Volumetric weight
Light, bulky cargo is charged by volume: length × width × height in cm ÷ 6000 per carton. Compact packing can reduce your cost noticeably.
Air Freight from China
Airport-to-airport and door-to-door air cargo from Shenzhen, Guangzhou and Hong Kong to the USA, Canada, the UK and Europe.
- Door to door in about 5–10 days
- Priced on chargeable weight, itemised
- DDP and Amazon FBA delivery
Fast, Reliable Air Cargo from China
Air freight is the fastest way to move commercial quantities out of China, and China air cargo to the USA, the UK and Canada leaves every day: ideal for product launches, urgent restocks, high-value goods and anything that cannot wait several weeks at sea. Shipments from about 100 kg upwards are usually much cheaper by air freight than by express courier.
JIEYI collects from your suppliers, prepares the export documents, books space on flights from Shenzhen, Guangzhou or Hong Kong, and arranges customs clearance and delivery at destination, with duties paid if you choose DDP.
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Air Freight vs Express vs Sea Freight
Air freight sits between express and sea on both speed and cost.
| Air freight | Express courier | Sea freight | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best for | About 100 kg to several tonnes | Samples and parcels under about 100 kg | Larger volumes from about 1 CBM |
| Door to door | 5–10 days | 3–7 days | 25–55 days |
| Pricing | Per kg of chargeable weight (÷6000) | Per kg of chargeable weight (÷5000) | Per CBM or per container |
| Customs | Formal clearance, DDP available | Handled by the courier, DDP available | Formal clearance, DDP available |
| Delivery | Door, warehouse or Amazon FBA | Door to door | Door, warehouse or Amazon FBA |
Chargeable Weight Calculator
Airlines charge by the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight. Enter your carton size to see which applies.
Example: a 60 × 40 × 40 cm carton has a volumetric weight of 16 kg. If it really weighs 8 kg, you pay for 16 kg.
Air Freight from China to USA, UK, Canada & Europe: Rates and Transit Times
Typical rates (November 2026, 100 kg+) and times from Shenzhen, Guangzhou or Hong Kong. Rates change weekly; ask for today’s rate and we reply within 2 hours.
| Destination | Main airports | Typical rate (100 kg+) | Airport to airport | Door to door |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USA | Los Angeles, Chicago, New York | about $6.8–8.5 per kg | 2–4 days | 5–8 days |
| Canada | Vancouver, Toronto | about $6.5–8.5 per kg | 3–5 days | 6–9 days |
| United Kingdom | London Heathrow, Manchester | about $4.5–6.5 per kg | 2–4 days | 5–8 days |
| Germany | Frankfurt, Leipzig, Munich | about $4.5–6.5 per kg | 2–4 days | 5–8 days |
| Rest of Europe | Amsterdam, Liège, Paris | about $4.5–7 per kg | 3–5 days | 6–10 days |
Times change with flight schedules, holidays and customs checks. We confirm the timing for your booking.
Before You Ship by Air
The points that most often affect air freight price and acceptance.
Batteries and magnets
Products with lithium batteries or strong magnets need an MSDS and test reports such as UN38.3, and some cannot fly at all. Send product details before booking.
Packing for air
Cartons must withstand handling and stacking. Pallets should be stable and within aircraft height limits; we advise on palletising if needed.
Documents
Commercial invoice, packing list and the air waybill we issue. Some products need certificates or compliance documents at destination.
Peak seasons
Air capacity tightens and rates rise before Chinese New Year and from October to December. Book early for these periods.
Shipping batteries or magnets?
Send the product details and the safety data sheet. We confirm whether it can fly and how it must be packed.
Check my product
Air Freight Rates from China: What Drives the Price?
- Chargeable weight – actual or volumetric, whichever is higher
- Route – origin airport, destination airport and final address
- Service level – direct flight, consolidation or priority
- Cargo type – general cargo, batteries or other special goods
- Season – peak periods before holidays cost more
- Delivery scope – airport only, door to door or DDP with duties
How an Air Shipment Moves
From factory pickup to the airport, the flight, customs and delivery.
- 1
Send your details
Product, carton sizes, weight, supplier and delivery address.
- 2
Get options and prices
We compare flights and routings and send an itemised quote.
- 3
Pickup in China
We collect from your suppliers and check cartons and labels.
- 4
Export and flight
Export customs, air waybill and departure.
- 5
Clearance
Import customs at destination, with duties paid if DDP.
- 6
Delivery
To your door, warehouse or Amazon fulfilment centre.
Air Freight Cost Example
Ten cartons of 60 × 40 × 40 cm, 8 kg each. Each carton has a volumetric weight of 16 kg (60 × 40 × 40 ÷ 6000), so the chargeable weight is 160 kg, not 80 kg.
| Destination | Typical rate (November 2026) | Air freight for 160 kg |
|---|---|---|
| USA | $6.8–8.5 per kg | about $1,088–1,360 |
| Canada | $6.5–8.5 per kg | about $1,040–1,360 |
| United Kingdom | $4.5–6.5 per kg | about $720–1,040 |
| Germany | $4.5–6.5 per kg | about $720–1,040 |
Air freight only, at typical 100 kg+ rates. Pickup, export customs, import clearance, duties and delivery are added in your quote. If the same goods fit in smaller cartons, the chargeable weight falls. Try the weight calculator above.
Typical Air Freight Timeline to the USA
Door to door to the USA usually takes about 5–8 days from pickup.
| When | What happens |
|---|---|
| Day 0 | Goods ready; pickup from your supplier |
| Day 1–2 | Cartons and labels checked, export customs and flight booked |
| Day 2–4 | Flight to Los Angeles, Chicago or New York |
| Day 4–6 | Import customs clearance, with duties paid if you ship DDP |
| Day 5–8 | Delivery to your door, warehouse or Amazon fulfilment centre |
Peak seasons, customs inspections and remote delivery addresses can add a few days. See air freight vs sea freight if you are not sure which to use.
Air Freight from China: FAQ
How long does air freight from China take?
Airport to airport usually takes about 2–5 days. Door to door, including pickup, customs and delivery, allow about 5–10 days to the USA, Canada, the UK and Europe.
How much does air freight from China to the USA cost per kg?
In November 2026, about $6.8–8.5 per kg for 100 kg or more from South China to the main US airports, and door to door in about 5–8 days. Pickup, customs, duties and delivery are added unless you ship DDP. Rates change weekly, so ask us for today’s rate.
How much is air freight from China to the UK?
In November 2026, about $4.5–6.5 per kg for 100 kg or more to London or Manchester, door to door in about 5–8 days. UK VAT and duty are added unless you ship DDP.
How is air freight priced?
By chargeable weight: the greater of the actual gross weight and the volumetric weight (length × width × height in cm ÷ 6000 for each carton). The rate per kg is lower for larger shipments.
When is air freight cheaper than express?
Usually from about 100 kg upwards. Below that, express courier rates are often similar or lower and include door delivery, so we compare both for you.
Can you ship products with batteries by air?
Often, yes, but it depends on the battery type and how it is packed. We need the MSDS and UN38.3 test report before booking; some products can only go by sea.
Do you offer door-to-door and DDP air freight?
Yes. We can deliver to the destination airport, to your door, or to an Amazon fulfilment centre, and include duties and taxes under DDP.
Which airports do you ship from?
Most shipments from South China leave from Shenzhen, Guangzhou or Hong Kong. We choose the airport with the best schedule and rate for your shipment.
Need It There Fast?
Send the carton sizes, weight and delivery address. We reply with air freight options and prices.
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