FCL Shipping
Book a whole 20ft, 40ft or 40ft high-cube container for your goods. Cargo is loaded at the factory or at our consolidation point, sealed, and delivered to the destination without being mixed with other cargo.
Ask for an FCL quoteSea Freight from China
FCL and LCL shipping from Shenzhen, Guangzhou and other Chinese ports to the USA, Canada, the UK and Europe, door to door.
- Full and shared containers
- Multi-supplier consolidation
- DDP and Amazon FBA delivery
Ocean Freight Shipping from China, Door to Door
Ocean freight is the most economical way to move larger orders out of China. Whether you need LCL shipping from China for a few pallets or FCL shipping for several 40ft containers, JIEYI arranges the whole route: pickup from your suppliers, export customs, the ocean booking, import clearance and delivery to your warehouse, your customer or an Amazon fulfilment centre. If you are importing a shipping container from China for the first time, we explain each step and every charge before you book.
Our team is based in Dongguan, between Shenzhen and Guangzhou, close to the ports of Yantian, Shekou and Nansha. That means short trucking distances from most South China factories and easy access to frequent sailings to North America and Europe.
Get a Sea Freight QuoteReady to ship from China?Get a Quick Quote
FCL vs LCL Shipping from China: Which One Fits?
The right choice depends mainly on your volume, budget and how much handling your goods can take.
| FCL – Full Container Load | LCL – Less than Container Load | |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Around 15 CBM and above, or high-value goods | Small shipments, usually 1–15 CBM |
| How you pay | A fixed price per container | Per cubic metre (or per tonne, whichever is greater) |
| Transit time | Faster: loaded and unloaded as one unit | Several days longer for consolidation and deconsolidation |
| Handling | Sealed at loading, opened at destination | Handled at warehouses at both ends, with other shippers’ cargo |
| Risk of damage | Lower | Slightly higher; good packing and palletising matter |
| Flexibility | Your container, your loading plan | Ship small quantities as soon as they are ready |
LCL Shipping
Ship as little as one pallet or a few cartons. Your goods share a container with other shipments, so you only pay for the space you use. Ideal for first orders, restocking and samples that are too large for express. See our LCL shipping guide for costs and transit times.
Ask for an LCL quoteContainer Shipping from China: Container Sizes
Standard dry containers used for most general cargo. Figures are typical; exact sizes and weight limits vary slightly by carrier and by road limits at destination. For full measurements, door sizes and pallet counts, see our guide to shipping container dimensions.
20GP20ft Standard
- Inside size (L × W × H)
- 5.90 × 2.35 × 2.39 m
- Capacity
- 33 CBM
- Usable for cartons
- about 25–28 CBM
- Cargo weight
- up to about 25,000 kg
Heavy goods such as machinery, tiles and metal parts that reach the weight limit before the space limit.
40GP40ft Standard
- Inside size (L × W × H)
- 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.39 m
- Capacity
- 67 CBM
- Usable for cartons
- about 55–58 CBM
- Cargo weight
- up to about 26,000 kg
Larger orders of mixed or medium-weight goods.
40HQ40ft High Cube
- Inside size (L × W × H)
- 12.03 × 2.35 × 2.69 m
- Capacity
- 76 CBM
- Usable for cartons
- about 65–68 CBM
- Cargo weight
- up to about 26,000 kg
Light, bulky cargo such as furniture, textiles and household goods. The most used size for consumer products.
Special equipment such as open-top, flat-rack and refrigerated containers can be checked on request for oversized or temperature-sensitive cargo.
Container Calculator
Enter your total volume and weight to see whether LCL or a full container is likely to suit your shipment.
Don’t know the volume? Multiply carton length × width × height in metres, then by the number of cartons. Example: 60 × 40 × 40 cm = 0.096 CBM per carton.
Ocean Freight Transit Times from China
Typical port-to-port sailing times from South China (Yantian / Shekou / Nansha). Add about 1–2 weeks for pickup, customs and final delivery.
| Destination | Main ports | Port to port | Route guide |
|---|---|---|---|
| USA – West Coast | Los Angeles, Long Beach, Oakland, Seattle | 14–20 days | China to USA · Transit guide |
| USA – East Coast | New York, Savannah, Charleston | 30–40 days | China to USA · Transit guide |
| Canada | Vancouver, Prince Rupert, Montreal | 14–20 days (West) | China to Canada · Transit guide |
| United Kingdom | Felixstowe, Southampton, London Gateway | 35–45 days | China to UK · Transit guide |
| Germany | Hamburg, Bremerhaven | 35–45 days | China to Germany |
| Rest of Europe | Rotterdam, Antwerp, Le Havre, Gdansk | 35–45 days | All destinations |
Sailing times change with carrier schedules, transshipments and routing. We confirm the schedule for your booking before you pay.
How Much Does Sea Freight from China Cost?
