Shipping from China: Express, Air, Sea and Rail Compared
Which shipping method makes sense for your order size, budget and timeline, with realistic transit times and cost logic.
Freight often decides whether a product is profitable. The right method depends mainly on weight, volume and how quickly you need the goods.
The options at a glance
| Method | Typical door-to-door time | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Express courier (DHL, FedEx, UPS) | 3–7 days | Samples, urgent orders, under ~100 kg |
| Air freight | 7–14 days | 100–500 kg, high value per kg |
| Special lines / "DDP" e-commerce lines | 10–25 days | Small parcels and Amazon FBA with duties included |
| Sea freight LCL (shared container) | 30–50 days | Around 2–15 cubic metres |
| Sea freight FCL (full container) | 25–45 days | Over ~15 cbm, lowest cost per unit |
| Rail (China–Europe) | 18–25 days | Europe-bound goods that can't wait for sea |
Times vary with season, port congestion and customs. Plan for the slow end, especially before Chinese New Year, when factories close for 2–4 weeks.
Chargeable weight: the number couriers bill
Express and air are billed on whichever is larger: actual weight or volumetric weight. For couriers, volumetric weight is usually length × width × height in cm ÷ 5000. A light, bulky product can cost far more than its weight suggests. Our free dimensional weight calculator does the maths.
What "DDP" means
Under DDP (Delivered Duty Paid), the forwarder handles duties and import clearance and quotes one price. It's convenient for small importers, but ask who is the importer of record — some cheap DDP lines undervalue goods, which can create problems for you later.
A simple decision rule
- Samples: express.
- First small batch to test demand: air or an e-commerce line.
- Proven product with steady sales: sea, ordered early enough that you never pay air rates to fix a stockout.
We search 1688 and Alibaba in Chinese, compare 3–5 suppliers, check their business licences and store records, and estimate your landed cost — all in one clear report.
See how it works
More guides
- How to Buy from 1688 When You Don't Live in China
- What a China Sourcing Agent Really Costs
- How to Verify a Chinese Supplier Before You Pay
- Alibaba vs 1688 vs AliExpress: Which One Should You Use?
- How to Calculate Landed Cost for Imported Products
- Negotiating with Chinese Suppliers Without Burning the Relationship
- How to Inspect Quality on a Chinese Order Before You Pay the Balance
- Incoterms for Small Importers: FOB, CIF, and DDP Explained Simply