How ship goods from china to USA?

spaceman February 16, 2026

Shipping from China to the USA in 2026: A Complete Guide Every year, thousands of U.S. importers — from small e-commerce brands to large wholesalers — ship goods from China. Regardless of company size, most businesses ask the same questions:

Which shipping method is best for my cargo?
How long will it take?
What documents are required?
What is the total cost from China to the USA?

Understanding your options helps you reduce costs, avoid delays, and choose the most efficient solution for your business.

Main Shipping Methods from China to USA In 2026, there are four primary shipping options available:

Air Freight
Sea Freight (Ocean Shipping)
DDP Door-to-Door Shipping
Express Courier Services

Each method serves a different purpose depending on speed, budget, cargo size, and convenience.

Air Freight:

Fast and Reliable Air freight is ideal for time-sensitive or high-value shipments. Transit times typically range from 3 to 7 days, depending on the airline and route.

This option works best for medium to heavy shipments where express courier would be too expensive. While air shipping costs more than sea freight, shipping China to USA it provides speed and reliability for urgent deliveries.

Sea Freight: Cost-Effective for Large Volumes If your priority is reducing shipping costs, sea freight is usually the best choice. Ocean shipping can be significantly cheaper than air freight, especially for heavy or bulky cargo.

Importers can choose between:

FCL (Full Container Load): Booking an entire container.
LCL (Less than Container Load): Sharing container space and paying per CBM.

Transit times generally range from 15 to 35 days, depending on the origin and destination ports.

DDP Door-to-Door: Complete Logistics Solution DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) shipping is perfect for businesses that want everything handled for them.

With DDP service, the logistics provider manages: