Shipping from China to the US: Pick the Right Logistics to Save Money and Stress!

On the golden road of global trade from China to the United States, choosing a cost-effective and reliable shipping method can be a real headache for cross-border sellers. Don’t worry! This article will guide you through the process, helping you save money while keeping your customers smiling.

1. Air Freight

-UPS, DHL, FedEx, and TNT (tariff not included)

In the world of air freight, we have the “Four Kings” to keep things flying smoothly—UPS, DHL, FedEx, and TNT. These are the aristocrats of the air freight world, whisking your goods to the US in just 3-7 business days. They’re so fast that you might wonder if their planes are secretly equipped with rocket boosters. Naturally, with such stellar service and speed comes a price that’s a bit of a splurge. This method is perfect for those orders where your customers are tapping their feet and checking their watches.

The pricing for these services is quite the math exercise, for example: the first 500g costs $25, with an additional $6 for every extra 500g. So, if you’ve got a 12kg package, be ready to shell out $25+$6*23=$163 for shipping.

Also, if your goods are a bit on the “hefty” side—say, if a single side exceeds 120cm or if a single piece weighs more than 68kg—you’ll need to pay an “oversize and overweight” fee of $150 per piece, plus the monthly fuel surcharge. If your goods are overweight, you’ll need to add 9cm-high pallet feet to the bottom of the box, kind of like giving it high heels to make sure it clears customs without a hitch.

-Air Freight Consolidation (tariff included)

The air freight consolidation service is like the “hipster” of air freight—delivering to the US in 7-12 business days at a more budget-friendly price, and even covering US import taxes. This method uses dedicated US routes, usually departing from Shanghai or Shenzhen, and now even Beijing has joined the “flying club” (though this varies by location). Once your goods arrive at a US airport, UPS or FedEx takes over, delivering your precious cargo to the customer’s business or Amazon warehouse within 1-3 business days. Remote areas might take a few extra days, but the price is cheaper than the Four Kings, with nearly the same speed—making it a great value choice.

But, the air freight consolidation has some “tricky” details to watch out for:

1. If you’re shipping magnetic items like cameras or car accessories, congratulations, no extra charge! But if it’s an electronic product or going to a private address, add $0.4 per kilogram.

2. High-value items like drones, large screens, or wigs will cost an extra $0.5 per kilogram.

3. If your shipment has more than 5 different product names, you’ll be charged an extra $10 per name, with a maximum of 10 names allowed—don’t get greedy!

Other Points to Note:

1. The price already includes oil and taxes, and the volumetric weight is calculated as: Length × Width × Height (in cm) / 6000. Don’t forget, the last-mile delivery will be handled by a courier.

2. Try to keep the weight of each box between 12-22kg; otherwise, UPS will charge an overweight fee. If it’s over 30kg, Amazon might even reject it—no meet and greet.

3. It’s best to attach two FBA labels on different sides of the box to prevent damage and rejection by Amazon.

4. Both the outer box and the products must be labeled with "MADE IN CHINA" to proudly display their origin.

Packaging Dimensions and Weight:

1. Even if a single package weighs less than 12kg, it will be charged as 12kg. If the actual weight exceeds 30kg, an additional $30 per piece will be charged. If the longest side exceeds 120cm or the second longest side exceeds 75cm, another $30 per piece will be added. Oversize and overweight fees are cumulative.

2. Standard packages should not exceed 150 liters (0.15m³), with the longest side less than 110cm and the second longest side less than 70cm. If these dimensions are exceeded, you’ll need to pay an extra $10 per package.

Please Note:

1. Every logistics company has its own starting weight for charges. Some start at 21kg, so even if your shipment weighs 20.9kg, you’ll be charged for 21kg; others start at 12kg. So, be sure to clarify this with your logistics provider to avoid paying for “invisible weight.”

• The Four Kings are like rush-hour subways—always on the move, no waiting for flights, just ship and go. The air freight consolidation is more like an old-school train, waiting a few days to depart—usually 3-5 days, sometimes 7-14 days, like waiting for a significant “destiny.” As for the red-label service, it also needs to wait for flights, sometimes slower than waiting for a taxi.

Air Freight: Packaging Dimensions and Weight

2. Sea Freight

1. Express Sea Freight (from China to US by fast boat, by express in the US)  

This is the “express” ship in the sea freight world. Some logistics companies collect shipments every Monday and set sail every Wednesday. If you’re unlucky and your goods are ready on Thursday, you’ll have to wait until the next Wednesday. Once the ship departs, it’ll take about 15 calendar days to pick up your goods.

