Shipping from China to the USA: Channels, Costs and Delivery Times Explained

When you buy from China, international shipping is often the biggest cost after the products themselves. Understanding how it's calculated helps you choose the right channel and avoid surprises.

The main types of shipping

• Express / air: fastest option, best for light parcels and urgent orders.
• Sea + local delivery: slower but much cheaper per kilogram, ideal for heavier parcels and furniture.
• Sensitive-goods channels: for items with batteries, liquids, powders, cosmetics or magnets, which many standard channels refuse.

Each channel on our rates page shows the estimated delivery time, limits on weight and size, and what it can carry.

What is volumetric weight?

Carriers charge by whichever is greater: the actual weight or the volumetric (dimensional) weight. Volumetric weight is length × width × height in centimetres, divided by a factor set by the channel (for example 5,000 or 6,000). A large, light box — like a pillow or a plush toy — can cost more than its scale weight suggests.

How to keep shipping costs down

1. Wait until several orders have arrived and ship them together in one parcel.
2. Ask us to remove bulky retail boxes when they aren't needed.
3. Choose sea shipping for heavy items if you're not in a hurry.
4. Check the channel's size limits before buying very large items.

Customs and duties

Every parcel needs a customs declaration describing the contents and their value. You fill this in when you submit your parcel; please describe items honestly and accurately. Import rules and duties are set by the destination country and can change, so check the current rules for your country if you're unsure.

Use the calculator

Our shipping calculator shows every available channel for your country, with the price for your parcel's weight and size. You'll pay the final price after we pack and weigh your parcel.