Sea Freight vs Air Freight vs Express: Shipping from China Compared

Picking the wrong shipping method costs you money, time, or both. The cheapest option for one shipment is the most expensive for another.

This guide breaks down sea freight vs air freight vs express courier from China in 2026. You’ll see real costs, real transit times, and exactly when to use each one.

The Three Shipping Options at a Glance

Every shipment from China falls into one of three categories. Each has a different cost structure and a different use case.

• Sea freight (ocean): Cheapest per unit. Slowest. Best for large, heavy shipments.
• Air freight: Mid-range cost. Much faster. Best for time-sensitive, lighter shipments.
• Express courier (DHL, FedEx, UPS): Most expensive. Fastest. Best for samples and small orders.

Here’s how they compare head-to-head before we go deeper:

Sea Freight: Cheapest for Large Shipments

Sea freight is the standard choice for any large electronics order. It takes longer, but it costs a fraction of what you’d pay by air.

FCL vs LCL

FCL (Full Container Load) means you rent the whole container. Use it when your shipment fills at least 50 to 70% of a container.

In January 2026, FCL rates from China to the US West Coast ran about $2,000 to $2,350 for a 20-foot container. A 40-foot container ran $2,350 to $3,400. East Coast ports like New York or Savannah cost $600 to $800 more.

LCL (Less than Container Load) means your cargo shares a container with other shippers. You only pay for the space you use.

LCL rates typically run $50 to $100 per CBM (cubic meter) for the ocean leg. Add destination charges, local delivery, and customs, and expect $150 to $250 per CBM all-in. LCL works well when your shipment is 1 to 10 CBM.

Transit Times for Sea Freight

Transit time from China to the US West Coast (LA/Long Beach) runs 14 to 21 days on the water. Add 3 to 7 days for port handling, customs clearance, and inland delivery.

Real total door-to-door time: 25 to 40 days from your supplier’s factory.

Shipping to the East Coast adds another 7 to 10 days if going through the Panama Canal.

When to Use Sea Freight

Sea freight makes sense when:

• Your order is over 200 kg or more than 1 CBM
• You can wait 4 to 6 weeks for delivery
• You’re shipping heavy goods like speakers, power supplies, or gaming peripherals
• Your gross margin per unit can absorb 4 to 6 weeks of cash tied up in transit

Before booking sea freight, make sure your supplier is verified and your goods are ready for a quality check before loading. See our quality control guide.

Air Freight: Faster but Pricier

Air freight sits between sea and express in both cost and speed. It’s the right call when your shipment is too big for express courier but too urgent for sea.

Air Freight Costs from China to the US

In 2026, air freight rates from major Chinese airports (Shanghai Pudong, Shenzhen, Guangzhou) to US gateways run $6 to $8 per kilogram for shipments over 100 kg.

Smaller shipments under 100 kg can run $8 to $12 per kg. Rates fluctuate with fuel prices and seasonal demand. Chinese New Year and Q4 holiday season push rates 30% to 50% higher.

Air freight is priced on actual weight or volumetric weight, whichever is higher. Volumetric weight = (length x width x height in cm) / 6,000. Light, bulky items like headphones in retail packaging often hit volumetric weight and cost more than their actual weight suggests.

Transit Times for Air Freight

Air freight from China to the US typically takes 5 to 10 days door-to-door. The flying time is 12 to 18 hours, but add time for export customs in China, airport handling, US customs clearance, and last-mile delivery.

Peak seasons can push this to 12 to 15 days.

When to Use Air Freight

Air freight makes sense when:

• Your shipment is 50 kg to 500 kg
• You need it faster than sea allows but don’t want to pay express courier rates
• You’re dealing with a product launch deadline or low inventory situation
• The value of your goods is high relative to the freight cost

A good rule of thumb: air freight starts to beat express courier rates somewhere around 150 to 200 kg.

Express Courier: Fastest, Most Expensive

Express couriers like DHL, FedEx, and UPS handle the fastest door-to-door shipments from China. They handle customs clearance as part of their service, which makes them simple to use.

Express Courier Costs

DHL, FedEx, and UPS raised rates by an average of 5.9% in January 2026. You’re now looking at:

• Small packages (1-10 kg): $25 to $80 total
• Mid-size shipments (10-50 kg): $8 to $20 per kg
• Larger shipments (50-150 kg): $6 to $10 per kg

At those rates, a 20 kg shipment by DHL costs roughly $160 to $400 depending on dimensions and service level.

Like air freight, express couriers charge on actual or volumetric weight. Electronics in retail packaging are often volumetric.

Transit Times for Express Couriers

DHL, FedEx, and UPS typically deliver from China to the US in 3 to 5 business days. That’s door-to-door, including customs clearance.

When to Use Express Courier

Express courier makes sense when:

• You’re ordering samples (see our requesting samples guide)
• Your shipment is under 50 kg
• You need goods in less than a week
• You need a simple solution with minimal paperwork

Most importers use express for samples and small test orders, then switch to air or sea once volumes grow.

Breakeven Points: When to Switch Shipping Modes

Here’s where switching modes saves money.

Express to Air Freight: Above 100 to 150 kg, air freight almost always beats express courier rates. At 150 kg, air freight at $7/kg costs $1,050. The same shipment via DHL might run $1,200 to $1,800.

Air to Sea Freight: Above 300 to 500 kg and when you can wait 4 to 6 weeks, sea freight wins on cost. At 500 kg, air freight at $7/kg is $3,500. An LCL ocean shipment of the same goods might run $500 to $800.

LCL to FCL: Once your shipment reaches 12 to 15 CBM, a full 20-foot container is often cheaper than LCL.

Customs Clearance Differences by Shipping Mode

Sea freight: You file an ISF (Importer Security Filing) at least 24 hours before vessel loading in China. A formal customs entry is required for shipments over $2,500. See our US customs duties guide.

Air freight: No ISF required. But you still need a formal customs entry for shipments over $2,500. Air freight entries clear faster than ocean because there’s no ISF pre-filing period.

Express courier: The courier handles customs clearance as part of the service. They pre-file with CBP electronically. You pay duties and their handling fee (usually $15 to $30) billed separately.

How Incoterms Affect Your Shipping Costs

How you negotiate shipping terms with your supplier changes who pays for what leg of the journey. FOB terms mean your supplier covers costs to the Chinese port. EXW means you pay everything from the factory door.

Read our Incoterms guide to understand how FOB, CIF, and EXW affect your real freight cost.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long does sea freight from China to the US take in 2026? Door-to-door, sea freight from China to the US West Coast takes 25 to 35 days. East Coast shipments take 35 to 45 days. This includes factory pickup, ocean transit, port handling, customs, and last-mile delivery.

Is air freight from China 4 to 8 times more expensive than sea freight? Yes, roughly. If sea freight costs $0.50 per kg, comparable air freight runs $5 to $8 per kg. For heavy or bulky goods, the difference is even more dramatic. The gap narrows for small, high-value items.

At what shipment size should I switch from express courier to air freight? Around 100 to 150 kg, air freight starts beating express courier rates. Below that, express is often more convenient and similarly priced. Above 150 kg, contact an air freight forwarder for a quote.

Can I mix sea and air freight in one order? Yes. Some importers ship a portion of an order by air to cover immediate demand, then follow up with the bulk by sea. This costs more overall but balances speed and cost.

What’s the cheapest way to ship a small sample from China? Express courier (DHL, FedEx, or UPS) is the fastest and most practical for samples. Ask your supplier if they’ll cover the sample shipping cost. Many will for serious buyers. See our requesting samples guide for tips.