western, central, and eastern United States. However, for the FCL price, I can only provide the cost to the Los Angeles port, because the cost to different American ports varies a lot. And, there are more than 100 ports in the US. The table below will give you an overview of container freight rates based on cargo CBM.
| USA | 3-5CBM | 5-10CBM | 10 CBM+ | 20”GP | 40”HQ |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US West ($) | 310 | 240 | 180 | 3700 | 4200 |
| Cen.am ($) | 340 | 290 | 240 | _ | _ |
| US East ($) | 370 | 320 | 260 | _ | _ |
Note: Sea freight rates change frequently during the pandemic. Please directly email us to get the real-time quotation.
Then how can you calculate the rough shipping cost by this chart and better estimate the profit of your products? Here is a real-life example.
Now you want to purchase 400 red wine glasses from China to Los Angeles (western United States), and the size of the red wine cup with the package is 19cm x 23cm x 19cm.
The total CBMs for the 400 PCS will be: 400 x19cm x23cm x19cm/1,000,000=3.3CBM
According to the chart above, the freight rate should be $310 per CBM.
So, the total shipping cost will be $310*3.3CBM=$1,023.
Then, the average shipping cost of a wine glass will be:
Total shipping cost/400 units=$1023/400=$2.56
Get competitive prices & Ship your goods in time, even during the pandemic.
The Cost Breakdown Of Sea Freight
Again, I will explain the composition of sea freight under FOB and EXW terms, as they are the most common. Nearly 90% of the trade is done under these two terms. Take Alibaba for example, suppliers on it usually offer you FOB and EXW prices.
The FOB price includes the cost of the product and the local cost in China, so your supplier will help you ship your goods directly to the port of shipment. After that, the part of sea freight you need to pay will be:
Shipping cost=Cost for sea freight from a Chinese port to America port +American customs clearance cost + Local logistics cost in the USA
The EXW price is just the product cost, which means your supplier won’t help you ship the goods to the port of the shipment. In this case, the part of sea freight you need to pay will be:
Shipping cost = Local logistics cost in China + China export cost + Cost for sea freight from a Chinese port to America port +American customs clearance cost + Local logistics cost in the USA
To explain everything about the price in the sea freight process, I’ll divide the sea freight process into three steps and show the cost of each step.
Cost in China
It includes the cost of shipping your goods to the port of shipment and the China export cost.
If it is bulk cargo (Goods quantity is less than container load), the price from the factory to the Chinese port will generally be around $10 -$30/CBM, depending on the distance from the factory to the port, and the volume of the goods. The smaller the volume is, the more expensive the price will be.
China export cost includes booking costs, export operating costs, and customs documents costs. It is generally around $100-$300: $100-$200 for LCL (bulk cargo, less than one container), while about $300 for FCL (Full container load).
So, if you have 5CBM bulk goods, the cost in China will be: （$10-$30) x 5CBM+（$100-$200) ≈ $150-$350
Cost of Ocean Freight
It is the cost from a Chinese port to an American port. The ocean freight is quoted by the shipping company, and the price is not fixed. Just like the price of an air ticket, you are likely to get a 50-60% discount if there are still lots of seats left. However, in high season, the tickets will be quite expensive, maybe full price.
Also, the prices from China to different ports in the eastern, central, and western United States are different. As there are more than 100 ports in the US, it’ll be difficult to give all the prices. So I list the prices of Los Angeles and New York for your reference. But remember, the actual cost depends on the real-time quotation.
| Ningbo – New York | Ningbo – Los Angeles | |
|---|---|---|
| Bulk Cargo（LCL） | $75/CBM | $70/CBM |
| FCL (20”GP) | $2100/Container | $1500/Container |
| FCL (40”HQ) | $2600/Container | $1600/Container |
Cost in the Local US
It includes US customs clearance, customs duties, and local logistics costs in the US. For this cost, you’d better consult an American customs clearance company or a local freight forwarder. It will be much simpler and more efficient.
The Cost Breakdown Of Sea Freight
Again, I will explain the composition of sea freight under FOB and EXW terms, as they are the most common. Nearly 90% of the trade is done under these two terms. Take Alibaba for example, suppliers on it usually offer you FOB and EXW prices.
