The cheapest way to ship from China depends mostly on how big your shipment is. Express courier is usually cheapest for small parcels, air freight for urgent cartons, a shared container (LCL) from about 2 cubic metres, and a full container (FCL) once the volume is large enough for the route. Below we explain where each option wins, the hidden costs that make cheap quotes expensive, and seven practical ways to cut your freight bill.
Key points
• There is no single cheapest method. The right choice depends on volume, weight, deadline and destination.
• Sea freight is the cheapest per kilo for almost anything above a few hundred kilos, but it has fixed charges that make it poor value for very small shipments.
• Air and express prices are based on chargeable weight, so light but bulky goods cost more than you expect.
• The lowest freight quote is not always the lowest total cost. Compare the price to your door, including customs and destination charges.
The cheapest way to ship from China, by shipment size
| Shipment size | Usually cheapest | Door-to-door time | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under about 20 kg | Express courier | 3–7 days | No minimum charges at origin or destination, door to door in one price |
| About 20–100 kg | Express or air freight (compare both) | 3–10 days | Express rates per kilo fall with weight; air freight starts to compete around 100 kg |
| About 100–500 kg, urgent | Air freight | 5–10 days | Lower price per kilo than express for heavier cartons |
| About 2–13 CBM | Sea freight, shared container (LCL) | 30–60 days | You pay only for the space you use |
| About 13–28 CBM | LCL or a 20ft container (compare both) | 25–60 days | The cheaper option depends on the route; a container is faster |
| About 28 CBM and more | Sea freight, full container (FCL) | 25–55 days | Lowest cost per unit; a 40ft usually costs only a little more than a 20ft |
CBM means cubic metres; see how to calculate CBM. Times are typical door-to-door ranges from South China to the USA, Canada, the UK and Europe. Not sure of your volume? Use our freight calculator to work out CBM and chargeable weight from your carton sizes.
Why sea freight is cheapest per unit, and when it is not
A container ship carries thousands of containers, so the cost of moving one carton across the ocean is very low. That is why most importers move their main stock by sea. Read more about sea freight from China.
But sea freight also has fixed charges that do not depend on size: export customs, document fees, port handling, import customs and the final delivery truck. For a shipment of one or two cartons, these fixed costs can be higher than an express courier price. As a rough guide, sea freight starts to save money once you ship more than about 1–2 cubic metres or a few hundred kilos.
Between LCL and FCL, the turning point depends on the route. Below about 13 cubic metres LCL is almost always cheaper; between about 13 and 28 cubic metres, compare both prices. A full container is faster because it skips consolidation, and safer because your goods are not handled with other cargo.
Cheap air freight from China: when it makes sense
Air freight costs more per kilo than sea, but it can still be the cheapest choice overall when time matters. See air freight vs sea freight for a side-by-side comparison. Money tied up in stock on a ship for six weeks, lost sales during a stock-out and storage fees can all cost more than the difference in freight. See air freight from China.
Air freight and express are priced on chargeable weight: the higher of the actual weight and the volume weight. For air freight, one cubic metre counts as about 167 kg; for express it usually counts as 200 kg. So a large carton of pillows costs far more to fly than a small carton of metal parts of the same weight. If your goods are light and bulky, sea freight saves more.
A common money-saving plan is to split the order: fly a small part to keep selling, and send the rest by sea.
Cheapest way to ship from China to the USA, UK and Canada
USA. Sea freight to the West Coast (Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland) is usually the cheapest route, even for goods going further inland by rail. Remember to budget for US import duties on Chinese goods, which can be larger than the freight itself. See shipping from China to the USA and import duties from China to the USA.
UK. Sea freight to Felixstowe or Southampton is the cheapest option for most cargo. Rail to the EU with a truck to the UK costs more than sea but much less than air, and takes about 30–40 days. See shipping from China to the UK.
Canada. Sea freight to Vancouver is cheapest for British Columbia. For Ontario and Quebec, a West Coast port plus rail is usually cheaper and faster than an all-water route to the East Coast. See shipping from China to Canada.
Current rates by method
Main freight from South China in November 2026, before customs, duties and delivery:
| Method | USA (West Coast) | United Kingdom | Canada (Vancouver) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Express, per kg | $12–16 | $8–12 | $13–17 |
| Air freight, per kg | $6.8–8.5 | $4.5–6.5 | $6.5–8.5 |
| Sea LCL, per CBM | $120–150 | $60–90 | $140–190 |
| Sea 20ft container | $6,800–8,000 | $2,100–2,600 | $7,000–8,300 |
| Sea 40ft container | $7,600–8,500 | $3,550–4,050 | $8,400–9,800 |
Rates change every week. For details, see shipping cost to the USA, to the UK and container shipping costs.
