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Americas ✈️ Air Freight 🚢 Sea Freight 500 KG

Cost to Ship 500KG from China to United States

What this shipment size actually costs, and whether consolidating up to the next bracket would be cheaper.

USD 1.3/KG Best Rate Now
5 Channels Available
2026-08-14 Last Updated

Shipping 500KG from China to United States costs approximately USD 655 all-in, based on a published rate of USD 1.31 per kilogram. That figure covers freight, duty and tax to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and delivery to your door, with nothing further to pay on arrival.

Estimated total
USD 655 for 500KG
By sea
USD 1.31/kg, 25-45 days
Customs authority
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)

Rates last updated 2026-08-14. Figures are published channel prices for planning; the final quote depends on chargeable weight, cargo class and HS code.

Current Rates — China to United States (500 KG)

Updated 2026-08-14
Service Mode Rate (USD/KG) Total (500 KG) Details
Best Value LA OA – Parcel Delivery 🚢 Sea Freight USD 1.3 USD 655 View Details →
LA OA – Parcel Delivery 🚢 Sea Freight USD 1.4 USD 690 View Details →
ZIM / Hede – Parcel Delivery 🚢 Sea Freight USD 1.5 USD 750 View Details →
LA OA – Parcel Delivery 🚢 Sea Freight USD 1.5 USD 770 View Details →
ZIM / Hede – Parcel Delivery 🚢 Sea Freight USD 1.6 USD 785 View Details →

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Full Weight-Tier Rate Cards

Detailed per-weight pricing for every active route from China to United States. Each tier reflects the published rate at that exact weight — useful for accurate budgeting at common shipment sizes.

LA OA – Parcel Delivery

🚢 Sea Freight → ZIP 8,9
Best Value at 500 KG
Updated 2026-08-14 22 weight tiers USD pricing
Weight Rate (USD/KG) @ 500 KG
12 KG USD 3.89 USD 1,945.00
13 KG USD 3.71 USD 1,855.00
14 KG USD 3.55 USD 1,775.00
15 KG USD 3.42 USD 1,710.00
16 KG USD 3.31 USD 1,655.00
17 KG USD 4.02 USD 2,010.00
18 KG USD 3.89 USD 1,945.00
19 KG USD 3.76 USD 1,880.00
20 KG USD 3.65 USD 1,825.00
21 KG USD 3.55 USD 1,775.00
22 KG USD 3.46 USD 1,730.00
23 KG USD 3.68 USD 1,840.00
30 KG USD 3.19 USD 1,595.00
50 KG USD 2.68 USD 1,340.00
100 KG USD 2.13 USD 1,065.00
150 KG USD 1.73 USD 865.00
200 KG USD 1.64 USD 820.00
505 KG USD 1.36 USD 680.00
850 KG USD 1.41 USD 705.00
1700 KG USD 1.49 USD 745.00
2500 KG USD 1.47 USD 735.00
3400 KG USD 1.23 USD 615.00
View full route details →

LA OA – Parcel Delivery

🚢 Sea Freight → ZIP 97,98,99
Updated 2026-08-14 22 weight tiers USD pricing
Weight Rate (USD/KG) @ 500 KG
12 KG USD 3.96 USD 1,980.00
13 KG USD 3.78 USD 1,890.00
14 KG USD 3.62 USD 1,810.00
15 KG USD 3.49 USD 1,745.00
16 KG USD 3.38 USD 1,690.00
17 KG USD 4.09 USD 2,045.00
18 KG USD 3.96 USD 1,980.00
19 KG USD 3.83 USD 1,915.00
20 KG USD 3.72 USD 1,860.00
21 KG USD 3.62 USD 1,810.00
22 KG USD 3.53 USD 1,765.00
23 KG USD 3.75 USD 1,875.00
30 KG USD 3.26 USD 1,630.00
50 KG USD 2.75 USD 1,375.00
100 KG USD 2.20 USD 1,100.00
150 KG USD 1.80 USD 900.00
200 KG USD 1.71 USD 855.00
505 KG USD 1.43 USD 715.00
850 KG USD 1.48 USD 740.00
1700 KG USD 1.56 USD 780.00
2500 KG USD 1.54 USD 770.00
3400 KG USD 1.30 USD 650.00
View full route details →

ZIM / Hede – Parcel Delivery

🚢 Sea Freight → ZIP 8,9
Updated 2026-08-14 22 weight tiers USD pricing
Weight Rate (USD/KG) @ 500 KG
12 KG USD 4.08 USD 2,040.00
13 KG USD 3.90 USD 1,950.00
14 KG USD 3.75 USD 1,875.00
15 KG USD 3.62 USD 1,810.00
16 KG USD 3.50 USD 1,750.00
17 KG USD 4.22 USD 2,110.00
18 KG USD 4.08 USD 2,040.00
19 KG USD 3.96 USD 1,980.00
20 KG USD 3.85 USD 1,925.00
21 KG USD 3.75 USD 1,875.00
22 KG USD 3.66 USD 1,830.00
23 KG USD 3.88 USD 1,940.00
30 KG USD 3.39 USD 1,695.00
50 KG USD 2.88 USD 1,440.00
100 KG USD 2.32 USD 1,160.00
150 KG USD 1.93 USD 965.00
200 KG USD 1.83 USD 915.00
505 KG USD 1.55 USD 775.00
850 KG USD 1.61 USD 805.00
1700 KG USD 1.69 USD 845.00
2500 KG USD 1.67 USD 835.00
3400 KG USD 1.42 USD 710.00
View full route details →

