Gateways, customs procedure, duty position and realistic door-to-door timings for cargo moving from China into United States.
Freight from China to United States moves by sea through Los Angeles/Long Beach and by air through LAX (Los Angeles). Customs is administered by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and arriving cargo typically sits 2–5 days at the gateway before release.
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.
| Service | Mode | Rate (USD/KG) | Details |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Value LA OA – Parcel Delivery | 🚢 Sea Freight | USD 2.1 | View Details → |
| LA OA – Parcel Delivery | 🚢 Sea Freight | USD 2.2 | View Details → |
| ZIM / Hede – Parcel Delivery | 🚢 Sea Freight | USD 2.3 | View Details → |
| LA OA – Parcel Delivery | 🚢 Sea Freight | USD 2.4 | View Details → |
| ZIM / Hede – Parcel Delivery | 🚢 Sea Freight | USD 2.4 | View Details → |
Enter your tracking number below
Powered by 17TRACK — supports 2,000+ carriers worldwide
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.
| Weight | Rate (USD/KG) |
|---|---|
| 12 KG | USD 3.89 |
| 13 KG | USD 3.71 |
| 14 KG | USD 3.55 |
| 15 KG | USD 3.42 |
| 16 KG | USD 3.31 |
| 17 KG | USD 4.02 |
| 18 KG | USD 3.89 |
| 19 KG | USD 3.76 |
| 20 KG | USD 3.65 |
| 21 KG | USD 3.55 |
| 22 KG | USD 3.46 |
| 23 KG | USD 3.68 |
| 30 KG | USD 3.19 |
| 50 KG | USD 2.68 |
| 100 KG | USD 2.13 |
| 150 KG | USD 1.73 |
| 200 KG | USD 1.64 |
| 505 KG | USD 1.36 |
| 850 KG | USD 1.41 |
| 1700 KG | USD 1.49 |
| 2500 KG | USD 1.47 |
| 3400 KG | USD 1.23 |
| Weight | Rate (USD/KG) |
|---|---|
| 12 KG | USD 3.96 |
| 13 KG | USD 3.78 |
| 14 KG | USD 3.62 |
| 15 KG | USD 3.49 |
| 16 KG | USD 3.38 |
| 17 KG | USD 4.09 |
| 18 KG | USD 3.96 |
| 19 KG | USD 3.83 |
| 20 KG | USD 3.72 |
| 21 KG | USD 3.62 |
| 22 KG | USD 3.53 |
| 23 KG | USD 3.75 |
| 30 KG | USD 3.26 |
| 50 KG | USD 2.75 |
| 100 KG | USD 2.20 |
| 150 KG | USD 1.80 |
| 200 KG | USD 1.71 |
| 505 KG | USD 1.43 |
| 850 KG | USD 1.48 |
| 1700 KG | USD 1.56 |
| 2500 KG | USD 1.54 |
| 3400 KG | USD 1.30 |
| Weight | Rate (USD/KG) |
|---|---|
| 12 KG | USD 4.08 |
| 13 KG | USD 3.90 |
| 14 KG | USD 3.75 |
| 15 KG | USD 3.62 |
| 16 KG | USD 3.50 |
| 17 KG | USD 4.22 |
| 18 KG | USD 4.08 |
| 19 KG | USD 3.96 |
| 20 KG | USD 3.85 |
| 21 KG | USD 3.75 |
| 22 KG | USD 3.66 |
| 23 KG | USD 3.88 |
| 30 KG | USD 3.39 |
| 50 KG | USD 2.88 |
| 100 KG | USD 2.32 |
| 150 KG | USD 1.93 |
| 200 KG | USD 1.83 |
| 505 KG | USD 1.55 |
| 850 KG | USD 1.61 |
| 1700 KG | USD 1.69 |
| 2500 KG | USD 1.67 |
| 3400 KG | USD 1.42 |
| Weight | Rate (USD/KG) |
|---|---|
| 12 KG | USD 4.12 |
| 13 KG | USD 3.94 |
| 14 KG | USD 3.79 |
| 15 KG | USD 3.66 |
| 16 KG | USD 3.54 |
| 17 KG | USD 4.26 |
| 18 KG | USD 4.12 |
| 19 KG | USD 4.00 |
| 20 KG | USD 3.89 |
| 21 KG | USD 3.79 |
| 22 KG | USD 3.70 |
| 23 KG | USD 3.92 |
| 30 KG | USD 3.43 |
| 50 KG | USD 2.92 |
| 100 KG | USD 2.36 |
| 150 KG | USD 1.97 |
| 200 KG | USD 1.88 |
| 505 KG | USD 1.60 |
| 850 KG | USD 1.65 |
| 1700 KG | USD 1.73 |
| 2500 KG | USD 1.71 |
| 3400 KG | USD 1.46 |
| Weight | Rate (USD/KG) |
|---|---|
| 12 KG | USD 4.15 |
| 13 KG | USD 3.97 |
| 14 KG | USD 3.82 |
| 15 KG | USD 3.69 |
| 16 KG | USD 3.57 |
| 17 KG | USD 4.29 |
| 18 KG | USD 4.15 |
| 19 KG | USD 4.03 |
| 20 KG | USD 3.92 |
| 21 KG | USD 3.82 |
| 22 KG | USD 3.73 |
| 23 KG | USD 3.95 |
| 30 KG | USD 3.46 |
| 50 KG | USD 2.95 |
| 100 KG | USD 2.39 |
| 150 KG | USD 2.00 |
| 200 KG | USD 1.90 |
| 505 KG | USD 1.62 |
| 850 KG | USD 1.68 |
| 1700 KG | USD 1.76 |
| 2500 KG | USD 1.74 |
| 3400 KG | USD 1.49 |
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.
