Shipping from Chinato the USAShipping times and freight costs

Shipping Cost from China to US

Freight rates determine how much it will cost to transport cargo from one point to another. The rate is determined by the type of goods being shipped, the mode of transport, the dimensional weight of the cargo, and the distance to the delivery destination.

This graphic guide to freight rates from China to US leverages advanced data from a variety of real time sources to give you a better understanding of what it costs to get your goods from China to the US.

Other factors impacting freight rates include seasonality, current events (ahem…COVID-19), and capacity.

Keep reading to find easy to understand charts outlining the current average rates for:

Ocean Freight from China to the US

Ocean Freight FCL

FCL, or full container load, means your goods fill an entire container, either 20’ or 40’ long. If you are shipping at a high volume, you’ll save time and money by shipping FCL. Pricing for FCL is done as a flat rate, regardless of whether or not your container is completely full.

Learn more about FCL here.

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Ocean Freight LCL

LCL, or less than a container load, means your goods do not fill an entire container, and will be shipped along with other boxes or pallets. Note that when you ship LCL, your goods will need to be consolidated at the origin port and deconsolidated at the destination port.

That’s why LCL shipping takes a few days longer than FCL.

Air Freight from China to the US

Air cargo shipping cost from China to USA per kg

Shipping by air is generally faster but more expensive than shipping by ocean, so the mode you choose will depend on the size and weight of your shipment, and how quickly you need it to arrive at destination.

For help choosing which mode is right for your shipment, use our air vs. ocean comparison calculator.

Shipping from China to USA transit time

Ocean, Air and Express freight transit time from China to the US

How long will it take to ship from China to US?

Your shipment’s transit time will be impacted by location, shipment size, and season. Transit times aren’t always the same. Depending on market conditions, acts of nature, and other occurrences, freight shipments may be delayed.

Use the following table for timing estimates for each shipping mode from China to the US.