LA OA – Parcel Delivery

🚢 Sea Freight → ZIP 5,6,7
Updated 2026-08-14 22 weight tiers USD pricing
Weight Rate (USD/KG) @ 500 KG
12 KG USD 4.12 USD 2,060.00
13 KG USD 3.94 USD 1,970.00
14 KG USD 3.79 USD 1,895.00
15 KG USD 3.66 USD 1,830.00
16 KG USD 3.54 USD 1,770.00
17 KG USD 4.26 USD 2,130.00
18 KG USD 4.12 USD 2,060.00
19 KG USD 4.00 USD 2,000.00
20 KG USD 3.89 USD 1,945.00
21 KG USD 3.79 USD 1,895.00
22 KG USD 3.70 USD 1,850.00
23 KG USD 3.92 USD 1,960.00
30 KG USD 3.43 USD 1,715.00
50 KG USD 2.92 USD 1,460.00
100 KG USD 2.36 USD 1,180.00
150 KG USD 1.97 USD 985.00
200 KG USD 1.88 USD 940.00
505 KG USD 1.60 USD 800.00
850 KG USD 1.65 USD 825.00
1700 KG USD 1.73 USD 865.00
2500 KG USD 1.71 USD 855.00
3400 KG USD 1.46 USD 730.00
View full route details →

ZIM / Hede – Parcel Delivery

🚢 Sea Freight → ZIP 97,98,99
Updated 2026-08-14 22 weight tiers USD pricing
Weight Rate (USD/KG) @ 500 KG
12 KG USD 4.15 USD 2,075.00
13 KG USD 3.97 USD 1,985.00
14 KG USD 3.82 USD 1,910.00
15 KG USD 3.69 USD 1,845.00
16 KG USD 3.57 USD 1,785.00
17 KG USD 4.29 USD 2,145.00
18 KG USD 4.15 USD 2,075.00
19 KG USD 4.03 USD 2,015.00
20 KG USD 3.92 USD 1,960.00
21 KG USD 3.82 USD 1,910.00
22 KG USD 3.73 USD 1,865.00
23 KG USD 3.95 USD 1,975.00
30 KG USD 3.46 USD 1,730.00
50 KG USD 2.95 USD 1,475.00
100 KG USD 2.39 USD 1,195.00
150 KG USD 2.00 USD 1,000.00
200 KG USD 1.90 USD 950.00
505 KG USD 1.62 USD 810.00
850 KG USD 1.68 USD 840.00
1700 KG USD 1.76 USD 880.00
2500 KG USD 1.74 USD 870.00
3400 KG USD 1.49 USD 745.00
View full route details →

✈️ Air Freight Options

Air Express CN – UPS General USD 8.6/KG →
Air Express CN – UPS General USD 8.7/KG →
Air Express CN – UPS General USD 8.8/KG →

🚢 Sea Freight Options

LA OA – Parcel Delivery USD 1.3/KG →
LA OA – Parcel Delivery USD 1.4/KG →
ZIM / Hede – Parcel Delivery USD 1.5/KG →
Calculate for a different weight:

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 States 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.
Responsibility for each shipment stage under each Incoterms rule
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.

Price Trend — United States

Historical freight rates from China to United States for 500 KG shipments. Data sourced from live carrier price feeds.

China to United States — Shipping Reference Data

Key China-to-United States import facts buyers should plan around:

Main sea gateways Los Angeles/Long Beach, New York/Newark, Savannah
Destination customs authority U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP)
De-minimis / duty-free threshold USD 800
Import tax & duty regime No federal VAT; duties vary by HTS code (often 0–6.5% for general goods)
Local currency USD
Typical port/airport dwell time 2–5 days
Peak / busy season Aug–Oct (pre-holiday peak)
Conformity & certification FCC for radio devices; FDA Prior Notice for food/supplements
Main air gateways LAX (Los Angeles), ORD (Chicago), JFK (New York)

Thresholds and duty bands are buyer-planning references, not formal customs rulings — confirm the exact HS-code rate for your goods before shipping.

Bulk Freight

Bulk Commercial Freight

Shipping 500 KG from China to United States is firmly in bulk commercial freight territory. At this volume, sea freight (FCL or LCL) and air charter rates become significantly more competitive. Most importers at this weight range use scheduled sea freight for regular orders and air freight only for urgent replenishments.