| 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 |
Buyer takes over at the seller's door and carries every cost from there. Lowest quoted price, highest buyer workload.
Seller clears the goods for export and hands them to the carrier the buyer nominated.
Sea and inland waterway only. Seller delivers alongside the vessel; loading is on the buyer.
Sea and inland waterway only. Risk passes once the goods are on board. The most common buying term.
Seller pays the main carriage but carries no insurance obligation; risk still passes on loading.
As CFR, plus the seller must buy and pay for cargo insurance (minimum cover unless you agree more).
Any mode. Seller pays carriage through to the named destination; insurance is not obligatory.
As CPT, plus the seller must insure the cargo through to the named destination.
Seller delivers unloaded at the named terminal. Renamed DPU (Delivered at Place Unloaded) in Incoterms® 2020.
Seller delivers to your address ready for unloading; import clearance and duty stay with the buyer.
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.
Historical freight rates from China to United States. Data sourced from live carrier price feeds.
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.
At 100 KG, you're in the commercial freight category — large enough for competitive rates but still within the range where air freight often beats sea freight on cost per delivery cycle. This weight is common for electronics, clothing, and general merchandise restocking shipments going to United States.
Shipping to United States by air or sea? Plan cartons and container loading in 3D before requesting a quote.
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 →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 →| Method | Transit Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Air Freight DDP | 5–10 business days | From China warehouse to United States door |
| Sea Freight LCL | 30–50 calendar days | Shared container to United States port + delivery |
| Express Courier | 3–7 business days | DHL/FedEx/UPS door-to-door, high cost for this weight |
Cargo leaves South China by air, sea or rail and enters United States through Los Angeles/Long Beach, New York/Newark, Savannah (sea) or LAX (Los Angeles), ORD (Chicago), JFK (New York) (air). U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) assesses duty and tax on arrival, with typical dwell of 2–5 days before release. Air runs 5–10 days door to door, sea 25–45 days.
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.
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.
Sea freight to United States typically routes through Los Angeles/Long Beach, New York/Newark, Savannah, while air freight clears via LAX (Los Angeles), ORD (Chicago), JFK (New York). We pick the gateway with the best onward delivery time to your final address and price it into the DDP rate.
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.
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.
Freight to United States is quoted and invoiced in USD; the local currency on the destination side is USD. Payment is typically due before departure (T/T or PayPal), and because it's DDP you settle the full landed cost once — no destination collect charges.
Minimums to United States vary by channel: air DDP from about 21 KG (some from 12 KG), sea LCL from roughly 1 CBM, and express courier for single parcels. Below 21 KG, express is usually the most economical way into United States.
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.
Duty and tax position, certification, typical port dwell and what actually holds shipments at this border — plus who files the entry.
Usa clearance requirements →