China and the United States are two of the world’s largest economies. Trade between China and the United States is becoming more and more frequent. Shipping time is an important indicator that many companies and individuals are concerned about in transportation services. This article will introduce the time of shipping from China to the United States in detail to help optimize the transportation process and save time.
Geographical location of USA
The United States is located in the central part of North America, bordering the Atlantic Ocean to the east, the Pacific Ocean to the west, Mexico to the south, and Canada to the north. The main ports are located on the east and west coasts, such as Los Angeles, Long Beach, New York, New Jersey, and Savannah. The air transportation network in the United States is also very developed.
Shipping Time from China to USA
The shipping time from China to the United States is affected by many factors, mainly including transportation mode (sea or air), transportation route, cargo size, customs clearance and other links. Different transportation modes and choices will directly affect the shipping time.
Sea Freight Time from China to USA
Sea Freight is one of the most common modes of transportation from China to the United States. It is the preferred mode of transporting bulk goods at a low price. The distance between its transportation to the east and west coasts of USA is quite different, resulting in different transportation times.
It takes about 18-25 days for goods to be transported from major ports in China to Los Angeles and Long Beach on the west coast of the United States.
It takes about 20-30 days for goods to be transported from major ports in China to New York, Savannah, and Houston on the east coast of the United States.
The following are the detailed times for transport from China to various ports in the United States:
| POL (Port of China) | POL (Port of USA) | Transport time (days) |
|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Los Angeles | 18-25 days |
| Shenzhen | Los Angeles | 18-25 days |
| Ningbo | Los Angeles | 18-24 days |
| Shanghai | Long Beach | 19-25 days |
| Shenzhen | Long Beach | 18-25 days |
| Ningbo | Long Beach | 19-25 days |
| Shanghai | New York | 21-30 days |
| Shenzhen | New York | 20-30 days |
| Ningbo | New York | 22-30 days |
| Shanghai | Savannah | 20-30 days |
| Shenzhen | Savannah | 20-29 days |
| Ningbo | Savannah | 21-30 days |
| Shanghai | Houston | 22-30 days |
| Shenzhen | Houston | 20-30 days |
| Ningbo | Houston | 20-30 days |
Air Freight Time from China to USA
Air freight is the fastest mode of transportation, especially for goods with high timeliness requirements. It usually takes about 3-7 days to depart from major international airports in China and arrive in cities such as Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, and Chicago in the United States. The following is the detailed time for air freight from China to various cities in USA:
| Departure Airport (China) | Arrival Airport (USA) | Transport time (days) |
| Shanghai | Los Angeles | 3-5 days |
| Guangzhou | Los Angeles | 3-5 days |
| Beijing | Los Angeles | 3-6 days |
| Shanghai | New York | 4-7 days |
| Guangzhou | New York | 5-7 days |
| Beijing | New York | 4-6 days |
| Shanghai | San Francisco | 3-5 days |
| Guangzhou | San Francisco | 3-6 days |
| Beijing | San Francisco | 3-6 days |
| Shanghai | Chicago | 4-7 days |
| Guangzhou | Chicago | 5-7 days |
| Beijing | Chicago | 4-7 days |
Express Shipping Time from China to USA
Three days are allowed for shipment from China by international express. This includes either picking up the package at the Chinese supplier’s door, unless the supplier has delivered the package to their warehouse. If it is really urgent, there will be more expensive quality services, which can even be delivered overnight.
| Express | Working Days |
|---|---|
| FedEX (IP) | 2-3 (Good timing) |
| FedEx (IE) | 4-5 (Balance on cost and time) |
| UPS | 2-3 (Expensive) |
| DHL | 3-5 (Timing not as good as FedEx) |
| SF-express | 5-7 (Newbie, May delay) |
| China Post: Air | 7-15 (Faster than surface one) |
| China Post: SAL | 10-20 (Between Air and Surface) |
| China Post: Surface | 40-70 (Very slow) |
| China Post: EMS | 5-7 (Fast and safe) |
| China (ePacket/EUB) | 7-30 (Very cheap) |
The following shipping times to other countries are for your reference: How Long Does it Take to Ship from China to Canada?
Factors Affecting Shipping Time from China to USA
The shipping time from China to the United States is determined by the mode of transportation, but is also affected by the following factors:
- Different ports and routes: Different starting ports and destination ports will result in different shipping distances, which will affect the shipping time.