  • Sea freight FCL (full container) may be cost-effective above 5 CBM
  • LCL sea freight rates are quoted per CBM at this range
  • Expect customs examination — prepare full documentation
  • Insurance recommended for shipments above USD 5,000 value

Free 3D Loading Tools

Shipping to United States by air or sea? Plan cartons and container loading in 3D before requesting a quote.

3D Carton Packing Calculator

Check how many units truly fit per carton for this United States shipment: the 3D packing tool computes layers, rotation, and protection gaps from your exact product size.

Open Packing Tool →
🚢

3D Container Loading Planner

Sea freight to United States prices by CBM or container — plan 20GP/40GP/40HQ loading in 3D, mix different box sizes, and check utilization before booking.

Open Container Planner →

Which Shipping Method is Best for 500 KG?

✈️

Air Freight

Transit: 5–10 business days
Best at: Under 300 KG, time-sensitive cargo
Premium Only
Recommended
🚢

Sea Freight

Transit: 25–45 calendar days
Best at: Over 100 KG, non-urgent cargo
Recommended
🚂

Rail Freight

Transit: 18–28 calendar days
Best at: Europe destinations over 50 KG
Europe only

Transit Times — China to United States

MethodTransit TimeNotes
Sea Freight LCL30–50 calendar daysShared container to United States port + delivery
Sea Freight FCL28–45 calendar daysFull container to United States port + delivery
Express Courier3–7 business daysDHL/FedEx/UPS door-to-door, high cost for this weight

What Affects the Shipping Cost to United States?

  • Actual vs. volumetric weight — carriers charge whichever is higher (L×W×H÷6000 for air)
  • Cargo type surcharge — batteries, liquids, and branded goods carry additional fees
  • Peak season surcharges — Chinese New Year (Jan/Feb) and Golden Week (Oct) add 15–30%
  • Destination area — United States may have remote area surcharges for certain postal codes
  • Declared value — customs duties are calculated on CIF value

Customs & Documentation for United States

  • De minimis threshold — shipments below local tax threshold may clear duty-free
  • Required documents: commercial invoice, packing list, and accurate HS codes
  • DDP service includes all import duties — you pay one total price with no surprises
  • Battery and liquid goods require additional certification documents
  • FDA Prior Notice required for food, supplements, and certain health products
  • FCC certification required for electronic devices with radio frequency

Where these United States 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 U.S. Customs and Border Protection 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.

For ocean cargo, restricted commodities move under the IMO's IMDG Code, and the container has to be declared and stowed accordingly. Batteries, flammables and corrosives all have a compliant ocean path; what causes rolled bookings is finding out about them after the container is packed.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to ship from China to United States?

Current rates for shipping from China to United States start at USD 1.31/KG via LA OA – Parcel Delivery. For 500 KG, the estimated total is approximately USD 655, duty included. Final landed cost depends on the No federal VAT; duties vary by HTS code (often 0–6.5% for general goods) applied by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

What duties and taxes apply when importing into United States?

Imports into United States are assessed by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The applicable regime is: No federal VAT; duties vary by HTS code (often 0–6.5% for general goods). The duty-free / de-minimis position is USD 800. 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 long does shipping from China to United States take?

Door-to-door transit to United States: air freight 5–10 business days, sea LCL 30–50 days, sea FCL 28–45 days. On arrival, allow roughly 2–5 days of clearance/dwell at the gateway. All times include customs clearance under DDP.

Can I track my shipment from China to United States?

Yes. Air shipments to United States get an air waybill (AWB) trackable within 24 hours of departure; sea shipments are tracked by bill-of-lading through the carrier portal. We push status at key milestones: departure, arrival at the gateway, clearance by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and final delivery.

What is DDP shipping to United States and what does it include?

DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) to United States means one all-inclusive price covering freight, the duty/tax due to U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and last-mile delivery to your door. The USD 800 de-minimis position is handled for you, and there are no surprise charges at destination.

What documents are required for customs clearance in United States?

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) typically requires: (1) commercial invoice with HS codes and declared value; (2) packing list with weights and dimensions; (3) bill of lading or air waybill; (4) certificate of origin (may lower duty); and (5) any product-specific certification (FCC for radio devices; FDA Prior Notice for food/supplements). Under DDP we prepare and file these for you.

What certifications are required to import into United States?

For regulated goods entering United States, plan for: FCC for radio devices; FDA Prior Notice for food/supplements. Missing conformity paperwork is the most common cause of clearance holds with U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), so confirm requirements for your HS code before the cargo leaves China.

How is chargeable weight calculated for United States shipments?

We compare actual gross weight against volumetric weight (L×W×H ÷ 6000 for air) and charge whichever is greater, rounded up to the next kilogram. For 500 KG this matters most when cargo is light but bulky — consolidating cartons can drop you into a cheaper bracket.

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 States before and are still working out how to structure the order.

Bill of Lading Explained (BOL) | Types, Components & Full Beginner Guide | Shipping Document — 10 Min For Supply Chain. 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 States 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.

All 139 industry guides →

Customs clearance in Usa

Duty and tax position, certification, typical port dwell and what actually holds shipments at this border — plus who files the entry.

Usa clearance requirements →