Buying from Chinese suppliers is only profitable if you know the landed cost — the full cost of getting each unit to your warehouse. Freight is a large part of it.
1. Collect the packing details
Ask your supplier for the packing list before you book freight:
- carton dimensions (cm) and gross weight per carton (kg);
- number of cartons and units per carton;
- whether goods are palletized.
Never estimate freight from product size alone — the outer carton is what ships.
2. Calculate volume and weight
- Sea freight: total CBM = carton CBM × cartons. See What is CBM?
- Air freight: chargeable weight = the higher of actual and volumetric weight. See Actual vs volumetric weight.
3. Get freight rates
Rates change with the season, the port pair and fuel prices, so ask your forwarder for a current quote. Clarify:
- the Incoterm (EXW, FOB, CIF, DDP…) — it decides which costs you pay;
- the origin port or airport (Shenzhen, Shanghai, Ningbo, Guangzhou…);
- the destination and whether delivery to your door is included.
4. List every cost
| Cost | Paid when buying FOB |
|---|---|
| Goods (supplier invoice) | Yes |
| Origin charges up to loading | Supplier |
| Ocean or air freight | Yes |
| Insurance | Yes (recommended) |
| Destination port/airport charges | Yes |
| Customs clearance, duties and taxes | Yes |
| Inland delivery | Yes |
5. Work out landed cost per unit
Example: 2,000 units, goods $8,000, freight and fees $1,900, duties and taxes $1,500, delivery $200 → $11,600 ÷ 2,000 = $5.80 per unit.
Sea or air?
Sea freight from China typically takes several weeks port to port and is far cheaper per kilogram; air freight takes days but costs much more. For a structured comparison, read Sea freight vs air freight.
Use the right tools
MYCBM calculates CBM, chargeable weight and freight cost in 18 currencies, including CNY and USD, and lets you group products from several Chinese suppliers into one consolidation with their values, freight and other expenses.
Try the calculator from this guide
Calculate CBM, freight costs and container fill in seconds with MYCBM.
