Freight from China to major destinations typically costs $1,500-$5,500 for a 20ft container (sea), $3-15 per kg (air), or $5-10 per kg (express courier). Actual rates depend on route, volume, and market conditions.
Understanding freight costs is essential for calculating accurate landed costs. Yet most importers only know their freight cost after they receive the invoice.
This guide provides typical freight rates from Asia to help you estimate costs before placing orders and verify you are getting fair pricing from your forwarder.
Three Main Freight Options
When shipping from Asia, you have three primary options:
- Sea freight - Cheapest per kg, slowest (3-6 weeks). Best for large or heavy shipments where time is not critical.
- Air freight - Mid-range cost, fast (5-10 days). Best for time-sensitive or high-value goods.
- Express courier - Most expensive, fastest (3-5 days). Best for small, urgent shipments.
The right choice depends on your product value, volume, urgency, and margin tolerance.
Sea Freight Rates
Sea freight is priced by container (FCL) or by cubic meter (LCL). Rates have normalized since the 2021-2022 spike but remain above pre-pandemic levels.
FCL (Full Container Load)
You rent the entire container, regardless of whether you fill it. Best when you have enough volume to utilize at least 70% of a container.
| Route | 20ft Container | 40ft Container | Transit Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| China → US West Coast | $1,500 - $2,500 | $2,500 - $4,000 | 14-21 days |
| China → US East Coast | $2,500 - $4,000 | $4,000 - $6,500 | 25-35 days |
| China → Australia | $1,200 - $2,000 | $2,000 - $3,500 | 10-18 days |
| China → Northern Europe | $2,000 - $3,500 | $3,500 - $5,500 | 28-35 days |
| China → UK | $2,200 - $3,800 | $3,800 - $6,000 | 30-40 days |
Note: Rates are indicative for 2024-2025. Actual rates vary by carrier, route, season, and fuel costs.
Container capacity: A 20ft container holds approximately 28-30 CBM (cubic meters) or 25-28 tonnes. A 40ft container holds 58-60 CBM or 26-28 tonnes. Weight limits often constrain heavy cargo before volume does.
LCL (Less than Container Load)
Your cargo shares container space with other shipments. Best for smaller volumes (1-15 CBM).
| Route | Rate per CBM | Minimum Charge | Transit Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| China → US West Coast | $80 - $150 | 1 CBM | 21-28 days |
| China → Australia | $60 - $120 | 1 CBM | 14-25 days |
| China → Europe | $100 - $180 | 1 CBM | 35-45 days |
LCL tip: Transit times are longer than FCL because cargo must be consolidated at origin and deconsolidated at destination. Add 7-14 days to the sea transit time.
Air Freight Rates
Air freight is priced per kg, with rates based on the greater of actual weight or volumetric weight (L × W × H in cm ÷ 6000).
| Route | Rate per kg | Minimum | Transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| China → US | $4 - $12 | 45 kg | 5-10 days |
| China → Australia | $3 - $8 | 45 kg | 3-7 days |
| China → Europe | $4 - $10 | 45 kg | 5-10 days |
Rate tiers: Air freight rates decrease with volume. Typical breakpoints are 45kg, 100kg, 300kg, 500kg, and 1000kg. A 500kg shipment might cost $4/kg while a 50kg shipment costs $8/kg.
Volumetric Weight
Airlines charge based on whichever is greater: actual weight or volumetric weight. For light, bulky items, volumetric weight significantly increases costs. A 50cm × 40cm × 30cm box weighing 5kg has a volumetric weight of 10kg (60,000 ÷ 6000), so you would pay for 10kg.
Express Courier Rates
Express services (DHL, FedEx, UPS, TNT) offer door-to-door delivery with customs clearance included.
| Weight | China → US | China → Australia | China → Europe |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1-5 kg | $8 - $15/kg | $7 - $12/kg | $9 - $16/kg |
| 10-30 kg | $6 - $10/kg | $5 - $9/kg | $7 - $12/kg |
| 50-100 kg | $5 - $8/kg | $4 - $7/kg | $6 - $10/kg |
Express rates include customs clearance at destination but not import duties or taxes. These are charged separately or billed to the receiver.
Comparing the Options
Here is a practical comparison using the same shipment: 100kg of goods, 0.5 CBM, valued at $2,000.
| Method | Estimated Cost | % of Product Value | Transit Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sea LCL | $60 - $90 | 3-5% | 3-5 weeks |
| Air Freight | $400 - $800 | 20-40% | 5-10 days |
| Express Courier | $500 - $1,000 | 25-50% | 3-5 days |
The same shipment costs 5x-10x more by air than by sea. Express adds further premium for speed and convenience.
Beyond the Headline Rate
The quoted freight rate is rarely the total cost. Additional charges typically include:
- Origin charges - Terminal handling, documentation, container loading
- Destination charges - Terminal handling, delivery order fees
- Fuel surcharges (BAF/CAF) - Fluctuates with fuel prices
- Security charges - Screening and scanning fees
- Customs clearance - Broker fees and processing (what customs brokers charge)
- Delivery/drayage - Local transport to final destination
Expect the total cost to be 40-60% higher than the base freight rate once all charges are included.
Which Option Should You Use?
| Situation | Recommended | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Large regular orders | Sea FCL | Lowest cost per unit |
| Smaller regular orders | Sea LCL | No minimum container volume |
| High-value goods | Air freight | Freight as % of value is acceptable |
| Urgent restocks | Air freight | Speed matters more than cost |
| Samples, small test orders | Express courier | Simple, fast, no broker needed |
| Peak season / trending products | Split: sea + air | Air for initial stock, sea for restock |
Why Rates Change
Freight rates fluctuate based on several factors:
- Peak season - August-November (before Christmas) sees highest rates
- Chinese New Year - January-February disrupts capacity
- Fuel prices - Directly affects surcharges
- Carrier capacity - Blank sailings and schedule changes
- Demand shocks - Events like COVID caused massive rate spikes
- Route disruptions - Suez Canal, Panama Canal, port congestion
Get quotes for each shipment rather than assuming rates. Track your actual freight costs per shipment to understand your true landed costs over time.
Track Your Actual Freight Costs
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