The FOB price includes the cost of the product and the local cost in China, so your supplier will help you ship your goods directly to the port of shipment. After that, the part of sea freight you need to pay will be:
Shipping cost=Cost for sea freight from a Chinese port to America port +American customs clearance cost + Local logistics cost in the USA
The EXW price is just the product cost, which means your supplier won’t help you ship the goods to the port of the shipment. In this case, the part of sea freight you need to pay will be:
Shipping cost = Local logistics cost in China + China export cost + Cost for sea freight from a Chinese port to America port +American customs clearance cost + Local logistics cost in the USA
To explain everything about the price in the sea freight process, I’ll divide the sea freight process into three steps and show the cost of each step.
Cost in China
It includes the cost of shipping your goods to the port of shipment and the China export cost.
If it is bulk cargo (Goods quantity is less than container load), the price from the factory to the Chinese port will generally be around $10 -$30/CBM, depending on the distance from the factory to the port, and the volume of the goods. The smaller the volume is, the more expensive the price will be.
China export cost includes booking costs, export operating costs, and customs documents costs. It is generally around $100-$300: $100-$200 for LCL (bulk cargo, less than one container), while about $300 for FCL (Full container load).
So, if you have 5CBM bulk goods, the cost in China will be: （$10-$30) x 5CBM+（$100-$200) ≈ $150-$350
Cost of Ocean Freight
It is the cost from a Chinese port to an American port. The ocean freight is quoted by the shipping company, and the price is not fixed. Just like the price of an air ticket, you are likely to get a 50-60% discount if there are still lots of seats left. However, in high season, the tickets will be quite expensive, maybe full price.
Also, the prices from China to different ports in the eastern, central, and western United States are different. As there are more than 100 ports in the US, it’ll be difficult to give all the prices. So I list the prices of Los Angeles and New York for your reference. But remember, the actual cost depends on the real-time quotation.
Cost in the Local US
It includes US customs clearance, customs duties, and local logistics costs in the US. For this cost, you’d better consult an American customs clearance company or a local freight forwarder. It will be much simpler and more efficient.
A smart and cost-effective shipping solution (SFUC & AFUC )
SFUC—Sea Freight UPS Combined
Generally, the shipping time for sea freight is about 30-45 days. Besides the shipping time on the sea, the local logistics in the USA are also quite slow. There is a faster and more cost-effective way than traditional sea freight and I prefer to call it Sea Freight UPS Combined– –SFUC. But actually, not all freight forwarders provide this service and there is no unified English name for it.
First, Chinese freight forwarders will help you ship the goods to the nearest port to you by traditional sea freight. Then, UPS is responsible for the local logistics in the US. It means transporting goods to your address as soon as the goods arrive at the port. This will save you at least 10 days.
SFUC is one of the main methods to directly ship from China to Amazon FBA because of its fast shipping time and efficient customs clearance.
As for the price, it is shown in the chart below. For some goods with high taxes, like textiles, hardware, and accessories, some freight forwarders will charge you an additional fee, i.e. $0.3-$0.4 per kg.
| USA | 100KG+ | 300KG+ | 500KG+ | 1000KG+ |
| US West ($) | $1.5 | |||
| Cen.am ($) | $1.6 | |||
| US East ($) | $1.8 | |||
Please note that the shipping cost of SFUC is charged by kg, not by CBM or container like traditional sea freight. Because after arriving at the port of the US, unlike traditional sea freight that uses trucks to deliver goods, UPS is responsible for the delivery, while the express is calculated according to kg.
AFUC—Air Freight UPS Combined
Air Freight UPS Combined means that your goods are first delivered by air freight and then UPS is responsible for the local delivery within the United States. It is cheaper than Express but won’t take much longer than the express. Express takes 3-5 working days, air freight takes 4-7, and AFUC takes 11-15.
For the price, you can refer to the table below and contact us to get a real-time quotation.
| US West ($) | Cen.am ($) | US East ($) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 21 KG+ | 5 | 5.2 | 5.3 |
| 51 KG+ | 4.8 | 4.9 | 5 |
| 71 KG+ | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.9 |
| 301 KG+ | 3.9 | 4 | 4.4 |
| 501 KG+ | 3.9 | 4 | 4.3 |
| 1001KG+ | 3.8 | 3.9 | 4.3 |
Though AFUC is not a mainstream shipping method, if there is an urgent replenishment for Amazon FBA or other e-commerce platforms, AFUC can be considered as it’s more cost-effective than express and faster than sea freight.
How Much Does ePacket or Postal Parcel Cost? What Item Is Suitable?
Many people have heard about ePacket or China Postal Parcel, and believe they are the cheapest shipping solution for sending from China to the US. But very few people on the internet have introduced the rough cost for using these methods, and how to use them.