2. Overtime Ship (from China to US by fast boat, by express in the US)  

This ship has a bit of an overtime vibe, collecting shipments every Tuesday and setting sail every Thursday. After departure, it’ll take about 18 calendar days to pick up your goods. It’s a bit slower than the express ship but still a good choice.

3. Standard Ship (from China to US by fast boat, by express in the US)  

This is the “take it easy, no rush” option, with shipments collected every Thursday and the ship departing on Sunday. You’ll pick up your goods about 25 calendar days later. If you’re not in a hurry, consider this option.

For the first three ships, after reaching the port, UPS or FedEx handles the last-mile delivery, taking 1-3 business days to reach Amazon’s warehouse. Remote areas may take a few extra days.

4. Truck Delivery (from China to US by boat, by truck in the US)  

This ship operates normally, but the last mile is handled by truck. Although it’s not UPS, it’s cheaper. If you need logistics information to show in Amazon’s backend, this issue can be resolved—just ask your logistics provider.

5. Slow Boat (from China to US by slow boat, by express in the US)  

This is the “tortoise” of the sea freight world, taking 45-60 days to reach the port, but it’s cheap. If you’re in no rush, this is your boat.

Sea Freight

Actually, the express ship, standard ship, and overtime ship might be the same ship; the difference is just in the price and whose goods are unloaded first. Funny, right? However, they might also be different ships—check with your logistics provider for specifics.

Common Misconception: Since they might be the same ship, I’ll choose the cheapest!

Reality: Don’t be fooled by the “cheap” option. You need to choose based on your product’s stock levels. If your inventory is running low, go with the so-called “express” option because it unloads first.

Things to Keep in Mind:

1. Most logistics companies use Matson’s ships, and the shipping cost depends on the first digit of the zip code for the Amazon warehouse. Different first digits mean different shipping costs, which Amazon determines—you don’t have a say, only in which shipping method you choose.

2. The logistics information for air and sea freight typically only appears once the goods reach the destination airport or port. Until then, don’t expect to see much, if anything, about your shipment’s progress. The real tracking info only shows up with the last-mile delivery.

In summary: For air freight, use air consolidation; for sea freight, use express shipping. Combine the two when restocking, so you don’t overspend on shipping costs or let your goods gather dust in the warehouse.

Points to Note for US Sea Freight:

1. Product Surcharge Tip:

   - For products with internal batteries, add $0.2 per kilogram; for weak magnetic products, no charge. (For pure electric products or those with attached batteries, inquire separately).

   - For clothing, shoes, bags, and other textile and leather products, add $0.4 per kilogram. The same goes for wood products, toys, and FDA-regulated products.

   - For solar lamps (solar panels can’t exceed 10cm x 10cm), massagers, adult products, Bluetooth items, goggles (excluding other types of glasses), add $0.4 per kilogram.

   - For goods made of or containing raw wood that require fumigation—such as wooden furniture, bamboo products, shampoo, cosmetics, etc.—the fumigation fee is $100 per shipment.

Sea Freight: Product Surcharge Tips

2. Other Important Notes:

   - The price already includes oil and taxes, and the volumetric weight is calculated as Length × Width × Height (in cm) / 6000. Last-mile deliveryis still required.

   - Try to keep each box between 12-22kg. Exceeding 22kg will incur an overweight fee from UPS, and over 30kg might result in Amazon rejecting the shipment.

   - Ensure FBA outer box labels are applied on different sides to avoid damage; otherwise, Amazon might reject your shipment.

   - Both the outer box and products must have “MADE IN CHINA” printed on them to flaunt their origin proudly.

Packaging Dimensions and Weight:

1. Single items weighing less than 12kg are charged as 12kg. If the weight exceeds 30kg, an extra $30 per piece will be charged. If the longest side exceeds 120cm or the second longest side exceeds 75cm, another $30 per piece will be added. Oversize and overweight fees can accumulate.

2. Standard packages should not exceed 150 liters (0.15m³), with the longest side less than 110cm and the second longest side less than 70cm. Exceeding these dimensions will incur an extra $10 per package.

Sea Freight: Packaging Dimensions and Weight

These rules might seem like an “invisible hand,” but it’s always ready to reach into your pocket! So, do your homework in advance to save money and keep your peace of mind.