- Cargo type and size: Overweight and special cargo require additional processing and take longer to ship.
- Weather: Weather factors (such as typhoons, blizzards, etc.) may cause flight cancellations or delays, affecting the voyage time.
- Seasonal factors: During peak transportation periods, port congestion may occur, and cargo may be delayed when unloading.
- Customs clearance: Goods must undergo customs inspection and clearance procedures after arriving in the United States. If there is a delay in customs inspection, it may extend the shipping time.
How to Shorten the Shipping Time from China to USA
If you need to ship goods from China to the United States as quickly as possible. So, what are some ways to speed up the process?
Choose the right mode of transportation
Choosing the right mode of transportation is crucial. Ocean shipping takes a long time; air shipping is faster. You can also consider some transportation methods in between, such as express services, which usually provide faster service than ocean shipping and cheaper service than air shipping.
Book in advance
Booking space or express services in advance can ensure that the goods are shipped within the planned time and avoid delays due to tight space or tight express warehouses.
Optimize packaging
Choose light and sturdy packaging materials, and arrange the stacking order and height of the goods reasonably. Reasonable packaging can protect the goods from damage during transportation, and the optimized loading method can improve loading and unloading efficiency and reduce loading and unloading time.
Choose a reliable freight forwarding company
Choosing a reliable freight forwarding company is also the key to shortening transportation time. A good logistics company not only provides efficient logistics services, but also provides one-stop services such as customs declaration and commodity inspection to reduce the time that goods stay at the port. Choose a logistics company with high-quality services and rich experience.
Prepare documents
Customs clearance is an indispensable part of the transportation process, and its work efficiency and process will directly affect the arrival time of the goods. Providing complete documents and all the information required for customs clearance can speed up customs clearance and shorten the stay time of goods.
Cost of Shipping 20ft and 40ft Containers from China to USA
The table below shows the average price of container shipping from China to the United States, which lists the cheapest prices for 20ft and 40ft containers (FCL) for shipping various types of goods from major Chinese ports to the United States:
| POL (Port of China) | POL (Port of USA) | 20ft Container Cost | 40ft Container Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shanghai | Los Angeles | $2050-$3000 | $3200-$4500 |
| Shenzhen | Los Angeles | $2000-$2900 | $3150-$4650 |
| Ningbo | Los Angeles | $2000-$3000 | $3350-$4750 |
| Shanghai | Long Beach | $2050-$2950 | $3250-$4550 |
| Shenzhen | Long Beach | $2150-$3000 | $3150-$4600 |
| Ningbo | Long Beach | $2000-$2850 | $3200-$4500 |
| Shanghai | New York | $3000-$3800 | $4050-$5550 |
| Shenzhen | New York | $3050-$3900 | $4350-$5600 |
| Ningbo | New York | $3050-$4000 | $4200-$5650 |
| Shanghai | Savannah | $3050-$3900 | $4100-$5600 |
| Shenzhen | Savannah | $3050-$3850 | $4100-$5750 |
| Ningbo | Savannah | $3050-$3900 | $4300-$5850 |
| Shanghai | Houston | $2850-$3700 | $4100-$5650 |
| Shenzhen | Houston | $2950-$3900 | $4050-$5650 |
| Ningbo | Houston | $2800-$3900 | $4050-$5650 |
Learn more: How Much Does it Cost to Ship from China to USA
Shipping Process from China to USA
- Contact a freight forwarder: Contact a freight forwarder in China
- Determine the type of goods and demand: Choose the appropriate mode of transportation according to the type of goods and demand.
- Choose ports and routes: Choose the appropriate ports and routes according to the origin and destination of the goods.
- Prepare documents and procedures: Prepare necessary documents and procedures, such as invoices, packing lists, bills of lading, etc.
- Arrange transportation and insurance: Arrange transportation and purchase necessary insurance.
- Track the movement of goods: Track the movement of goods through logistics platforms or express companies.
- Customs clearance and delivery: After the goods arrive in the United States, customs clearance and delivery are carried out.
You may also be interested in: Customs Clearance and Fees
The time required to ship from China to the United States depends on multiple factors, including shipping method, port selection, cargo type, customs clearance procedures, etc. By choosing the right shipping routes and services through this article, you can effectively optimize shipping time and costs and ensure that your goods arrive at their destination on time.