What Goes Into a China Shipping Cost?
Shipping cost from China has three layers: (1) freight — the airline, ocean line, or courier rate; (2) origin & destination charges — inland trucking, terminal handling (THC), customs clearance, and documentation; (3) duties & taxes — import duty (0%–25%), VAT/GST (0%–20%). A quoted "$5/kg air" or "$80/CBM sea" rarely includes THC, duty, or last-mile — that's why a DDP all-in quote is the only number you should compare. Below are the formulas for each mode, with real 2026 rates.
Shipping Cost Formulas by Mode
| Mode | Formula | Unit | 2026 China→US Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air freight | $/kg × max(actual, L×W×H÷6000) | $/kg | $4 – $9/kg |
| Sea LCL | $/CBM × CBM (min 1 CBM) | $/CBM | $60 – $120/CBM |
| Sea FCL | Flat per 20ft / 40ft container | $/container | $1,200 – $3,500 |
| Express (DHL/FedEx) | $/kg × max(actual, L×W×H÷5000) | $/kg | $8 – $14/kg |
| Rail (China→EU) | $/CBM × CBM | $/CBM | $90 – $160/CBM |
Air Freight: Chargeable Weight Worked Example
Air carriers charge on chargeable weight — the greater of actual weight or volumetric weight. This is the #1 surprise for first-time shippers of bulky, light goods.
Volumetric weight (air, IATA): (L × W × H in cm) ÷ 6000
Volumetric weight (express): (L × W × H in cm) ÷ 5000
Example: A carton of plush toys measures 60 × 50 × 40 cm and weighs 8 kg.
- Volumetric weight (air) = (60 × 50 × 40) ÷ 6000 = 20 kg
- Actual weight = 8 kg
- Chargeable weight = max(20, 8) = 20 kg
- At $6/kg air to US → $120 freight on an 8 kg box
Express courier (÷5000) would charge 24 kg — even more. This is why bulky low-density goods should go sea LCL, not air.
Sea LCL & FCL: CBM and Container Rates
Sea freight is priced by CBM (cubic meter) for LCL (less-than-container-load) and by container for FCL (full-container-load).
- CBM formula: (L × W × H in cm) ÷ 1,000,000, or L × W × H in meters.
- LCL minimum: most routes charge a 1 CBM minimum even if your cargo is 0.3 CBM.
- FCL break-even: LCL becomes more expensive than FCL around 15 CBM (20ft) or 30 CBM (40ft). Above that, book a full container.
- 2026 FCL rates (China→US West Coast): 20ft $1,200–$2,000, 40ft $2,000–$3,500 (all-in ocean + terminal, excludes duty).
Add-On Charges (Often Hidden in FOB Quotes)
| Charge | Range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| China inland trucking (factory → port) | $80 – $500 | Yiwu→Ningbo ~$120; Shenzhen→Yantian ~$80 |
| THC (terminal handling) | $30 – $80/CBM (sea); $0.20 – $0.40/kg (air) | Port/airport terminal fee |
| Export customs clearance | $40 – $150 | Brokers fee + declaration |
| Documentation (BL, CO, FORM A/E) | $15 – $60 | Per document |
| Import customs clearance (destination) | $50 – $200 | Broker fee |
| Import duty | 0% – 25% of value | By HS code; Section 301 for China |
| VAT / GST | 0% – 20% | By destination country |
| Last-mile delivery | $0.50 – $3/unit | Port to warehouse / FBA |
DDP quotes bundle all of these into one rate; FOB quotes hide THC, docs, import clearance, and duty. Always convert FOB to landed cost before comparing.
Worked Example: 500 kg / 2 CBM to the US
Shipment of 500 kg / 2 CBM of kitchenware from Ningbo to Los Angeles.
