How long does it take to ship from China to USA?

When planning to ship some cargo from China to USA, it is very important to know the expected duration expected to get the goods at the desired destination. This helps you to easily make the shipping arrangements and hence avoid delays on good delivery.

Content:

Ocean freight
Air freight
Courier service

However, getting the exact duration expected is not possible if the shipping method is not yet decided. Therefore, answering the question on how long does it take to ship from China to USA is only possible when the shipping method is known.

There are mainly 3 methods you could use to ship your cargo from China to the USA and the lead time using any of the 3 different methods is completely different.

Therefore, if you need to be accurate on your estimation on when the good will reach the desired destination, it is important to decide on the preferred method of shipment first.

This article is meant to bring some light on the various shipping methods so as to determine the duration taken to ship cargo from China to USA.

Ocean freight

The ocean shipping method is widely known to be the most economical way to go for. It may take a longer time but it is very economical and you can settle for it if your budget is restrained.

The estimated duration to ship cargo from various ports in China to the port on the East coast is about 3 weeks.

This however does not include the time taken to clear goods at the port and other activities conducted at the port before the cargo is delivered to the owner.

Taking an approximation of 1 month duration until the goods are delivered would thus be a correct answer for this particular method.

Air freight

This is a faster method as compared to the ocean freight whereby the expected lead time is about 2-5 working days to ship from China to USA.

This also depends on the airline company that choose since some companies are at times faster than others.

You can use this method if the goods you want to ship are perishable and cannot take a long duration before being delivered. This method is however more costly though the service is worth it.

Courier service

This is also a faster method you can go for when you want to ship your cargo from China to USA.

It only takes an average of 3 working days to get the goods delivered to the desired destination.

However, it more expensive as compared to the other 2 methods but you can prefer it if you need a faster method.

From the above discussion, it is easier to determine the length of time it would take to ship your goods from China to USA and therefore make proper shipping arrangements in order to get the goods on the right time to avoid delays.

Choose the best method depending on your urgency, the size of your cargo and as well as your budget. After deciding on your preferred method, you can therefore determine the expected lead time.