The Fastest & Cheapest Way WE USE to Ship From China to the US
With the multitude of shipping options available today, finding the perfect one can be a bit challenging.
The fastest method that we use is a 3-5 day delivery to the US while the cheapest one is via sea freight. But, will these options align with your needs and budget?
Determining the ideal choice for your situation and understanding the associated cost is key!
Single Packages
The era of relying on AliExpress's 30+ day delivery for business growth is long gone. However, leveraging DHL or UPS for single package deliveries can often be too pricey. That's why we opt for a cost-effective courier named YunExpress instead.
YunExpress Price
YunExpress provides 3 shipping lines for standard goods, with the quickest being a 4-7 business day service.
This translates to door-to-door delivery from our warehouse right to your customer's doorstep. The table on the right are some examples to illustrate the charges at various weight thresholds.
Keep in mind, this service is tailored for relatively small packages.
| Weight | Price |
|---|---|
| 90g |
$4.19 |
| 190g | $5.25 |
| 290 | $6.66 |
| 440g | $8.57 |
| 790g | $15.24 |
| 4900g | $58.04 |
If you wish to calculate the shipping charges yourself to ensure you're not overpaying, here's a quick guide on how to do it:
Determine the weight of your fully packaged product.
Refer to the table below and locate the row that corresponds to your product’s weight range.
Multiply the dollar amount in the shipping fee column by your product's weight in kg.
Add the fixed registration fee per package to the shipping fee per kg for the final shipping fee.
| Weight Range (kg) | Shipping Fee (Per kg) | Fixed Fee |
|---|---|---|
| 0 ≤ W ≤ 0.1 |
$7.54 | $3.43 |
| 0.1 ≤ W ≤ 0.2 | $9.05 | $3.43 |
| 0.2 ≤ W ≤ 0.3 | $9.74 | $3.70 |
| 0.3 ≤ W ≤ 0.45 | $9.74 | $4.11 |
| 0.45 ≤ W ≤ 0.8 | $9.87 | $7.13 |
| 0.8 ≤ W ≤ 5 | $10.15 | $7.13 |
Sample Computation:
Item Weight (IW) = 150g (0.15kg)
Shipping fee per kg (Sf) = $9.05
Fixed fee (Ff) = $3.43
Total Shipping Fee = Ff + (Sf*IW)
Total Shipping Fee = $3.43 + ($9.05*.15kg)
Total Shipping Fee = $4.78.
The cheapest line with YunExpress is the 6-12 business day line but they also offer a 5-10 business day line as well. Below are the differences in prices at each threshold compared to the fastest line
| Weight Threshold | Example Product Weight | Example Shipping Cost |
|---|---|---|
| <100g |
0.09 kg | $4.19 |
| <200g | 0.19 kg | $5.25 |
| <300g | 0.29 kg | $6.66 |
| <450g | 0.44 kg | $8.57 |
| <800g | 0.79 kg | $15.24 |
| <5kg | 4.90 kg | $58.04 |
| Weight Threshold | Example Product Weight | Example Shipping Cost |
|---|---|---|
| <100g |
0.09 kg | $3.93 |
| <200g | 0.19 kg | $4.94 |
| <450g | 0.29 kg | $6.23 |
| <450g | 0.44 kg | $7.76 |
| <700g | 0.69 kg | $12.21 |
| <2kg | 0.79 kg | $13.23 |
| <30kg | 4.90 kg | $54.85 |
| Weight Threshold | Example Product Weight | Example Shipping Cost |
|---|---|---|
| <100g |
0.09 kg | $3.56 |
| <200g | 0.19 kg | $4.58 |
| <450g | 0.29 kg | $5.34 |
| <450g | 0.44 kg | $6.96 |
| <700g | 0.69 kg | $9.48 |
| <2kg | 0.79 kg | $9.57 |
| <30kg | 4.90 kg | $48.81 |
For those of you pondering which line to opt for, the majority of our clients typically prefer the fastest option for their specific products. While numerous cheaper shipping choices exist outside of those above, they often lack reliability, which is why we steer clear of using them.
Bulk Shipping
Bulk shipping involves a whole new ball game, yet the fundamentals remain consistent. As you’d expect, faster methods tend to be pricier, especially for heavier and bulkier products. Our three primary methods for bulk shipments include Air Express, Air Freight, and Sea Freight.
Air Express
Air Express typically offers a door-to-door service, unlike other methods. However, there are alternative ways to achieve door-to-door delivery through air freight and sea freight which we will discuss below.
Regarding Air Express, it ensures a 3-5 day delivery timeframe. For example, the cost stands at $6.24 per kg for UPS's door-to-door service from Shenzhen to the west coast of the United States.
Air Freight
Air freight offers a more cost-effective but slightly slower alternative. There's a 10-13 day service priced at $4.53 per kg, and a faster 6-10 day service around $4.81 per kg for shipments over >100 kg with a door-to-door delivery.
If you're curious about the difference between air express and air freight besides the price, here's the scoop. Air express provides door-to-door delivery through a single courier such as UPS, whereas air freight usually operates from airport to airport.
Recipients often handle customs clearance and the final mile transport. However, our approach involves working with partners to offer a door-to-door service, using an air freight cargo plane in between and a (entirely separate) ground service. That way even if you were using UPS’s ground service, it’d cost a lot less than using them for the entire journey.
Sea Freight
Finally, the most economical but slowest option, Sea freight. Presently, we offer a 17-25 day delivery service to the west coast of the United States at $1.79 per kg for shipments exceeding >100 kg. Additionally, there's a slower 30-35 day delivery service. These services fall under "LCL," meaning less than container load, which doesn't require filling an entire 20 or 40-foot container. And similar to air freight, we offer these as a door-to-door delivery service for our clients too.
It's crucial to note that when you encounter quotes for sea freight services, they might only cover port-to-port, not a door-to-door service. Our approach involves collaborating with partners who provide precisely that—door-to-door service.
How do you decide what's best for you? It's relatively straightforward since these prices cover door-to-door services, making the choice entirely dependent on your specific circumstances.
If cost-effectiveness is your priority, Sea freight is the way to go.
In case of an emergency, Air Express is the suitable option.
If there's no immediate urgency, cost isn't the main concern, and you prefer not to purchase loads in advance (essential for Sea freight), then air freight might be the optimal choice.
Ready to take your e-commerce game to the next level? Read more about our: Dropshipping Agent Service here.
