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Express Shipping from China

DHL®, FedEx® and UPS® express from China for samples, documents and small restocks under about 100 kg, door to door in 2–5 days.

Get My Express Quote

2–5 Days Door to Door

Standard express service to most destinations, including customs clearance by the courier.

Best Under 100 kg

Samples, spare parts and small restocks that cannot wait for air freight.

Several Couriers, One Quote

Rates compared across DHL, FedEx and UPS for each shipment.

Duties Paid or Unpaid

Choose whether you or the receiver pays duty and tax at destination.

Quick Answer: Express Shipping from China Cost, Time & Rules

Express shipping from China costs about US$8–16 per kg and delivers door to door in 2–5 days on standard service. Couriers bill the higher of actual weight and volumetric weight, length × width × height in cm ÷ 5,000, so light, bulky boxes cost more than they would by air freight.

Express is usually the cheapest fast option under about 100 kg. Duties are billed to the receiver unless you book duties paid, and batteries, liquids, powders and magnets need a transport condition report before pickup. Branded goods without authorisation should not be sent by express at all.

Express from China: Check Cost, Time & Quote Details

Express is fast and simple, but small boxes can still be held at customs or billed at twice their weight. Use the four cards below to check when express fits, what you will actually pay, and what to send for an accurate quote.

⚡ When Express Makes Sense

Fast delivery • Best for urgent cargo
  • Best for: Samples, documents, spare parts and restocks under about 100 kg.
  • Transit time: About 1–3 days expedited, 3–5 days standard, 7+ days economy.
  • Good examples: Pre-production samples, replacement parts for a stopped line, small launch batches.
  • Choose this if: The box must arrive within a week and weighs under about 100 kg.

💵 What Express Costs

Cost per kg • 2026 rate guide
  • Estimated rate: About US$8–16 per kg of chargeable weight, depending on zone and service.
  • Fuel surcharge: Changes regularly and is added on top of the quoted rate.
  • Extra fees: Remote area, oversize and overweight pieces are charged separately.
  • Choose this if: You want to compare the full express bill with an air freight quote.

📦 What Changes Your Express Quote

Chargeable weight • Route-based pricing
  • Volumetric weight: Length × width × height in cm ÷ 5,000, which penalises bulky boxes.
  • Simple example: A 60 × 40 × 40 cm carton weighing 12 kg is billed at 19.2 kg.
  • Contents: Batteries, liquids and magnets add documents, and some are refused outright.
  • Choose this if: Your boxes are light but large and repacking could lower the bill.

✅ How to Get an Accurate Express Quote

Cheaper quote • Fewer price changes
  • Send these details: Carton count, dimensions, gross weight, product description and value.
  • Add if available: Delivery address with postcode, and who pays duty at destination.
  • Declare: Any batteries, liquids, powders or magnets before the courier collects.
  • Choose this if: You want the box delivered without a surprise duty bill.

Send these details and we will compare courier options and confirm the total before pickup.

Get My Express Quote

Most express questions are about three things: what the real per-kg price is, how many days it takes to each country, and what can be sent at all. The third one causes most returns.

This page answers them in that order: rates and service levels, then import rules by country, then five checks before pickup.

Every rule in the country table was checked in 2026.

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Express Courier Rates from China in 2026

Express rates are quoted per kg of chargeable weight; fuel surcharge and destination duties come on top.

Destination Express Rate per kg Door to Door
Germany US$9–15 2–3 days from Shanghai
Australia US$9–15 2–4 days
Canada US$9–15 3–5 days
Worldwide reference US$8–16 2–5 days
Service Level Door to Door Best For
Expedited 1–3 days Production-stop parts, urgent documents
Standard 3–5 days Samples, small restocks, spare parts
Economy 7+ days Low-value parcels that can wait

Pro tip: couriers divide by 5,000 and air freight by 6,000. The 60 × 40 × 40 cm, 12 kg carton is 19.2 kg by express but 16 kg by air, so for light, bulky cargo compare both quotes from about 45 kg.

Express Transit and Import Rules by Country

Express transit is short everywhere, but each country's low-value rules decide whether the receiver pays on delivery.

Destination Express Transit Low-Value Import Rule to Check
USA 3–5 days No duty-free entry for China-origin goods since 29 August 2025
Canada 3–5 days Duty and tax relief only up to CAD 20 on courier shipments
United Kingdom 2–4 days VAT on goods up to £135 is collected at the point of sale
Germany and the EU 2–3 days EUR 3 customs duty per item category on low-value parcels from 1 July 2026
Australia 2–4 days GST collected at sale up to AUD 1,000; import declaration above it
UAE 2–4 days Invoices above AED 10,000 need attestation

In simple words: the courier moves the box in days, but whether the receiver pays at the door depends on the country's rules and on whether you booked duties paid.

Before You Book Express from China: 5 Checks

  1. Restricted contents: batteries, liquids, powders, magnets and aerosols need a transport condition report or are refused; lithium batteries shipped alone are usually not accepted by express.
  2. Branded and copied goods: third-party brands need proof of authorisation, and copies are seized at export or import customs.
  3. Accurate commercial invoice: clear description, quantity, unit value, HS code and country of origin. Vague or undervalued invoices are the most common reason for holds.
  4. Duty payment term: decide whether the receiver pays on delivery or the shipment goes duties paid. A refused duty bill sends the box back at your cost.
  5. Box size and packing: pack tightly to cut volumetric weight, and check per-piece weight and size limits before booking oversize items.
Your Questions
Answered
When is express cheaper than air freight?

Usually below about 100 kg. Air freight has minimum charges and airport handling, so small parcels cost less door to door by express. From about 45 kg, ask for both quotes.

Who pays duties on an express shipment from China?

By default the receiver pays duty, tax and the courier's clearance fee on delivery. With duties paid, the charges go to the shipper's account and the receiver pays nothing at the door.

Can I send samples by express without a commercial invoice?

No. Every non-document express shipment needs a commercial invoice with a real value. Write "sample, no commercial value" with a realistic customs value, not zero.

Can I send products with batteries by express?

Often yes, when batteries are installed in the product, the courier accepts the battery type, and the SDS and UN38.3 summary are ready. Spare batteries shipped alone usually need cargo-aircraft air freight.