Actually, these two methods are only useful for people who do dropshipping business, because they are cheap but very slow, and only suitable for very small packages.
Shipping Cost from China to the USA by Epacket
When you want to ship a small package that is around 2kg weight, it will cost you $45 to send by FedEx IP. To reduce the cost, ePacket is a better choice, which is an economical International express service of China Postal Express & logistics.
If you have shopped on eBay or Aliexpress, you will know that many Chinese sellers send their cheap Chinese products directly to your doorsteps via ePacket. Now let’s discuss the ePacket delivery costs from China to the United States.
| From China to USA | |
|---|---|
| Fixed Fee /package | $2.17 |
| Charge/weight (g) | $0.009 |
| Starting Weight | 50g |
| Weight Limit | 2000g |
For example, one lipstick with package is 120g, then the total cost is:
$2.17 (Fixed Fee/package) + $0.009 x 120g = $3.25.
If it’s a very small-light item, like a marking pen, which weighs around 35g, then the shipping cost is:
$2.17 + $0.009 x 50g= $2.62.
That is to say, anything less than 50g should still be charged on 50g.
In addition, please pay special attention to the size of the package:
Maximum size: Length + Width +Height <90cm，The longest side ≤ 60cm。If it’s round roll shape, its diameter x 2 + Length ≤ 104cm，and its length ≤ 90cm.
Minimum size: The length ≥14cm，the width ≥11cm。If it’s cylinder shape, its diameter x 2 + Length ≥17cm，and its length ≥ 11cm.
For shipping time, it usually takes you about 8-14 days to receive a package in the US. But in exceptional cases, you may receive nothing after 1-2 months.
ePacket clearance is quick because the goods go through customs in bulk and usually leave the port within 1-2 days. But during the busy seasons, many packages will be stranded at the airport for a long time. In this case, the shipping time will accelerate and may be delayed by 1-2 months. So, the shipping time of the ePacket is very unstable.
Additionally, if the barcode of a package is damaged during transportation, the package will be stranded at the airport, and cannot be tracked in time. Also, it’s quite common that you don’t know where your package is and it gets lost in transit.
What’s more, the official of ePackage says that the average shipping time is 7-10 working days, and China post does not provide any compensation for delays beyond that.
Additionally, according to the regulations of international aviation, these goods can not be shipped: Powder, liquid, flammable and explosive goods, and other dangerous goods, as well as alcohol and tobacco, cash and securities, infringing products, etc.
Despite so many flaws, ePacket offers an economical shipping service and many people are willing to bear the risks to save money. For instance, people who do dropshipping tend to use this shipping method.
Shipping from China to the USA by China Post (For small parcels)
I don’t want to give up this shipping method, though its shipping time is pretty unstable. And unless you have insurance, China post won’t even compensate you if your package is lost. Moreover, it is not the most popular shipping method in China, with only a few e-commerce sellers using it.
For example, if you are from America and want to buy 100 carbon pens from AliExpress or Dhgate. The total weight of your package is about 2kg. You are not in a hurry to receive the goods and think express shipping is costly. Then Postal Parcel will be a good choice.
In this case, even if the package is lost after 1-2 months, since the value of goods was not high, you will not lose a lot.
As for the delivery time, it will take about 1-2 months by sea, one month by air + sea, and 15 days by air. All shipping times do not cover the time spent in customs and China Post would not guarantee delivery time.
For the price of Postal Parcel, you can check out its official website by Google translate. You’ll see the following image and just enter specific information here to get the price.
Note: The maximum shipping volume for post small parcels is 30kg.
If you have a small parcel of low value and ask me what the cheapest shipping from China to the USA is, I’ll say Epacket and China Post Parcel. However, you have to accept the risk of goods lost and long wait.
Over to you:
Hope you get lots of valuable information and inspiration on how to reduce shipping costs and choose a suitable shipping method for your goods through this article. If you are still confused and have any queries, just leave a quick comment below. And feel free to CONTACT US to get the real-time freight rates or help you source and ship your goods.
That was a great, informative article. Thank you!
I saw that you commented below that the shipping costs are ~7x what they used to be pre-pandemic …. such a drag!!!
I am looking for feasible shipping options for shipping from China to Amazon FBA USA. I also left a message on your YouTube channel. With the current container costs it is impossible to ship any products at the moment.
Hi John,
The current sea freight is about US$20,000 per container (40HQ/68m³), which is about 7 times that before the epidemic.
