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The short version
- For samples and orders under about 100 kg, an express courier (DHL, FedEx, UPS) is usually the simplest choice: 2 to 5 days door to door, and the courier clears customs for you.
- Air freight starts to pay off from roughly 150 to 500 kg, and sea freight (LCL, then a full container) from about 500 kg or several cubic meters.
- Every US shipment from China now pays duty: the $800 de minimis exemption is suspended. In Canada, goods from China are only duty- and tax-free up to CA$20.
- Get the HS code, commercial invoice and Incoterm right before the goods leave the factory. Most delays and surprise bills start there.
What is the best way to ship from China?
The best way to ship from China depends on weight and urgency: express courier for samples and small orders, air freight for mid-size orders that need to arrive fast, and sea freight for anything heavy or bulky. Here's how the options compare for the US and Canada.
| Method | Door-to-door time | Rough cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Express courier (DHL, FedEx, UPS) | 2 to 5 days | Around US$15 per kg, less for heavier boxes | Samples, orders under about 100 kg |
| China Post, ePacket, YunExpress | 1 to 4 weeks | Low for light parcels; quotes vary | Single items, direct-to-customer orders |
| Air freight (consolidated) | About 1 to 2 weeks with customs and delivery | Around US$6 per kg, plus fees | 150 to 500 kg, launches, restocks in a hurry |
| Sea freight, shared container (LCL) | 4 to 6 weeks | From about US$140 per cubic meter, before local charges | From about 2 cubic meters |
| Sea freight, full container (FCL) | 3 to 6 weeks | About US$7,600 to 9,800 for a 40 ft container to the US | Large orders, 15 cubic meters and up |
Rough market figures as of early October 2026 from Freightos and other freight indexes. Rates move every week, so always get a quote for your own cartons.
Shipping cartons or parcels by courier? Compare DHL, FedEx, UPS and other couriers side by side, with duties and taxes estimated before you book.
Compare courier rates on EasyshipHow long does shipping from China take?
Express couriers usually deliver to the US in 2 to 4 days and to Canada in 3 to 5. Air freight is 2 to 3 days airport to airport, but with collection, customs and delivery it's closer to one to two weeks. Sea freight to the US West Coast takes about 2 to 3 weeks port to port, and Canada's ports or the US East Coast take longer; add a week or two for customs, unloading and trucking. Budget extra time around Chinese New Year and the October Golden Week holiday, when factories and forwarders slow down.
What do you pay to import from China into the US?
Since the de minimis exemption was suspended for every country, all goods from China pay US duty, including samples and small parcels. You pay:
- Duty: the normal rate for your HTS code, plus Section 301 (7.5% or 25% for most goods), plus a 12.5% forced-labor tariff since July 24, 2026. Work it out with our free China tariff calculator.
- Merchandise processing fee (MPF): 0.3464% of the value, at least US$34.58 and at most US$670.86 on formal entries from October 1, 2026.
- Harbor maintenance fee (HMF): 0.125% of the value, on sea freight only.
- Broker or courier fees for clearing the goods, and a customs bond for formal entries over US$2,500.
- ISF filing for sea freight: the 10+2 data must reach US Customs at least 24 hours before your goods are loaded in China.
With an express courier, the courier usually acts as your broker and bills duty and fees after delivery. Ask for the brokerage fee up front: on small shipments it can cost more than the duty.
What do you pay to import from China into Canada?
Goods from China pay the normal MFN duty for their tariff item, a surtax on some steel and aluminum products, and GST or HST on the value plus duty. Courier and postal shipments from China worth CA$20 or less enter free; the higher CA$40 tax and CA$150 duty limits only apply to goods shipped from the US or Mexico. Commercial importers need a Business Number with an import-export account and, since 2026, registration in the CBSA's CARM portal, where you can let a broker act for you.
Which Incoterm should you use?
| Term | What the supplier covers | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| EXW (Ex Works) | Nothing past their door | You must handle Chinese export clearance, which is hard from abroad |
| FOB (Free on Board) | Delivery onto the ship at the Chinese port | The usual choice for sea freight: you control the main freight and customs |
| DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) | Everything to your door, duty included | Their agent becomes the importer. Check the declared value is true and duty is really paid |
Our guides to FOB vs EXW and all 11 Incoterms go deeper.
How to ship from China, step by step
- Get carton details from your supplierNumber of cartons, weight and dimensions of each, and whether the goods contain batteries, magnets, liquids or powders.
- Confirm the HS code and your dutyAsk what code the supplier exports under, check it in the official schedule and estimate duty before you agree on price.
- Agree the Incoterm and who books freightFOB for sea freight, or ask for door-to-door courier quotes for small orders.
- Compare quotesGet two or three freight or courier quotes for the same cartons. Compare total landed cost, not just the freight line.
- Check the paperworkA commercial invoice with the real price paid, a packing list and, for batteries, the UN38.3 test summary.
- Pay the supplier safelyPay the company account named on your contract. Our guide on how to pay Chinese suppliers compares the options.
- Track customs and deliveryAnswer any broker questions quickly. Most holds are missing or unclear paperwork.
Lithium batteries are dangerous goods. Since January 1, 2026, IATA rules require batteries packed with equipment over 2.7 Wh to ship at 30% charge or less, and loose batteries can only fly on cargo aircraft. Tell your forwarder before booking.
Can you ship from China straight to Amazon or a 3PL?
Yes. Many sellers have the supplier or forwarder deliver directly to an Amazon fulfillment center or a third-party warehouse (3PL), which saves handling every box twice. You still need an importer of record in the US or Canada, and the cartons must be labeled the way the warehouse asks before they leave the factory. See what a 3PL is and when to use one.
Selling enough that packing orders eats your week? ShipBob receives your stock from overseas and ships every order for you, from warehouses in the US and Canada.
See how ShipBob worksKnow the true cost per unit before you order: product, freight, duty and fees in one place.
Open the free landed cost calculatorFrequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to ship from China to the USA?
For light parcels, postal services like ePacket or YunExpress are cheapest but slow. For anything over about 100 kg, consolidated air freight is usually cheaper per kilo than express, and from about 500 kg or 2 cubic meters, sea freight (LCL) is usually cheapest. Always compare the total including customs and delivery.
How long does shipping from China to Canada take?
Express couriers take about 3 to 5 days, air freight about 8 to 10 days door to door, and sea freight about 30 to 40 days door to door, depending on the port and inland delivery.
Do I pay duty on samples from China?
In the US, yes: the $800 de minimis exemption is suspended, so samples pay duty and fees like any other import. In Canada, courier shipments from China worth CA$20 or less are free of duty and tax.
Do I need a customs broker to import from China?
For courier shipments the courier usually acts as your broker. For US formal entries over US$2,500 and most Canadian commercial imports, you will in practice need a licensed customs broker and a bond or security.
Is DDP shipping from China safe?
It is convenient but carries risk: the seller's agent acts as importer, and some undervalue goods. If customs finds a problem, the goods can be held or seized. Ask who the importer of record is and check the declared value.
What documents do I need to import from China?
A commercial invoice showing the real price paid, a packing list, the bill of lading or air waybill, and any certificates your product needs, such as the UN38.3 test summary for batteries.
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General information as of October 6, 2026, not legal or customs advice. Freight rates change weekly and duty depends on your product's exact code; get quotes and confirm with a licensed customs broker before you ship.