Small Parcel – General Cargo
✈️ Air Freight → UK| Bracket | Rate (USD/shipment) | @ 1 KG |
|---|---|---|
| 0-20 | USD 20.59 | USD 20.59 |
Europe
✈️ Air Freight
🚢 Sea Freight
1 KG
Cost to Ship 1KG from China to United Kingdom
What this shipment size actually costs, and whether consolidating up to the next bracket would be cheaper.
Shipping 1KG from China to United Kingdom costs approximately USD 21, based on a published rate of USD 20.6 per kilogram. Treat it as a planning estimate for the freight: what you actually pay depends on the product, its HS code, the declared value and the exchange rate on the day, and duty assessed by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) is quoted separately. The real figure can come in above or below this.
- Estimated total
- USD 21 for 1KG
- Billed as
- 1 shipment at USD 20.6 per kilogram
- Customs authority
- HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC)
Indicative planning references only, not a quotation. Actual cost depends on the product and its HS code, chargeable weight, declared value, destination duty and tax and the exchange rate on the day, and can be higher or lower.
Current Rates — China to United Kingdom (1 KG)
Updated 2026-09-30| Service | Mode | Rate | Billed as | Total (1 KG) | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best Value Small Parcel – General Cargo | ✈️ Air Freight | USD 20.6/shipment | 1 shipment | USD 21 | Get Quote → |
| Small Parcel – With Battery | ✈️ Air Freight | USD 21.1/shipment | 1 shipment | USD 21 | Get Quote → |
- Small Parcel – General Cargo: Priced per shipment, not per kilogram.
- Small Parcel – With Battery: Priced per shipment, not per kilogram.
How these prices are calculated — chargeable weight
Freight is not billed on the number on your bathroom scale. It is billed on chargeable weight: the greater of actual gross weight and volumetric weight, where volumetric weight is L × W × H (cm) ÷ 6000. Denser cargo pays on its weight; light bulky cargo pays on the space it occupies. Whichever is higher is the one you pay — never the lower.
- One cubic metre = 167 kg. That is 1,000,000 cm³ ÷ 6000, the same divisor used for the volumetric check, so both sides of this page agree with each other.
- Freight only. These are published freight rates. Duty, tax and customs charges at destination are not a fixed number we can print: they follow your product's HS code, its declared value and the exchange rate applied on the day of entry, so they are confirmed against your actual goods and quoted separately.
- Indicative only — the real price can be higher or lower. Nothing on this page is a quotation or a commitment. What you finally pay depends on what the product is, how it is packed, the chargeable weight, the declared value, the destination duty position and the exchange rate at the time. Send the product details, weight and dimensions and we will price your specific shipment.
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Full Weight-Tier Rate Cards
Detailed per-weight pricing for every active route from China to United Kingdom. Each tier reflects the published rate at that exact weight — useful for accurate budgeting at common shipment sizes.
Small Parcel – With Battery
✈️ Air Freight → UK| Bracket | Rate (USD/shipment) | @ 1 KG |
|---|---|---|
| 0-20 | USD 21.05 | USD 21.05 |
✈️ Air Freight Options
🚢 Sea Freight Options
Trade Terms Explained — Who Pays for What
The rate above is quoted on one specific trade term. Change the term and you change how much of the journey to United Kingdom is already inside the price. The table below maps the eleven common Incoterms® against the twelve cost stages of a door-to-door shipment, so you can see exactly where our responsibility ends and yours begins.
- Seller — Cost and arrangement sit with the seller / shipper.
- Buyer — Cost and arrangement sit with the buyer / consignee.
- Negotiable — Not fixed by the rule — agree it in the contract.
