The short version
- A pre-shipment inspection in China costs about USD 268 to 299 per man-day at providers that publish their rates, as of October 23, 2026.
- Most single-product orders take 1 man-day, so a typical inspection is roughly USD 270 to 300.
- Published rates: V-Trust 268 (298 outside its main areas), QC Advisor from 280, AQF from 298, Sofeast from 299. QIMA, HQTS, SGS, Intertek and Bureau Veritas quote per job.
- Extras that raise the bill: remote factories, more SKUs, rush booking, Sunday or holiday work, late cancellation, re-inspection and lab tests.
- Book a few working days ahead, when at least 80% of the order is packed, and ask for a quote that lists man-days, rate and travel separately.
How much does a pre-shipment inspection cost in China?
A pre-shipment inspection in China costs about USD 268 to 299 per man-day at providers that publish their rates (V-Trust 268, QC Advisor from 280, AQF from 298, Sofeast from 299), and most factory visits take 1 man-day, so a typical single-SKU inspection is roughly USD 270 to 300. Remote locations, extra SKUs, rush booking, weekend or holiday work and lab tests add to that. Figures as of October 23, 2026, from each provider's own pricing page.
What does each provider charge per man-day?
| Provider | USD per man-day | Rate type | What the page says is included |
|---|---|---|---|
| V-Trust | 268 in its main areas; 298 elsewhere | Published, all inclusive | Travel, weekend work, report within 24 hours |
| QC Advisor | From 280 | Starting price | No travel charge in China; remote factories may cost more |
| Asia Quality Focus (AQF) | From 298 | Starting price | Quoted before you confirm; extras listed separately |
| Sofeast | From 299 | Starting price | Standard list rate; may vary outside core locations |
| QIMA | Not published | Quote only | Same-day report with photos; inspector on site within 48 hours of booking |
| HQTS | Not published | Quote only | Contact form |
| SGS, Intertek, Bureau Veritas | Not published | Quote only | Quoted per job |
As of October 23, 2026, from each provider's own pages (links in the sources below). Starting prices are the lowest rate a provider lists, not a quote for your order.
Two numbers you may see elsewhere are not in the range above: a competitor blog says QIMA starts “from 309” in China and that SGS is “typically $300+”. Neither company publishes that figure on its own pages we could read, so treat them as unverified and ask for a quote.
What does one man-day cover?
A man-day is one day of work by one inspector. It usually covers the trip to the factory, the on-site check and the report, which together make a long day of about 8 to 12 hours. Sofeast's founder breaks a 299 day down like this: checklist review, 1 to 2 hours of travel each way, an opening meeting, counting and drawing the sample, about 4 hours of checks on packaging, product and tests, a findings talk with the factory, then about 1 hour to write the report with photos. QIMA says most inspections take one full day on site.
| Product type | Suggested maximum per man-day |
|---|---|
| Basic consumer hardline goods | 200 to 315 units |
| Basic consumer electronics | 125 to 200 pieces |
| Garments | 80 to 125 pieces |
Source: Guided Imports, “What is a man-day in QC”, February 2026.
How many units does the inspector check?
The sample size comes from the AQL tables (ANSI/ASQ Z1.4, the same tables as ISO 2859-1). Providers commonly default to General Level II, AQL 2.5 for major defects and 4.0 for minor ones. A bigger lot means a bigger sample, which is one reason large orders can need more than one man-day.
| Lot size | Units checked | Major, AQL 2.5 | Minor, AQL 4.0 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 501 to 1,200 | 80 | Accept 5, reject 6 | Accept 7, reject 8 |
| 1,201 to 3,200 | 125 | Accept 7, reject 8 | Accept 10, reject 11 |
| 3,201 to 10,000 | 200 | Accept 10, reject 11 | Accept 14, reject 15 |
| 10,001 to 35,000 | 315 | Accept 14, reject 15 | Accept 21, reject 22 |
General Level II, single sampling, normal inspection. Sources: QC Advisor AQL chart and blog, QIMA AQL page, HQTS.
In plain words: for a lot of 2,000 units the inspector checks 125, and the lot passes on major defects with 7 or fewer. Our AQL guide explains how to read the full table and pick your levels.
