Sea vs Air Freight From China: Cost & Speed

Sea vs air freight from China compared on cost, speed and use case. Learn when each shipping mode wins and how to cut landed-cost the smart way.

Short answer: ship by sea when your order is heavy, bulky or not time-sensitive (lowest cost per kilo, 30–45 days transit), and ship by air when goods are light, high-value or urgent (3–8 days transit at a premium).