In November 2026, the cost to ship a 40ft container from China is about $7,600–8,500 to the US West Coast, $9,700–11,000 to the US East Coast, $8,400–9,800 to Vancouver and $3,550–4,050 to the UK. Below you will find 20ft and 40ft rates by destination, a price comparison chart, what fits in each container, what changes the price, a real shipment and how to book. We update the rates every month.
Key points
• North America is the most expensive route: a 40ft to the US or Canada costs about two to three times the price to Europe.
• A 40ft container usually costs only 10–25% more than a 20ft but holds about twice as much, so it is often cheaper per unit.
• These are main sea freight rates. Origin charges, customs, duties and delivery are extra unless you book door to door or DDP.
• Rates change weekly. Send your details and we reply with today’s price within 2 hours.
Container shipping cost from China by destination
| Destination (November 2026) | 20ft container | 40ft container | Sea transit, port to port |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA – West Coast (Los Angeles, Long Beach) | about $6,800–8,000 | about $7,600–8,500 | 14–20 days |
| USA – East Coast (New York, Savannah) | on request | about $9,700–11,000 | 30–40 days |
| Canada – Vancouver | about $7,000–8,300 | about $8,400–9,800 | 14–20 days |
| Canada – Toronto / Montreal (with rail) | on request | about $9,500–11,500 | 24–40 days |
| United Kingdom | about $2,100–2,600 | about $3,550–4,050 | 35–45 days |
| North Europe (Rotterdam, Hamburg, Antwerp) | about $2,100–2,600 | about $3,600–4,100 | 30–40 days |
| Mediterranean (Genoa, Valencia) | on request | about $4,200–4,700 | 28–38 days |
Rates are for the main sea freight from South China (Yantian, Shekou, Nansha) to the port named, for general cargo. Rates change every week. Send us your shipment details and we reply with today’s price within 2 hours. To see which South China port suits your supplier, read our guides to Yantian, Shekou and Nansha.
Container price comparison chart
40ft container, main sea freight from South China, November 2026. Bars show the middle of each range.
Detailed guides: shipping cost from China to the USA and shipping cost from China to the UK.
20ft vs 40ft vs 40ft high cube: which container do you need?
| Container | Inside size (L × W × H) | Usable volume | Standard pallets | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20ft (20GP) | 5.9 × 2.35 × 2.39 m | about 25–28 CBM | about 10 | Heavy goods such as tiles, machinery and metal parts |
| 40ft (40GP) | 12.0 × 2.35 × 2.39 m | about 55–58 CBM | about 20 | Large orders of general cargo |
| 40ft high cube (40HQ) | 12.0 × 2.35 × 2.69 m | about 65–68 CBM | about 20, stacked higher | Light, bulky goods such as furniture, textiles and plastics |
The usable volume is lower than the inside volume because cartons never fill every gap. Heavy cargo often reaches the weight limit before the container is full, which is why a 20ft is common for heavy goods. Not sure how much you have? Use our freight cost calculator or read how to calculate CBM.
Container, LCL or air?
| Total volume | Usually the best option |
|---|---|
| Under about 2 CBM | Air freight or express |
| About 2–15 CBM | LCL (shared container) |
| About 15–28 CBM | 20ft container (compare with LCL near 15 CBM) |
| About 28–58 CBM | 40ft container |
| About 58–68 CBM of light goods | 40ft high cube |
See LCL shipping from China and FCL vs LCL sea freight from China.
What changes the price of a container
- Route. Asia–North America has been the most expensive lane in 2026. Asia–Europe is cheaper but can move quickly from month to month.
- Season. Prices often rise from August to November and before Chinese New Year, when everyone ships at once.
- Surcharges. Fuel, peak-season and congestion surcharges are added by carriers and can change at short notice.
- Origin and destination port. Main ports are cheaper than smaller ones. Inland cities add rail or truck costs.
- Cargo type. Dangerous goods, overweight containers and refrigerated cargo cost more. Oversized cargo needs special equipment; see oversized cargo shipping.
- Booking time. Booking two to three weeks ahead gives more choice of sailings and prices.
When container rates usually rise
| Period | What happens | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 4–6 weeks before Chinese New Year | Factories rush to ship before the holiday; space gets tight and rates often rise | Book early and plan for factories closing for 2–4 weeks |
| Around Golden Week (early October) | A one-week national holiday in China; shipments bunch up before and after it | Ship before the holiday or wait until the week after |
| August to November | Peak season for Western holiday stock; general rate increases and peak-season surcharges are common | Book two to three weeks ahead and confirm how long the quote is valid |
| Strikes, congestion or route changes | Carriers add surcharges or change schedules at short notice | Keep some buffer in delivery dates and ask about alternative ports |
For holiday dates, see China public holidays 2027 and Chinese New Year 2027 shipping deadlines.