What extra fees should you expect?
| Extra | Example from a provider's page |
|---|---|
| Sunday or public holiday | AQF: USD 100 per man-day. V-Trust: weekend work included. |
| Rush booking | AQF: USD 30 under 2 working days, USD 100 under 1 working day. |
| Same-day report | AQF: USD 30. QIMA: included. |
| Overtime | AQF: USD 50 per hour per inspector beyond 6.66 hours. |
| Late cancellation or date change | AQF: USD 100 per man-day plus quoted travel. QIMA: free to cancel or move until 4 pm China time the day before. |
| Remote factory | Sofeast's founder: about USD 50 extra at 120 km; an extra half man-day plus about USD 100 at 400 km. QC Advisor: remote factories may carry extra charges. |
| Re-inspection | QC Advisor: charged at the regular rate. |
| Lab tests | Quoted separately by every provider. |
As of October 23, 2026. Fees differ by provider, so compare quotes line by line.
What pushes the cost up?
- Distance: factories far from the provider's base cities.
- More SKUs or colors: each one may need its own sample, so more man-days.
- Large orders: a bigger AQL sample takes longer to check.
- Short notice: rush fees and weekend or holiday dates.
- Testing: lab or compliance tests and long custom checklists.
Example budget
| Order | Likely man-days | Budget at published rates |
|---|---|---|
| 1 SKU, 2,000 units, factory in a base city | 1 | About USD 268 to 299 |
| 3 SKUs, each needing a full sample | About 3 | About USD 800 to 900 |
Illustration only, not a quote. Always get the written quote before you confirm a date.
How do you book it and keep the cost down?
- Book a few working days ahead to avoid rush fees.
- Time it right: at least 80% of the order finished and packed, so one visit covers the whole lot.
- Ask for an itemized quote: man-days, rate and travel on separate lines.
- Send your specs first: AQL levels, defect list and a golden sample, so the visit is not wasted.
- Group SKUs from the same factory into one visit.
Our pick for booking online: QIMA. It does not publish a rate, so you request a quote with your product, lot size and AQL levels. In return you get an inspector on site within 48 hours of booking, a same-day report with photos, and free cancellation or a new date until 4 pm China time the day before. Starting before the order? Our factory audit guide covers the check you do before you pay a deposit.
Get a pre-shipment inspection quote from QIMA before you pay your supplier's balance.
Get a free QIMA quoteThis guide includes an affiliate link. If you book through it, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Can you skip a third-party inspection?
You can check an order without an inspection company, with a trade-off:
- Supplier photos or video of the finished lot and packed cartons, checked against your own written checklist. Free, but the evidence comes from the supplier.
- Your own staff or a trusted contact who can visit the factory.
- A signed pre-production sample and a written spec, so any check has something to compare against.
An independent inspection gives you a third-party record of what was checked, which is what most buyers want before releasing the final payment.
Need a factory first? Send us your product brief and we will come back with comparable quotes from manufacturers, free.
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Get free factory quotesFrequently asked questions
How much does a pre-shipment inspection cost in China?
About USD 268 to 299 per man-day at providers that publish rates, as of October 23, 2026, and most single-product orders take 1 man-day. Some providers, including QIMA and HQTS, only quote after you describe the order.
What is a man-day?
One day of work by one inspector. It normally includes travel, the on-site check and the report. A suggested maximum is 200 to 315 units for basic hardline goods, 125 to 200 for electronics and 80 to 125 for garments.
What is included in the price?
At V-Trust the rate is all inclusive: travel, weekend work and a report within 24 hours. At QC Advisor, rates in China carry no travel charge. Always confirm travel, report time and weekend work in your written quote.
How many units will the inspector check?
It follows the AQL table. At General Level II, a lot of 501 to 1,200 means 80 units, 1,201 to 3,200 means 125 and 3,201 to 10,000 means 200. Providers commonly default to AQL 2.5 for major and 4.0 for minor defects.
What extra fees should I expect?
Possible extras are rush booking (AQF USD 30 or 100), Sunday or holiday work (AQF USD 100 per man-day), overtime, late cancellation or a date change, remote factory travel, re-inspection and lab tests. Fees differ by provider, so compare quotes line by line.
Can I inspect without a third-party company?
Yes. You can check supplier photos or video against your own checklist, use your own staff or a contact on site, and approve a pre-production sample. A third-party inspection adds an independent report, which most buyers want before releasing the final payment.
This guide is general information. Prices are the providers' own published or starting rates as of October 23, 2026 and can change; your quote depends on product, location and scope. SuanSupply is not affiliated with V-Trust, QC Advisor, AQF, Sofeast, HQTS, SGS, Intertek or Bureau Veritas.