Thanks so much for your free information. Do you know if I purchase materials for a house I am building not for a business do I have to pay a tax or GST at my end, which is Sydney , Australia.
Hi lisa,
Import duty depends on the volume of your goods, I can’t help you to judge the tariff according to the information you provided.
Ship mink lashes are cool
Impressive and powerful suggestion by the author of this blog are really helpful to me.
this is quite good article
EXW vs FOB for 355kg why did supplier add shipping to the invoice for EXW if I am responsible to pay the export costs?
You said , if it is express shipping , we need not to worry about duty payment. But one of the freight agent said , once the goods arrive in USA , Fedex will contact you and you follow their steps and pay for the duty. Could you please explain . Thank you.
Hey Raj, in general, many express freight agents will help you pay the customs duty in advance, you just need to pay the money to your freight agent. If not, the customs duty is not included in shipping cost, that is, your freight agent didn’t pay the customs duty for in advance, you need to pay duty yourself.
Hi, very good article, can you please tell me how much average cost the shipping price for small item..like t shirt, hoodie, pants, etc..I’m stuck to put shipping price in my store. can you help me please.
Hello, John dblend, does the total price of each item of your goods reach $2000? there are many different kinds of shipping methods, you can send more details to our customer service, the email is support01@jingsourcing.com
Hi!
Thanks for the detailed rundown, currently my company is looking to Dropship a new product from Xuzhou to the US. The carton is 54*54*51cm, 15kg weight, and we want to find cheaper shipping alternatives since the shipping that the manufacturer is quoting is very high. Wanted to get more estimates for shipping to compare.
Wanted to check if you would have any possible options for this, thank you!
Hello, Quan Ng, what kind of your goods? and what’s the number of pieces? you can send more details to our customer service, the email is support01@jingsourcing.com
I am looking to ship 11 CBM from China to east USA. Would it be easier to let the supplier arrange the shipping? Like a FOB destination or SFUC? Also, can’t UPS handle the entire transaction from the China port to my location?
Also, on the invoice it says Loading 40’ and under that says 892(PC). What does that mean?
Thanks!
Hello, Jann. You can choose the LCL load, SFUC. the 40′ may mean 40HQ, 892(PC) may mean 892 pieces of your goods. what’s kind of your goods, Jann? you can send an email to our customer service, the email is support01@jingsourcing.com Maybe we can help you import these goods.
Hello, thank you for the article. I am not in an importing business, but do buy from China occasionally for business, usually products for events. Most recent supplier asked if we had an express account. Since we don’t have shipping needs very often, I don’t see that we would qualify for a discount from a shipping provider. You mentioned a freight forwarder or express agent that may have discounts? How do you find a reputable one?
Hello, thanks for your comment! If you have a large number of products to express, we can help you deal with the express issues. we are cooperating with freight forwarders and express agents. we can help you find a reputable one. Our customer service will send an email to contact you soon.
Hi, im looking for services where I dont have to handle part of import and export. (Which i believe i fall under express catefory after reading your writing)
Im new in selling products to US. My products are mainly not sensitive item (no fluid, no lithium).
Could you guide me and list me the shipping price for small item?
Hello, Leon, thanks for your comment, our customer service will contact you soon.
Hello Can you please tell me how much would it cost to ship from China to Fort Worth or Dallas TX a sofa and a loveseat. Regular sizes
Hello, Naomi, our customer service will send you an email, please pay attention to your mail inbox.
Hello , I am working with a company in Yangzhou for hotel related supplies. It will be a lcl quantity but on a regular basis . Am looking for the simplest method on the shipping side . Destination is Miami, Florida. Can someone contact me to work out details. Thanks.
Sure, Willie, Our customer service will send an email to contact you soon today
I have a produc with build in battery. Can i ship it to US with ePacket?
Hi Dragomir, thanks for your inquiry. It can be shipped with epacket. What product do you need to ship? Our service support will email you to help you.
Thanks for putting together this helpful information for people who are in IMPORT&EXPORT business
Our export office is in Xiamen, China
I am interested on SFUC & AFUC shipping for packages from 100 to 3,000 kg.
Please contact me if you like to cooperate with us.
Thanks
Ali
Thanks for your comment, Ali, our customer service will soon send an email to assign our agent to support your shipping need.
One concern, I have seen companies that offer ePacket shipment for liquids like hand sanitizers and shampoo. why is this?