Port to port vs door to door: what the rate includes
The rates on this page are for the main sea freight. A full container from a factory in China to your warehouse also includes:
- In China: trucking the container to your factory, export customs and terminal handling.
- At destination: terminal handling, import customs, duties and taxes, and trucking or rail to your warehouse.
Ask every forwarder to quote door to door so you can compare like with like. With DDP, duties and taxes are included too. Our quotation checklist lists what to send, and our DDP checklist what to confirm before booking.
Extra container charges to watch for
- Demurrage and detention: daily charges when a container stays at the port, or away from it, beyond the free days. See demurrage and detention.
- Chassis, pre-pull and storage fees in the USA when a container cannot be delivered straight away.
- Overweight surcharges when a container exceeds road or carrier weight limits.
- Waiting time if the truck waits too long at the factory during loading or at your warehouse during unloading.
- Customs exam fees if the container is selected for inspection.
Example: cost per unit in a full 40ft container
Say you ship 1,000 cartons of 0.06 CBM each (60 CBM) in a 40ft high cube to Los Angeles, with 20 units per carton. With sea freight of about $7,600–8,500, that is roughly $8 per carton, or about $0.40 per unit, at the middle of the range. The same goods by air would cost many times more. This is why most importers move their main stock by full container and keep air freight for urgent top-ups. More ideas in the cheapest way to ship from China.
A real container shipment
A US furniture importer bought from three factories in and around Shenzhen. One factory finished late. Instead of shipping two part-loads, we collected the ready goods in batches, held them at our warehouse, moved the loading date and shipped everything together in one full container to Los Angeles. The goods reached the customer’s warehouse 38 days after the first pickup. Combining suppliers into one container is often the biggest saving available; see freight consolidation.
How to book a container from China
- Send the details: product, volume or number of cartons, supplier address, destination and ready date.
- Get a written quote with the sailing date, transit time and what is included.
- Confirm the booking. We reserve space on the vessel and send the empty container to your factory, or load it at our warehouse.
- Loading and export: the container is loaded and sealed, we clear export customs and deliver it to the port.
- Arrival and delivery: import customs at destination, then delivery to your warehouse or Amazon fulfilment centre.
Shipping to a specific country? See USA, Canada, UK and Europe.
Checklist before you book a container
- Total volume and weight, and whether a 20ft, 40ft or 40HQ fits best.
- Whether the factory can load a container on site, or the goods go to a warehouse first.
- Ready dates for every supplier, if there is more than one.
- Port of loading on the quote (for example FOB Yantian, not just FOB Shenzhen).
- Delivery address, loading dock and opening hours at destination.
- Who clears customs and pays duties, or whether you ship DDP.
- Free days at destination, so you can unload and return the container in time.
Not enough cargo for a full container? See LCL shipping from China for how shared-container shipping is priced.
Container shipping cost from China: FAQ
How much does it cost to ship a container from China?
In November 2026, a 40ft container costs about $7,600–8,500 to the US West Coast, $9,700–11,000 to the US East Coast, $8,400–9,800 to Vancouver and $3,550–4,050 to the UK, for the main sea freight.
How much does it cost to ship a 40ft container from China to the USA?
About $7,600–8,500 to Los Angeles or Long Beach and about $9,700–11,000 to New York, before US customs, duties and delivery.
How much does a container from China to Canada cost?
About $8,400–9,800 for a 40ft to Vancouver. Toronto and Montreal cost more, about $9,500–11,500, because the container continues by rail.
How much does a container from China to Europe cost?
About $3,600–4,100 for a 40ft to Rotterdam or Hamburg and about $4,200–4,700 to Mediterranean ports such as Genoa.
Is a 40ft container cheaper than two 20ft containers?
Yes, almost always. A 40ft usually costs only 10–25% more than one 20ft, so for light or bulky goods it is much cheaper per unit. Very heavy goods may need 20ft containers because of weight limits.
Does a 40ft high cube cost more than a standard 40ft?
Usually little or nothing more on main routes, and it holds about 10 CBM extra, so it is the common choice for light goods.
Can I share a container with other importers?
Yes. That is LCL shipping: you pay for your share of the space. It suits about 2–15 CBM.
How quickly can I get a container quote?
Send us the product, volume, pickup city and destination, and we reply with a written price within 2 hours.
For inside sizes, door openings and how many pallets fit, read shipping container dimensions.
Rates are for November 2026, based on current market rates from South China, and are updated every month. Prices change weekly with the market, season and space, and we confirm the exact price for each shipment. Ask for today’s price.
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