Booking & Pickup
Ocean 1–2 days
Air 1–2 days
If you’ve Googled “cheapest shipping to China” or “how long does shipping from China to US take”, you may find plenty of outdated blog posts.
The CSL team built this engine from 15+ years of China–US shipping experience and our own shipment records. It uses real rates and real transit times from cargo we’ve actually moved on China–US lanes. Answer four questions about cargo type, size and destination. The engine compares live 2026 market rates for express, air, ocean LCL and FCL, then recommends the best fit with cost ranges and the reason for the recommendation.
Fill in weight, volume, cargo type and destination above to get a recommendation.
Sensitive cargo (batteries, liquids, powders, chemicals or food) needs DG handling and cannot be priced automatically. Rates depend on the cargo class, MSDS and carrier approval, so each shipment is quoted separately.
Request a quoteChoose an origin port in China and a destination port in the US — the map traces the sailing route while the card shows 2026 market rates and realistic transit times based on current sailing schedules.
How long to ship from China to US ports depends mostly on where you land: West Coast ports (LA, Long Beach, Seattle) cross the Pacific in 14–25 days, while East Coast and Gulf ports (New York, Savannah, Houston) route via Panama, adding 10–15 days and 20–30% to the cost.
Pick an origin airport in China and a destination gateway in the US to compare air freight from China to USA per-kilo rates across the three standard weight breaks.
West Coast gateways (LAX, SFO, Seattle) are served by direct all-cargo flights and clear in 1–3 days; Midwest and East Coast hubs (Chicago, Dallas, New York, Atlanta) run 2–5 days.
One rule to remember before comparing: air freight bills on chargeable weight — one CBM is billed as 167 kg.
Ocean 1–2 days
Air 1–2 days
Ocean 1–2 days
Air Same day
Ocean 14–45 days
Air 1–5 days
Ocean 1–3 days
Air 1 day
Ocean 1–7 days
Air 1–3 days
Freight is only half your landed cost. For goods from China, US import duties stack in layers — the total is often 3–5 times the base rate. Here’s what changed in 2026 and what it costs you:
The honest answer: it depends — but not mysteriously. Ninety percent of your price is explained by four variables: mode, volume, destination coast, and the week you book. Below are 2026 market reference rates from our own China–US lane data, so you can double-check any quote before you commit to it:
| Shipping Mode | Billing Unit | 2026 Reference Rate | What You Should Know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean FCL — 20GP | Per container | $3,100 – $4,300 | Port-to-port. West Coast discharge is cheaper. East Coast and Gulf ports cost $800–$1,500 more per container because those routes pass through the Panama Canal. |
| Ocean FCL — 40GP | Per container | $5,500 – $8,300 | The most common container. Below ~13–15 CBM of cargo, LCL usually wins; above that line, book the full box. |
| Ocean FCL — 40HQ | Per container | $5,600 – $8,400 | Same slot price as a 40GP with ~15% more cubic volume — the best per-CBM value for light, bulky cargo. |
| Ocean LCL | Per CBM | $105 – $130 all-in | W/M: 1 CBM = 1,000 kg, whichever is greater. Includes origin consolidation and destination CFS handling. |
| Air freight | Per kg (chargeable) | $3.60 – $7.00 | Airport-to-airport. One CBM bills as 167 kg. Rates step down at the +100 / +300 / +500 kg weight breaks. |
| Express courier | Per kg (chargeable) | $4.50 – $12.00 | Door-to-door in 3–6 days. One CBM bills as 200 kg. Parcels under 21 kg pay an extra per-box charge. |
| Sea DDP line | Per kg | $2.20 – $2.80 | All-in door-to-door: duty, clearance and delivery included. Nothing to pay on arrival. 13–35 days. |
| Air DDP line | Per kg | $6.50 – $7.50 | All-in door-to-door with duty and clearance included. The 6–12 day mid-speed option between air and courier. |
Current carrier spot offers for China–US and China–Canada FCL cargo. Rates are per container in USD and remain subject to space, equipment, carrier terms and final written confirmation.
Yantian (YT) · ETD Oct 8
| Destination | Rate | Equipment | Routing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Los Angeles (LAX) | $6,250 | 40HQ | Direct |
| Dallas | $8,900 | 40HQ | Via LAX |
| Joliet | $9,250 | 40HQ | Via LAX |
| Kansas City | $9,000 | 40HQ | Via LAX |
| Salt Lake City | $9,000 | 40HQ | Via LAX |
| Memphis | $9,550 | 40HQ | Via LAX |
Yantian (YT) · ETD Oct 10
| Destination | Rate | Equipment | Routing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minneapolis | $7,200 / $8,950 | 20GP / 40HQ | Via Vancouver |
| Indianapolis | $7,700 / $9,600 | 20GP / 40HQ | Via Vancouver / Prince Rupert |
| Detroit | $7,500 / $9,300 | 20GP / 40HQ | Via Vancouver / Prince Rupert |
| Chicago | $7,150 / $8,950 | 20GP / 40HQ | Via Vancouver / Prince Rupert |
Shanghai, Ningbo and Yantian origins · October 2026 space offers
| Origin | ETD | Destination | Rate | Equipment | Carrier / Terms |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Oct 7 / Oct 11 | Los Angeles / Oakland | $5,100 / $6,900 | 20GP / 40HQ | MSK · locked rate |
| Shanghai | Oct 3 | Memphis | $9,200 | 40HQ | OOCL · locked rate |
| Shanghai | Oct 3 / Oct 6 | New York | $8,600 | 40HQ | ONE / HPL · locked rate · no weight limit |
| Shanghai | Oct 6 | Norfolk | $8,600 | 40HQ | HPL · locked rate · no weight limit |
| Shanghai | Oct 6 | Houston | $9,100 | 40HQ | ONE · locked rate · no weight limit |
| Shanghai | Oct 8 | Charleston | $6,800 | 20GP | YML · SOC |
| Shanghai | Oct 8 | Atlanta | $7,300 | 20GP | YML · SOC |
| Shanghai | Oct 8 | Charlotte | $6,800 | 20GP | YML · SOC |
| Shanghai | Oct 5 | Detroit | $9,500 | 40HQ | HPL · SOC · locked rate |
| Shanghai | Oct 5 | Chicago | $9,100 | 40HQ | HPL · locked rate |
| Shanghai | Oct 4 | Dallas | $8,100 | 40HQ | YML · SOC · locked rate · space available |
| Shanghai | Oct 1 | Los Angeles | $6,300 | 40HQ SOC | Space available |
| Shanghai | Oct 3 | Houston | $8,900 | 40HQ | Space available |
| Shanghai | Oct 1 | Chicago | $8,500 | 40HQ | Space available |
| Shanghai | Oct 2 | New York | $8,600 | 40HQ | Space available |
| Shanghai | Sep 29 | Detroit | $9,100 | 40HQ | Space available |
| Ningbo | Oct 6 | Memphis | $8,600 | 40HQ | Space available |
| Yantian | Oct 2 | New York | $8,500 | 40HQ | Space available |
Pair prices are shown in the order provided by the carrier. Verify the latest sailing, equipment availability and all applicable origin, destination and accessorial charges before booking.