Hi Graciela, thanks for your inquiry. Some freight forward companies can help with liquids shipping. Also our company can help with shipping. Do you need any help with any liquid product shipping?We’ll let our customer service to email you to know more details about your need
how do I calculate an ocean shipment rate for an LCL 20′ container on an order that is 0.6 CBM in total. 200 cartons (each carton 8.75×5.75×4 = 0.003CBM)? thank you in advance.
Hi, for this question, I suggest you ask a freight forwarder to calculate it for you since the quantity is small and choosing a freight forwarder is more economical.
I was just curious how you would calculate the freight for this order based on your chart. If the carton number was 800 how would you calculate? Thank you in advance.
If your goods only have 0.6 CBM, you can only use LCL, and the freight forwarder will quote the price for you. Don’t worry about the size of the container. My suggestion is it will be cheaper to ship the products by express. It is recommended to ship more than 3 CBMS by sea, and the express delivery fee should be 6 to 7 dollars per Kg.
I want to ship from China to Antigua for persons who are buying direct from China, which shipping method do you suggest will be best to use
Hi Steve, it depends on what type of goods and the quantity you’d like to ship. Could you please provide more information so that I can give you suggestion.
Hello, I bought a .925 silver around 26 pieces of bracelet and 5 pieces of earrings and 1 necklace and 1 rosegold bracelet which I bought very cheap. I want to send this to my friend as she wants to use this as a gift to her colleagues and others. Some of the items is my gifts for her. How can I send? Is it prohibited in exporting silver from china to US? The cost of the item is not even reach 400 rmb.
Hi Grace, for these jewels, I recommend you use express or ePacket, but these ways usually take more time.
Thanks for this info. Can you tell me why I’m unable to see same or similar rates on FedEx Calculator? Seems from China yo USA 2 to 3 day delivery is 200 to 300 dollars when i request the rate.
Hi Chris, the price on the FedEx website will be pretty high, so you can turn to find a freight forwarder or agent company. How many goods do you need to deliver? Maybe we can help you.
Hi,
Can you please help me out.
I am ordering some wall paper for my new construction, the cost of the product is $8400., weight 175kg. My supplier seems not very experienced, and keeps asking me what type of trade I prefer, and not knowing how to deliver it to my door. What can I do to help her out.
We had some other supplies from China shipping goods to us by sea, and delivered to door.
Thank you
Hi Lola, we can help you with the shipping. Please submit a ticket and I will ask my workmate to help you.
This article really helped me!
is that so about epacket, so I better order my bulk stock and ship it locally if I choose to market in other countries than.
Is there no other epacket alternative that offers fast and cheap? Any recommendations?
Hi, there is also something like epackets in other countries. Which country do you need to send to? If you want to wholesale from China, we can help you with dropshipping.
Do you also know about shipping from China to germany? Our company ordered for 350kg rosequartz stones, the lady in charge is perfect when it comes down to product details, but unexperienced with shipping, I had to asks for weeks about an insurance, she said: do not worry.. Finally she gave a price: She asks $395 for shipping over see, $173 insurance costs. We are not in a hurry, shipment can take it´s time.. Are we safe do go for it like this and is custom clearance point of attention? Thank you very much in advance for taking your time… Read more »
Hi Marlous, insurance is usually depended on the value of your goods and the shipping way. Could you please tell me your goods’ value and the shipping way you choose so that I could tell whether the price is reasonable or not.
Thank yoi for your reply! Value is $2990 and weight 230kg. Shipping way she can not tell me.. TNT UPS or Fedex. she said…. (even after asking many times ;-)
Hi Marlous, it seems like the freight forwarder charges you around $1 per kilogram, from which I think they may adopt the sea freight. For sea freight, there is no insurance needed. Maybe they will use DHL after the shipping? I suggest you ask your supplier directly to let him honestly tell you the shipping way they choose and how long would it take.
Why is there no insurance needed for sea fright? It´s wonderful, but what is some damage happens? I inquierd again about shipping way and as soon as I know I write you again. I thank you for very much for your attentive response..
Hi Marlous, the insurance fo sea freight will effect only when your goods are lost in the sea. Even if some are damaged, it won’t effect.
tHANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR DETAILED EXPLANATION
You’re welcome Milos, glad to help you.
thanks, perfect
Thanks for your appreciation too.
Thank you so much for this information. You have been very helpful. I did not that you could ship through China post up 30Kg. This info helps a lot. Can ship myself through China Post?
