Shipping cost
How much does it cost to ship from China to the USA?
The ocean or air rate is only one line on the bill. Here is every charge that makes up a real landed cost, which ones move, and what you can do about them.
- Biggest variable
- Duty and tariffs
- Freight rates change
- Weekly
- Our quote turnaround
- Within 24 hours
Updated
Why we don't publish a price list
Ocean rates on China–US lanes move every week with carrier capacity, fuel prices and the season, and more than once in the past decade they've multiplied within a single year. Duty depends on exactly what you're shipping. A published price would be wrong for most shipments within a month.
What we can do is explain every component, so you can read any quote — ours or anyone else's — and see what is and isn't included.
The charges that make up your landed cost
| Charge | What it is | How it’s calculated |
|---|---|---|
| Origin trucking | Collecting from your supplier to the port, airport or warehouse | Per trip, by distance and truck size |
| Export customs | The Chinese export declaration | Per shipment |
| Origin terminal charges | Terminal handling, documents, seals and port fees in China | Per container, or per CBM for LCL |
| International freight | The ocean or air leg, with fuel and carrier surcharges | Per container, per CBM, or per chargeable kg |
| ISF filing | Mandatory security filing for ocean imports | Per shipment |
| Customs brokerage | Filing the US customs entry | Per entry |
| Customs bond | A guarantee to US Customs that duties will be paid | Per entry, or annually |
| Import duty | The standard duty set by the product’s HTS code | Percentage of declared value |
| Section 301 tariffs | Additional tariffs on many goods made in China | Percentage of declared value, on top of duty |
| MPF | Merchandise Processing Fee | Small percentage of value, with a set minimum and maximum |
| HMF | Harbor Maintenance Fee, ocean shipments only | 0.125% of value |
| Destination charges | US terminal handling, chassis, and LCL deconsolidation | Per container or per CBM |
| Final delivery | Trucking from the port or airport to your address | By distance; more for liftgate or residential |
Duty and tariffs: usually the biggest variable
For many products, duty and tariffs cost more than the freight. Three things decide the amount:
- HTS classification. Every product has a 10-digit Harmonized Tariff Schedule code, and the duty rate is tied to it. Products that look alike can fall under different codes — a cotton T-shirt and a polyester one, for example, carry different rates.
- Customs value. Duty is a percentage of the transaction value, normally what you paid your supplier. Under-declaring it to reduce duty is customs fraud, and US Customs does check.
- Origin and additional tariffs. Goods made in China may carry Section 301 tariffs and other additional duties on top of the standard rate. These have changed repeatedly since 2018, which is why we confirm the rate for your HTS code at the time of booking.
Read more in our guide to US customs clearance.
What makes a shipment more expensive
- Season. Rates usually rise from late summer into autumn as retailers ship for the holidays, and again in the weeks before Chinese New Year as factories rush to ship before they close.
- Light, bulky cargo. You pay for space. Oversized packaging, or furniture shipped assembled when it could ship flat, costs you volume.
- Remote pickup. A factory far from the coast adds trucking time and cost.
- Restricted goods. Batteries, liquids and magnets cost more to fly and need extra paperwork.
- Special delivery needs. Residential addresses, liftgates, inside delivery and appointments all add to final-mile cost.
- Delays at destination. If a container isn't collected within the terminal's free time, storage and demurrage charges build up daily.
Seven ways to lower your shipping cost
- Consolidate suppliers. Combining orders from several factories into one shipment spreads the fixed charges — export filing, ISF, customs entry, delivery — across more goods.
- Cross the LCL-to-FCL line deliberately. At 12 CBM, adding a few cartons to fill a 20-foot container can bring the cost per unit down.
- Shrink your cartons. On air freight especially, a few centimetres off each dimension can cut the chargeable weight significantly.
- Book ahead of peak season. Shipping in August for fourth-quarter sales avoids the steepest rates and the tightest space.
- Get the HTS code right. The goal isn't the lowest rate — it's not overpaying and not risking penalties. Some products may also qualify for exclusions from Section 301 tariffs.
- Split the mode. Fly only what you need immediately and send the rest by sea.
- Keep your receiving dock ready. Storage and detention at US ports are some of the most avoidable costs in the whole chain.
How to get an accurate quote
The more of this you can send, the closer the first quote will be to the final invoice:
- Product description, and the HTS code if you know it
- Commercial value of the goods
- Number of cartons, carton dimensions and gross weight — or total CBM and weight
- Supplier’s address or city in China
- Delivery ZIP code, and whether it’s a business, residential or Amazon FBA address
- When the goods will be ready
- Anything unusual: batteries, liquids, oversized items
Send us these details and we'll come back with an all-in price within one working day.
FAQ
Shipping cost: common questions
The questions importers ask us before the first booking. If yours is not here, ask us directly — a real coordinator replies, not an auto-responder.
What is the cheapest way to ship from China to the USA?
For anything over about 2 cubic metres, ocean freight — LCL for smaller volumes, FCL once you reach roughly 15 CBM. For small parcels, express or air can be cheaper once minimum charges are taken into account.
Why is a DDP quote higher than the freight rates I see online?
Rates advertised online are usually port-to-port ocean freight only. A DDP quote also includes pickup, both customs clearances, duties, tariffs, port charges and delivery to your door.
Are tariffs included in a DDP quote?
Yes. Import duty, Section 301 tariffs and any other additional duties that apply to your product are included in a DDP price.
How much duty will I pay on goods from China?
It depends on the product. Standard duty ranges from zero to over 30% depending on the HTS code, and many Chinese-made goods carry Section 301 tariffs on top. Send us the product details and we’ll look up the current rate.
Do you charge for a quote?
No. Quotes are free, and we aim to reply within one working day.