Option A — Air freight (DDP):
- Chargeable weight = max(500 kg, 2 CBM equivalent). Air volumetric = 2,000,000 cm³ ÷ 6000 = 333 kg → chargeable = 500 kg
- Air DDP: $5.50/kg × 500 = $2,750 (all-in, duty included)
- Transit: 5–8 days door-to-door
Option B — Sea LCL (DDP):
- CBM = 2.0 (above 1 CBM min)
- Sea LCL DDP: $80/CBM × 2 = $160 (all-in, duty included)
- Transit: 25–35 days door-to-door
Air is 17× more expensive but 5× faster. For a $10/unit product with 30-day sea lead time, the $2,590 premium buys 25 days of working capital and avoids a stockout — worth it for trending or high-margin goods.
Online Freight Calculators vs Real Quotes
- Freightos — instant air/sea quotes from a forwarder marketplace; good for ballpark but misses THC and duty.
- Alibaba Logistics — integrated with 1688/Alibaba orders; convenient for small parcels.
- 17track — tracking only, not a quote tool.
- Limitation: none of these include Section 301 duty, peak-season surcharges, or DG fees. Always get 2–3 forwarder all-in DDP quotes before booking.
How Yeatru Quotes Shipping Cost
Yeatru provides all-in DDP quotes within 24 hours:
- Compare air, sea LCL/FCL, express, and rail side-by-side.
- Include THC, export/import clearance, duty, VAT, and last-mile — no hidden lines.
- Chargeable-weight and CBM calculation with your actual carton dimensions.
- Peak-season (Sep–Dec) surcharge transparency — we quote before rates spike.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. How do I calculate shipping cost from China?
Pick the mode and apply its formula: air = $/kg × chargeable weight (max of actual or L×W×H÷6000); sea LCL = $/CBM × CBM (min 1 CBM); sea FCL = flat per container; express = $/kg × L×W×H÷5000; rail = $/CBM × CBM. Add inland trucking ($80–$500), THC, customs ($40–$150 export, $50–$200 import), duty, VAT, and last-mile.
2. What is the air freight chargeable weight formula?
Chargeable weight = max(actual gross weight, volumetric weight), where volumetric weight = (L × W × H in cm) ÷ 6000 for IATA air. A 60×50×40 cm box weighing 8 kg is charged at 20 kg. Express courier uses ÷5000 (24 kg). Always ask for both numbers before booking.
3. How is sea freight LCL cost calculated?
Sea LCL = $/CBM × CBM, where CBM = (L × W × H in cm) ÷ 1,000,000. The minimum chargeable CBM is 1.0. 2026 China→US LCL DDP rates: $60–$120/CBM. FCL is a flat per-container rate ($1,200–$3,500) regardless of CBM; switch from LCL to FCL around 15 CBM.
4. What is the difference between DDP and FOB shipping cost?
FOB covers goods loaded onto the China vessel; you pay freight, insurance, import duty, and delivery separately. DDP is all-in: freight, insurance, duty, and last-mile to your door. DDP costs 5%–15% more but removes admin and duty surprises — always compare landed cost, not just freight.
5. How much does it cost to ship 500 kg / 2 CBM from China to the US?
Air: $5.50/kg × 500 = $2,750 (DDP, 5–8 days). Sea LCL: $80/CBM × 2 = $160 (DDP, 25–35 days). Air is 17× more expensive but 5× faster. Use air for high-value, urgent, or trending stock; sea for bulk low-value goods.
6. Are there online shipping calculators for China freight?
Yes — Freightos (air/sea instant quotes), Alibaba Logistics, and 17track (tracking). But none include Section 301 duty, THC, or peak surcharges. Always get 2–3 all-in DDP forwarder quotes before booking. Yeatru quotes DDP within 24 hours with every line item shown.
Conclusion
Calculating China shipping cost comes down to the right formula per mode (air chargeable weight, sea CBM, FCL flat) plus the often-hidden add-ons: THC, customs clearance, duty, and last-mile. The cheapest-looking rate is rarely the cheapest landed cost — convert FOB to DDP-equivalent before deciding. For 500 kg/2 CBM, sea LCL at $160 beats air's $2,750 unless the 25-day time savings is worth the premium. Send Yeatru your carton dimensions and weight — we'll calculate air, sea, express, and rail all-in DDP costs side-by-side within 24 hours.