Example: one shipment, three options
Say you have 15 cartons of 50 × 40 × 40 cm, 12 kg each, going to Los Angeles: 180 kg and 1.2 CBM in total.
| Option | How it is charged | Freight | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Express | Chargeable weight: 1.2 CBM × 200 = 240 kg (higher than 180 kg) | 240 kg × $12–16 | 3–7 days |
| Air freight | Chargeable weight: 1.2 CBM × 167 = about 200 kg | 200 kg × $6.8–8.5, plus origin and destination charges | 5–10 days |
| Sea LCL | 1.2 CBM, but most LCL services have a minimum charge | Minimum charge plus origin and destination charges | 30–40 days |
At this size the three options can be closer than you expect, because the fixed charges of sea freight weigh heavily on a small shipment. Double the volume and sea LCL usually wins clearly. Send us your carton details and we will price all three.
Hidden costs that make cheap shipping expensive
A very low freight quote often leaves out costs you will pay later. Before you choose, check whether the price includes:
- Destination charges. Terminal handling, delivery orders and unpacking fees for LCL can add a lot if they are not in the quote.
- Customs clearance and duties. Import duty and VAT or GST are charged on arrival unless you ship DDP.
- Storage and demurrage. If paperwork is late, the port or warehouse charges for every extra day. See how to avoid demurrage and detention.
- Final delivery. Some quotes stop at the port. Trucking to your door or an Amazon warehouse is extra.
- Re-delivery and waiting time. Missed delivery appointments and long unloading times can be charged again.
A DDP quote includes freight, customs, duties and delivery in one price, so it is easier to compare. Read DDP vs DAP: who pays what.
7 ways to lower your shipping cost from China
- Combine suppliers. Collect goods from several factories and ship them together in one LCL or FCL shipment instead of several small ones. See our China consolidation services.
- Pack efficiently. Smaller cartons, less empty space and stackable packaging cut volume, and volume is what you pay for.
- Book early. Two to three weeks ahead gives you more choice of sailings and prices.
- Avoid peak times. Prices often rise from August to November and just before Chinese New Year.
- Choose the right port. In South China, Yantian, Shekou and Nansha often have different prices for the same route.
- Check the Incoterm. Under EXW you pay for pickup and export; under FOB your supplier does. Compare the total, not only the product price (see FOB vs EXW).
- Fill a container when you can. If you are already paying for a full container, filling it with a little more stock lowers the cost per unit.
A real example: combining suppliers
A US furniture importer bought from three factories in and around Shenzhen. Instead of shipping each order on its own, we collected the goods, held them at our warehouse while one late factory finished, and shipped everything together in one full container to Los Angeles. The goods reached the customer’s warehouse 38 days after the first pickup, with one set of export, customs and delivery charges instead of three. See shipping from multiple suppliers.
How to compare freight quotes
Ask every forwarder to quote the same thing: the same pickup address, delivery address, volume, weight and Incoterm. Then compare the total price to your door, the transit time and what is not included. A quote that is much lower than the others usually leaves something out. Need a quote to compare? Send us your shipment details.
Cheapest way to ship from China: FAQ
What is the cheapest way to ship from China?
For small parcels under about 20 kg, express courier. For shipments from about 2 cubic metres, sea freight in a shared container (LCL). Between about 13 and 28 cubic metres, compare LCL with a full container (FCL); above that, a full container is usually the cheapest per unit.
Is sea freight always cheaper than air freight?
Per kilo, yes. For very small shipments, no: the fixed charges of sea freight at both ends can cost more than air or express. Sea freight usually starts to save money above about 1–2 cubic metres.
What is the cheapest way to ship from China to the UK?
Sea freight to Felixstowe or Southampton for most cargo. If sea is too slow, rail to the EU with a truck to the UK is a cheaper alternative to air.
What is the cheapest way to ship from China to Canada?
Sea freight to Vancouver or Prince Rupert. For Ontario and Quebec, a West Coast port plus rail is usually the cheapest door-to-door option.
How can I make shipping from China cheaper?
Combine goods from several suppliers, pack to reduce volume, book two to three weeks ahead, avoid peak season and compare total door-to-door prices, not only the freight line.
Is it cheaper to ship to the US West Coast or East Coast?
The West Coast is usually cheaper for ocean freight. For buyers in the Midwest and South, West Coast plus rail or truck is often cheapest overall; for the Northeast, compare both.
Is DDP more expensive than shipping and clearing customs myself?
The quote is higher because it includes duties, customs and delivery, but the total landed cost is often similar, and DDP removes surprise charges at destination.
Planning the schedule too? See shipping time from China to the USA, to the UK and to Canada.
Shipping lithium batteries or battery-powered products? Read how to ship batteries from China.
Shipping before the holiday? See the Chinese New Year 2027 shipping deadlines.
Checked on November 4, 2026. Size thresholds are general guides; the cheapest option for your cargo depends on the route, season and product. We compare options for each shipment. Ask for a quote.
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