| Term | 1 Loading on truck | 2 Export customs declaration | 3 Carriage to port of export | 4 Unloading at port of export | 5 Loading on vessel / aircraft | 6 Main carriage | 7 Cargo insurance | 8 Unloading at port of import | 9 Loading on truck at import | 10 Carriage to destination | 11 Import customs clearance | 12 Import duties & taxes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EXW Ex Works | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck | Buyer Buyer — Export customs declaration | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to port of export | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of export | Buyer Buyer — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Buyer Buyer — Main carriage | Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| FCA Free Carrier | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to port of export | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of export | Buyer Buyer — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Buyer Buyer — Main carriage | Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| FAS Free Alongside Ship | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Buyer Buyer — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Buyer Buyer — Main carriage | Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| FOB Free On Board | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Buyer Buyer — Main carriage | Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| CFR Cost and Freight | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Buyer Buyer — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| CIF Cost, Insurance and Freight | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Seller Seller — Cargo insurance | Buyer Buyer — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| CPT Carriage Paid To | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import | Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import | Seller Seller — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| CIP Carriage and Insurance Paid | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Seller Seller — Cargo insurance | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import | Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import | Seller Seller — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| DAT Delivered At Terminal (DPU) | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import | Buyer Buyer — Loading on truck at import | Buyer Buyer — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| DAP Delivered At Place | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import | Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import | Seller Seller — Carriage to destination | Buyer Buyer — Import customs clearance | Buyer Buyer — Import duties & taxes |
| DDP Delivered Duty Paid | Seller Seller — Loading on truck | Seller Seller — Export customs declaration | Seller Seller — Carriage to port of export | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of export | Seller Seller — Loading on vessel / aircraft | Seller Seller — Main carriage | Negotiable Negotiable — Cargo insurance | Seller Seller — Unloading at port of import | Seller Seller — Loading on truck at import | Seller Seller — Carriage to destination | Seller Seller — Import customs clearance | Seller Seller — Import duties & taxes |
EXW Ex Works
Buyer takes over at the seller's door and carries every cost from there. Lowest quoted price, highest buyer workload.
FCA Free Carrier
Seller clears the goods for export and hands them to the carrier the buyer nominated.
FAS Free Alongside Ship
Sea and inland waterway only. Seller delivers alongside the vessel; loading is on the buyer.
FOB Free On Board
Sea and inland waterway only. Risk passes once the goods are on board. The most common buying term.
CFR Cost and Freight
Seller pays the main carriage but carries no insurance obligation; risk still passes on loading.
CIF Cost, Insurance and Freight
As CFR, plus the seller must buy and pay for cargo insurance (minimum cover unless you agree more).
CPT Carriage Paid To
Any mode. Seller pays carriage through to the named destination; insurance is not obligatory.
CIP Carriage and Insurance Paid
As CPT, plus the seller must insure the cargo through to the named destination.
DAT Delivered At Terminal (DPU)
Seller delivers unloaded at the named terminal. Renamed DPU (Delivered at Place Unloaded) in Incoterms® 2020.
DAP Delivered At Place
Seller delivers to your address ready for unloading; import clearance and duty stay with the buyer.
DDP Delivered Duty Paid
Seller carries everything through to your door, duty and tax included. Highest quoted price, least buyer workload.
Two things worth flagging. Under CIF and CIP the seller is obliged to buy cargo insurance and pay the premium; under every other term insurance is optional, and we recommend buyers arrange their own cover so a loss or damage in transit is recoverable. And this table is a working summary for planning purposes — the binding definitions are the ones published by the International Chamber of Commerce in the Incoterms® rules, so confirm the exact term wording in your sales contract before you ship.
Sample-Stage Consignments
Under 1 KG you are almost always looking at a pre-production sample, a replacement part, or the first unit of an order still being negotiated. Nothing this size belongs in a container: the groupage minimum alone would dwarf the goods. Courier or consolidated air is the honest answer, and the useful question is not the rate but whether the paperwork accompanying the sample matches what the bulk order will later declare.
- Declare the sample honestly — a mismatch against the later bulk entry invites a query
- Ask the supplier to mark cartons "SAMPLE — NO COMMERCIAL VALUE" only if that is true
- Courier is priced on volumetric weight; a light bulky sample can cost triple its scale reading
- Use this shipment to test your HS classification before the money is on the water
What Affects the Shipping Cost to United Kingdom?
- Density before anything else — one cubic metre is billed as roughly 167 kg, so light bulky cargo pays on the space it occupies
- How well the cargo is packed — wasted void inside a carton is volume you are paying to move
- Sailing week — rates move with vessel space, and the fortnight before Chinese New Year is the sharpest swing of the year
- Where in United Kingdom it is going — the ocean leg is the stable part; the inland run from the quay is what varies
- Declared value, because duty is assessed on it and an optimistic invoice is the most expensive kind
When Does a Full Container Beat Groupage into United Kingdom?