Hello Janet, what kind of products do you want to post? Surely you can use Chinese Post by yourself, while we are glad to help you. If you want to ask us to ship or post for you, welcome to message to our email info@jingsourcing.com.
Hello,
So I am trying to buys some computer cases from a Chinese company but they said that the freight costs are too high to sell the quantity I am looking for. How can I get around this?
Hi Tony, for this question, we can discuss by email. Please check it later.
Hi.
I am importing shoes from China. From different suppliers. I am looking for a freight-forwarding company that can receive goods from different suppliers, combine them in one shipment by sea or the cheapest way and forwards the merchandise to me in NY. About 150-200 pairs of shoes in boxes.
Please advise.
Thank you.
Regards.
Hi Evrard, for this question, we will message you soon, please look to your email.
This information was more than just helpful! great work!
i have a question: i studied customs in the university and i remember that the goods may be subject for declaration if the party comprised of the same products (for example 500 socks of the same color) even if they are under 800$. Is it the same for the US law? Thank you!
xiexie Peng you!
Hi， what you point out is special. Actually, most products import to the US is free from duties if the value is under $800, except for a few products that subject to declaration in order to anti-dumping.
Thanks for this super detailed post!! I am starting a fashion/jewelry e-commerce here in the US, and have ordered a few samples from Chinese suppliers. So far, the suppliers didn’t ask me a thing about my company. I just gave them my name, address and phone number and paid the order. They used DHL and UPS for the delivery. A few samples already arrived and I haven’t received a note from the US customs. I just want to make sure I am doing everything right. Is there a document I should provide to the supplier or shipping company in order… Read more »
Hi, Lucie，customs clearance is under the courier and the express company’s duty. They will handle the customs documents all by themselves. So normally, all you have to do is make sure the address and your number are correct, and wait at home for your parcel. Next time, if you are ordering a larger quantity of goods, express may not a good choice for you. You will have to ship your goods by sea or by air, then it is quite important for you to hire an experienced freight forwarder, who will handle the customs and shipment from A to Z.… Read more »
Thank you Jing for the valuable tips! I am starting small to test the market so will probably use the express a couple times before scaling and using freight, as you suggested.
When you said express and courrier take care of the custom’s clearance does it mean they pay for the duties if any? If no, will I receive a notification to pay for them AFTER I received the packages?
Usually, you should discuss with your supplier about which party to pay for the duties. If the supplier agrees to pay the duties, all you have to do is to receive your parcel without any charges. If your supplier refuses to take charge of the duties, meanwhile the value of your parcel value reaches the tariff threshold, then you just have to pay for the duties when you receiving the parcel. What’s more, the goods under $800 is free from duties, if your goods worth much more than $800, you can request your supplier to deliver your goods in several… Read more »
Oh so there are no duties/tariffs on goods under 800$ right? (please correct me if I am wrong).
thanks so much!!!
Yes, there are no duties on goods under $800 to the USA.
Thanks, Jing, you’re awesome!
You are welcome. Good luck with your business, if you need any help, feel free to contact us by info@jingsourcing.com
Thank you for all the info. I have a supplier who quoted me “FOB$2.95/pc and separately stated other costs Freight:$675(by air) $280(by sea) GW: 20Kg. I thought FOB cost included everything, why state the additional freight cost? Since its a small shipment (20kg) what do you recommend? Please help thanks!
Hi, thanks for the comment. It is wise of you to asking us the question but not just follow the supplier’s suggestion. First of all, the supplier is not experienced either at arranging shipment to other countries nor at international trading. It is common as a lot of suppliers especially the suppliers on Alibaba are new to exporting goods. Goods of 20kg are of small quantity, express is the best solution for you, you can find an express like FedEx, UPS, and DHL. Indeed, there is no FOB involved in the express. All you have to do is to pay… Read more »
Thank you for your so detailed guidance! im a newbie in importing goods, and some confused in choosing which delivery method for my cargo, now feeling some clear but still need you guys’ help. Looking forward to your hear your professional suggestions!
Hi Andrew, there are different delivery methods for different goods. Usually you can choose express, air freight and sea freight , depending on the weight and cbm of your goods. For more detail suggestion, pls contact us at https://jingsourcing.com/submit-ticket/.
I‘d like to consult the sea freight，let me know if I can submit request on your product sourcing page. Thanks，jing，all details in this guide help me a lot.
Of course, Christopher! You can also email us, info@jingsourcing.com. When will you shipping goods? We will consult the shipping company about the real-time price on your behalf. Look forward to helping you later.