What determines shipping costs from China?
Prepare the details for a freight quotation
Send each freight forwarder the same shipment brief. Include the product description, supplier pickup address, destination port or full delivery address, package count, packed dimensions, gross weight, cargo ready date and required receiving date. Mark estimates clearly and include pallets and protective packing in the measurements.
State the requested mode and scope: FCL or LCL sea freight, air freight, express shipping, port-to-port or door-to-door delivery. Identify batteries, liquids, oversized pieces or other cargo that needs an acceptance review. Add the agreed trade term and named place, plus any pickup, repacking, customs coordination or final-mile tasks you want priced.
Read the quote in four cost groups
Review these groups when comparing freight quotes. Ask for each charge's currency, unit, quantity, minimum and inclusion status. Separate freight and handling charges from duties, taxes, insurance and any other items that have not been confirmed in writing.
| Cost group | Items to look for | Ask the forwarder |
|---|---|---|
| Origin & preparation | Supplier pickup, warehouse receiving, consolidation, packing and export-side handling | Which starting location and preparation tasks are included? |
| Main transport | Main freight and applicable fuel, security, seasonal or other transport surcharges | Which routing, charging unit and validity apply? |
| Destination & delivery | Terminal handling, release, clearance support and onward delivery | Which delivery address and destination tasks are included? How are duties and taxes handled? |
| Conditional items | Inspection, storage, demurrage, detention, waiting or special handling when triggered | What triggers the charge and who approves the work? |
Ocean and air freight costs: check the charging unit
Air freight costs: the chargeable weight generally uses the higher of gross weight and volumetric weight. Confirm the carrier's divisor and minimum charge; a bulky, lightweight shipment may be billed above its scale weight.
LCL shipping costs: check the weight-or-measurement (W/M) basis, conversion ratio and minimum. The main ocean freight charge and local handling charges may use different units.
FCL shipping costs: main carriage is normally quoted per container and equipment type. Confirm origin and destination charges separately. Road and express quotations also need their own charging rules checked.
Keep billed quantity, unit rate and total together. Ask how remeasurement, rounding and revised packing affect the final charge. See the DHL chargeable-weight explainer for the general calculation principles.
A simple quote comparison example
The figures below are invented solely to demonstrate comparison arithmetic. They are not current freight rates or a VG Shipping quotation. Assume the same cargo, route, currency and delivery scope for both examples. Duties, taxes, insurance and conditional charges are outside these example totals.
Quotation B has lower main freight but a higher combined amount for the three listed groups. Ask for missing or provisional items before deciding; these totals alone do not establish the complete landed cost.
| Confirmed line item | Quotation A | Quotation B |
|---|---|---|
| Origin handling | USD 180 | USD 260 |
| Main freight | USD 620 | USD 540 |
| Destination handling & delivery | USD 320 | USD 410 |
| Illustrative combined total | USD 1,120 | USD 1,210 |
How to compare freight quotes step by step
Match the shipment inputs
Put both quotations beside the same packing list and supplier information. Resolve differences in quantity, dimensions and gross weight first.
Align the delivery boundary
Identify the collection point and the named destination for each quote. Add any missing stage as a question before comparing totals.
Mark the status of every charge
Use included, excluded, provisional or conditional. Request clarification whenever the status is not stated.
Check validity and operational assumptions
Check the rate's effective and expiry dates, currency, applicable sailing or flight and cargo ready date. Ask which surcharges are fixed, which may change and what must be reconfirmed if booking is delayed.
Record your decision
Keep the accepted scope, outstanding confirmations and the person authorised to approve additional work in the booking record.
Three gaps worth resolving early
Several suppliers
List each supplier's pickup address and ready date. Compare consolidation savings with extra receiving, packing, storage and release costs before combining orders.
A change after packing
Send revised measurements before accepting a quotation based on estimates. Identify any additional palletisation or repacking.
An incomplete destination
Give the full receiving address and postcode. Mention delivery appointments, unloading equipment, restricted access and waiting limits when asking for a door-to-door shipping quote.
Request a quote for your actual shipment
Send your packing details, pickup location, destination and ready date for a shipment-specific review. Use Air Freight for air cargo planning or Door-to-Door Shipping to review collection and delivery tasks. Read Incoterms & Glossary alongside the supplier's sale terms when checking responsibilities.
Questions about shipping costs from China
Can I get a freight estimate before the goods are packed?
Yes. Share the best estimates available and clearly identify any projections. Ask how the quotation will be reviewed when final package count, dimensions and gross weight are available.
Does a door-to-door quote include every possible charge?
Check the written inclusions and exclusions. Ask how duties, taxes, customs examinations, storage, unloading and restricted-access delivery will be handled. The words door-to-door alone do not define every possible charge.
Why can the amount change after a quotation?
The amount may change if packed measurements, route, service scope or timing change, or if the rate expires. Check any variable surcharges and obtain an updated written quotation before approving a revised booking.
Can supplier consolidation reduce the budget?
It may help when orders can share transport or handling, but warehouse receiving, collection, repacking and storage can add costs. Compare the complete consolidated plan with separate shipments using the same delivery scope.
Is ocean freight always cheaper than air freight?
Compare the full quotation for your packed cargo and deadline. LCL minimums and local charges can materially affect small shipments, while air freight depends on chargeable weight. Neither a per-kilogram rate nor a per-CBM rate alone shows the complete cost.
Sources & further reading
These official carrier resources explain general calculation and quotation concepts. They are reference material, not a VG Shipping rate offer or a statement of affiliation. Confirm the rates, inclusions and terms that apply to your own shipment.
Maersk: rate validity, inclusions and surcharges DHL: calculating chargeable weight