The switch is decided by volume, not weight. Groupage is billed per cubic metre with a one-cubic-metre floor, so its cost climbs in a straight line with your cube. A container is a flat price for the box whether you fill it or not. Those two lines cross somewhere between roughly 12 and 15 m³ on most lanes — below that a consol is cheaper, above it you are paying groupage rates for space a 20GP would have given you outright.
| Box | Usable cube | Payload | What it suits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20GP | 33 m³ | ≈ 28 t | Dense cargo — the payload runs out long before the cube does. |
| 40GP | 67 m³ | ≈ 26 t | Twice the space for far less than twice the price. The default for most consolidated buyers. |
| 40HQ | 76 m³ | ≈ 26 t | The extra foot of height pays for itself on anything light and stackable. |
Two things move the crossover on a real booking. Cargo denser than about 167 kg per cubic metre hits a container's payload limit before its cube, so the box fills on weight and the calculation shifts down. And a container starts accruing free-time charges at destination the moment it is discharged — demurrage on the quay, detention off it — which is a cost a consol never hands you. If your cargo sits near the line, send the packed dimensions and we will price both against each other rather than guess.
Free 3D Loading Tools
Shipping to United Kingdom by air or sea? Plan cartons and container loading in 3D before requesting a quote.
3D Carton Packing Calculator
Optimize cartons before tendering cargo to United Kingdom: build the packing plan in 3D and download it for your supplier or forwarder.
Open Packing Tool →3D Container Loading Planner
Not sure if your United Kingdom cargo fills a 20GP or needs a 40HQ? Simulate cartons, crates, pallets, and mixed box sizes in the 3D container planner.
Open Container Planner →Transit Times — China to United Kingdom
| Method | Transit Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Air, consolidated | 5–10 business days | Origin warehouse to the door in United Kingdom |
| Rail | 18–28 calendar days | Block train via Central Asia into United Kingdom |
| Courier | 3–7 business days | Integrator door to door — sensible at this size |
Which Shipping Method is Best for 1 KG?
Recommended
Air Freight
Sea Freight
Rail Freight
China to United Kingdom — Shipping Reference Data
Verified shipping reference data for the China → United Kingdom lane:
| Main sea gateways | Felixstowe, Southampton, London Gateway |
|---|---|
| Destination customs authority | HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) |
| De-minimis / duty-free threshold | GBP 135 (VAT due below; collected at point of sale) |
| Import tax & duty regime | Standard VAT 20%; duty 0–12% depending on commodity code |
| Local currency | GBP |
| Typical port/airport dwell time | 2–4 days |
| Peak / busy season | Sep–Nov |
| Conformity & certification | UKCA / CE marking for regulated electronics and toys |
| Main air gateways | LHR (Heathrow), STN (Stansted), EMA (East Midlands) |
Thresholds and bands here are planning references for buyers, not rulings — confirm the exact HS-code rate for your goods before shipping.
Price Trend — United Kingdom
Historical freight rates from China to United Kingdom for 1 KG shipments. Data sourced from live carrier price feeds.
Customs & Documentation for United Kingdom
- A low-value threshold may let small consignments through without duty — worth checking before you split a shipment
- The entry stands or falls on three documents: a commercial invoice that matches reality, a packing list with real weights and dimensions, and an HS code you can defend
- Under a duty-paid booking we file and settle on your behalf; the duty figure itself still follows your commodity, its declared value and the rate applied on the day
- Cells, aerosols and anything liquid need their paperwork ready before the cargo leaves the factory, not after it lands
- EU IOSS/VAT registration may be required for e-commerce shipments above EUR 150
- CE certification required for electronic goods sold to EU consumers
Where these United Kingdom duty figures come from
Every duty and tax figure quoted on this page is our working estimate for planning, not a ruling. The binding rate for your consignment is whatever HM Revenue & Customs applies against your declared HS code on the day of entry, and their published guidance is the source to check before you commit stock.
Most landed-cost surprises trace back to classification rather than freight. the WCO Harmonized System defines the heading structure every customs administration builds on, and ITC Market Access Map will show you the duty a given heading attracts in this destination.
On the air side, anything with a cell or a battery in it, plus liquids, powders, magnets and aerosols, is governed by the IATA Dangerous Goods Regulations. Those articles are not refused outright, but they need to be declared at booking so the shipment is built correctly — declaring them late is the single most common cause of an air consignment being offloaded.