These are reference rates, not a price list. Ocean and air rates move weekly. The rate on your written quote is the one that applies to your shipment. Four factors drive most of the price movement:
The market rate for the move itself: a container slot (FCL), per-CBM (LCL) or chargeable kg (air). This is the number most people quote — and only one part of the bill.
Fuel (BAF), peak season (PSS), congestion and GRI increases, security and documentation fees. Budget 15–30% on top of base freight — more in Q4 peak season.
Terminal handling (THC), pickup and export clearance in China; destination THC, unloading and port fees in the US — billed per container or per CBM, whichever carrier you pick.
Duty and tariff stack (see our tariff guide), brokerage, bond, MPF/HMF — then trucking to the door or Amazon FBA. Bundled into DDP rates; itemized on FCL.
Transit time varies by mode and service. A “18-day” service means 18 days on the water, not 18 days to your door. The table compares port or airport transit with door-to-door transit for each major mode:
| Shipping Mode | Transit time (Port / Airport) | Door to Door | Watch Out For |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ocean FCL — West Coast | 11–21 days sailing | 13–28 days | Voyage from major Chinese ports is around 14–18 days. Express vessels from Shanghai / Shenzhen / Ningbo run 11–13 days. |
| Ocean FCL — East Coast | 25–45 days | 29–48 days | Via Panama. West Coast discharge plus trucking or IPI rail reaches doors in about 20–30 days, making it ideal for time-sensitive cargo. |
| Ocean LCL | +3–7 days vs FCL | 25–45 days | Consolidation at origin and deconsolidation at the destination CFS add roughly a week on each side. |
| Air freight | 1–3 days (WC) · 2–5 days (EC) | 5–10 days | Flight capacity and customs staffing move the number more than distance does. |
| Express courier | — | 3–6 days | Fastest door-to-door. Per-box limit sits around 65 kg — heavier cartons must fly or sail. |
| Sea DDP line | — | 13–35 days | Duty paid at booking; no separate clearance step for you. |
| Air DDP line | — | 6–12 days | Clears and delivers to the door — the fast option when courier is too expensive and ocean is too slow. |
One decision matters more than any other on ocean freight: direct vs transshipment. Direct sailings from Shanghai, Shenzhen or Ningbo to LA run 14–18 days on the water. Services that transship via Busan or Kaohsiung save $100–$300 per box, but they add 3–7 days and a missed-connection risk.
For East Coast cargo, compare all-water service via Panama with West Coast discharge plus IPI rail. The rail route often reaches inland doors a full week sooner. Door-to-door transport has four stages:
| Stage | Ocean FCL | Air Freight | What Can Delay It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pickup & origin handling | 2–5 days | 1–2 days | Container or flight space availability, factory readiness, booking cut-offs. |
| Transit time (Sea / Air) | 14–45 days by route | 1–5 days | Compare direct and transshipment services. For East Coast cargo, compare all-water service via Panama with West Coast discharge plus rail. |
| US customs clearance | 1–3 days | Same day – 2 days | ISF is due 72 hours before loading. A customs exam (X-ray or intensive) adds 3–10 days. |
| Release & final delivery | 3–7 days | 1–3 days | Chassis and trucker availability, port appointment slots (LA / Long Beach) and warehouse booking can delay release. |
Where your container lands changes both the clock and the bill. Six gateways handle the vast majority of China–US container volume, and Los Angeles/Long Beach is the biggest US port for China trade. Most of those boxes land there. Transit times below are port-to-port from Shanghai; pick your own origin in the matrix above.
Two main routes handle nearly all ocean freight. The North Pacific route serves the West Coast, and the Panama Canal route serves the East and Gulf coasts. Use the selector to compare transit time and coverage for each gateway.
Six major gateways handle most China-US container freight. Select a port to compare its role, transit time and inland reach, or click a point on the map.
Fastest door delivery for the western US and Southwest.
Bay Area and Northern California doors.
Upper Midwest and Pacific Northwest distribution.
The Northeast consumer market and New York/New Jersey doors.
Southeast distribution with deep rail reach into the interior.
Texas, Mexico-border logistics and industrial supply chains.
From FCL to air freight to Amazon FBA prep, we handle every step of your China-to-USA supply chain with transparent pricing and zero hidden fees.
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