Typical sea freight rates from China in November 2026, for the main ocean freight from South China ports. Rates change weekly; send your details and we reply with today’s price within 2 hours.
| Destination | 20ft container | 40ft container |
|---|---|---|
| USA – West Coast | about $6,800–8,000 | about $7,600–8,500 |
| USA – East Coast | on request | about $9,700–11,000 |
| Canada – Vancouver | about $7,000–8,300 | about $8,400–9,800 |
| Canada – Toronto / Montreal | on request | about $9,500–11,500 |
| United Kingdom | about $2,100–2,600 | about $3,550–4,050 |
| Northern Europe | about $2,100–2,600 | about $3,600–4,100 |
| Mediterranean | on request | about $4,200–4,700 |
LCL (shared container): about $120–150 per CBM to the USA and about $60–90 per CBM to the UK. One pallet of 1.5–2 CBM to the UK is about $90–180 in ocean freight.
These are ocean freight rates only. Pickup in China, destination charges, customs clearance, duties and delivery are extra unless your quote is door to door or DDP. More detail: container shipping cost from China, China to USA shipping cost and China to UK shipping cost.
What Determines Your Sea Freight Cost?
Every quote is built from the same few factors. Sharing these details up front gets you an accurate price the first time:
- Volume and weight – CBM for LCL, container size for FCL
- Route – port of loading, destination port and final address
- Season – rates rise before Chinese New Year and the Q3–Q4 peak
- Service scope – port to port, door to door, or DDP with duties
- Product type – import duty rates and any special handling
- Extras – pickup, consolidation, inspection, insurance, liftgate delivery
How Sea Freight with JIEYI Works
From your first message to delivery, one team follows the shipment.
- 1
Send your details
Product, volume, weight, pickup city, destination and ready date.
- 2
Get options and prices
We compare FCL, LCL and sailing schedules and send an itemised quote.
- 3
Book and collect
We book space and collect from your suppliers, consolidating if needed.
- 4
Export and load
Export declaration, container loading and the bill of lading.
- 5
Ocean transit
We share sailing updates and the arrival date.
- 6
Clear and deliver
Import clearance, duties if agreed and delivery to your address.
Not Sure Between FCL and LCL?
Send your packing list. We will compare both and tell you which costs less for your shipment.
Sea Freight FAQ
What is the difference between FCL and LCL?
FCL (Full Container Load) means you book a whole 20ft or 40ft container for your goods only. LCL (Less than Container Load) means your cartons or pallets share a container with other shippers and you pay for the volume you use, usually per cubic metre.
When is LCL cheaper than FCL?
As a rule of thumb, LCL is usually cheaper for shipments under about 13 CBM. Between about 13 and 28 CBM it depends on the route: a 20ft container is faster and avoids extra handling at consolidation warehouses, but LCL freight can stay cheaper on high-rate routes such as China to the USA. The break-even point changes with rates, so we compare both when your volume is close.
How long does sea freight from China take?
Port to port, typical sailing times from South China are about 14–20 days to the US West Coast or Vancouver, 30–40 days to the US East Coast and 35–45 days to the UK and northern Europe. Allow roughly one to two more weeks for pickup, customs and final delivery. Schedules change, so we confirm the timing for your booking.
Which ports in China do you ship from?
Most cargo collected around Dongguan leaves from Yantian, Shekou or Nansha. If your suppliers are elsewhere, tell us their locations and we will advise the most suitable port of loading.
What charges are included in a sea freight quote?
A door-to-door quote can include pickup in China, export customs, origin port charges, ocean freight, destination terminal charges, import clearance, duties and taxes (if DDP) and final delivery. Always check which of these are included and which are excluded before you book.
Can you combine goods from several suppliers into one container?
Yes. We collect from each supplier, check the cartons against your packing list, and load everything into one shared or full container so you pay for one international shipment.
What documents are needed for sea freight?
Usually a commercial invoice, packing list and the bill of lading, which we arrange. The USA also requires an ISF (Importer Security Filing) before the container is loaded, and EU and UK importers need an EORI number. We tell you exactly what is needed for your route.
How much does it cost to ship a container from China?
In November 2026, the ocean freight for a 40ft container from South China is about $7,600–8,500 to the US West Coast, $9,700–11,000 to the US East Coast and $3,550–4,050 to the UK. A 20ft container to the UK or northern Europe is about $2,100–2,600. Rates change weekly, so send your details and we reply with today’s price within 2 hours.
Is sea freight cheaper than air freight from China?
Usually, yes. In November 2026, air freight to the USA costs about $6.8–8.5 per kg, while LCL sea freight costs about $120–150 per cubic metre, and one cubic metre of goods often weighs a few hundred kilograms. The trade-off is time: about 25–45 days door to door by sea, compared with 5–10 days by air. For small, urgent or high-value orders, air or express can still be the better choice.
Should I insure my sea freight shipment?
It is strongly recommended. Carrier liability for lost or damaged cargo is limited and rarely covers the full value of your goods. Cargo insurance can be arranged on request based on the invoice value.
Ready to Ship by Sea?
Tell us the product, volume and route. We reply by email with sea freight options and prices.
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