If this is your first shipment into United Kingdom, the United Kingdom Country Commercial Guide covers the practical import environment in more depth than a rate page reasonably can, and it is written by a party with no stake in your booking.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I budget to move cargo into United Kingdom?
Pricing into United Kingdom currently opens at USD 20.59/shipment on Small Parcel – General Cargo. At 1 KG, the estimated total is approximately USD 21, duty included. Final landed cost depends on the Standard VAT 20%; duty 0–12% depending on commodity code applied by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).
What is the duty position on imports into United Kingdom?
Imports into United Kingdom are assessed by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC). The applicable regime is: Standard VAT 20%; duty 0–12% depending on commodity code. The duty-free / de-minimis position is GBP 135 (VAT due below; collected at point of sale). Under our DDP service these charges are pre-paid and included in the per-KG price, so there is nothing to settle on arrival.
How small a consignment is worth booking to United Kingdom?
It depends which door you come in by. Consolidated air opens around 21 kg, occasionally 12; groupage starts at one cubic metre and rounds up to it; single parcels go integrator. Under 21 kg into United Kingdom, courier almost always wins on total cost.
When does space get tight on the United Kingdom lane?
Capacity to United Kingdom tightens around Sep–Nov, on top of the China-side surcharge windows of Chinese New Year (Jan/Feb) and Golden Week (early Oct). Booking 1–2 weeks earlier during these windows protects both space and rate.
What does a duty-paid booking into United Kingdom actually cover?
A duty-paid booking into United Kingdom means we carry the freight, the customs entry with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) and last-mile delivery to your door, and quote them together so you settle once. The duty and tax element is not a fixed number: it follows your product's HS code, its declared value and the exchange rate applied on the day of entry, so it is confirmed on your specific goods rather than read off a rate card. The GBP 135 (VAT due below; collected at point of sale) de-minimis position applies.
What conformity paperwork does United Kingdom expect?
For regulated goods entering United Kingdom, plan for: UKCA / CE marking for regulated electronics and toys. Missing conformity paperwork is the most common cause of clearance holds with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC), so confirm requirements for your HS code before the cargo leaves China.
Realistically, how long does the United Kingdom run take?
Measured door to door into United Kingdom: air 5–10 business days, groupage 30–50 calendar days, a full box 28–45, and rail 18–28 days. On arrival, allow roughly 2–4 days of clearance/dwell at the gateway. All times include customs clearance under DDP.
What does the customs entry into United Kingdom need from me?
An entry with HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) stands on five things: a commercial invoice carrying HS codes and a declared value you can defend, a packing list whose weights and dimensions match the cargo, the bill of lading or air waybill, a certificate of origin where one lowers the duty, and whatever product certification applies (UKCA / CE marking for regulated electronics and toys). We prepare and file the set; you supply the truth behind it.
Watch: how this shipment works end to end
The rates above answer the cost question. This covers the mechanics — useful if you have not shipped to United Kingdom before and are still working out how to structure the order.
Air freight and volumetric weight. What is dimensional, chargeable or volumetric weight? — Train Learn Grow. Published on YouTube by a third party; we link it because it explains the process well, not because we produced it or endorse the provider.
Shipping to United Kingdom by industry
Rates above are lane rates and apply to general cargo. Packing specification, HS classification and the clearance step that matters are all commodity-specific — these guides cover them industry by industry.
- Transformers New Energy, Power & Electrical
- Sanitary Ware Building Materials & Construction Products
- Cartons Wood, Bamboo & Paper Products
- Flexible Packaging Plastics, Rubber & Packaging
- Home Decor Furniture & Home Products
- Technical Textiles Textiles, Apparel, Footwear & Leather
- Outdoor Products Toys, Sports, Outdoor & Leisure
- Fasteners Metal Products & Industrial Components
- Electric Motors General Machinery & Industrial Equipment
- Wire & Cable New Energy, Power & Electrical
- Wall Panels Building Materials & Construction Products
- Injection Molded Parts Plastics, Rubber & Packaging
Customs clearance in Uk
Duty and tax position, certification, typical port dwell and what actually holds shipments at this border — plus who files the entry.
Uk clearance requirements →