The Cheapest Way to Send a Package from China to the US (2025 Guide)

If you’re shopping from Chinese platforms and want to ship your package to the US, this guide will help you find the most cost-effective shipping methods, saving both time and money.

Why Shipping Prices Matter

High international shipping costs often discourage buyers from shopping in China. Although product prices are very competitive, expensive shipping fees can leave packages stuck in warehouses.

So how do personal buyers or small businesses ship goods to the US at the lowest cost? And how do you find the cheapest rates if shipping directly from China?

To help you decide, we’ve analyzed the latest Gonest shipping rates and routes to help you find the most affordable solution.

The Cheapest Way to Ship a Small Package

If it’s your first time shopping from China, you may want to test the process at a low cost. For lightweight packages, air freight is your best option:

• Fast delivery, usually within 7 days
• Great for evaluating the overall experience

The Cheapest Way to Ship a Large Package

If you’re running a small business or sending over 5kg of goods, sea freight is more economical. Gonest offers multiple sea freight routes designed for larger packages with lower costs.

For Packages Under 13kg

The Economy Sea Freight line is the most cost-effective option:

• Costs as low as ¥352.8 RMB
• Best for non-urgent shipments
• Make sure the final weight doesn’t exceed 13kg

For Packages Between 13kg – 21kg

Use the Economy Sea Freight General Goods Line — From 13kg:

• Originally for sensitive goods, but regular goods are also allowed
• Great choice if the weight stays under 21kg

Time vs. Cost: Best Option for Large Packages

For large packages (e.g. 30kg), air freight is fast but costly. Compare:

• Air freight: Around 7 days, high cost
• Sea freight (express): 20–25 days, 1/3 the cost of air freight

Cheapest Option Based on Customs Clearance

All Gonest shipping options include customs clearance. If your focus is total cost, sea freight is usually the best.

For a 5kg package, shipping calculators show sea routes are consistently cheaper than air routes.

4 Tips to Reduce Shipping Costs

• Use appropriate packaging: Remove express boxes and unnecessary product packaging to reduce size and weight.
• Choose lightweight materials: Avoid heavy materials like wood or iron; use bubble wrap, air pillows, or kraft paper instead.
• Vacuum compression: Ideal for items like plush toys to reduce volume.
• Split oversized items: Ship extra-long items separately to avoid driving up the overall volume.

How to Save on Gonest Shipping

You can consolidate packages from other warehouses to Gonest or use Gonest’s warehouse address for shopping directly. If current shipping prices seem high, contact customer service to get special discount offers.

Cheapest Way to Ship Packages – FAQ

What is the cheapest way to ship a package?

It depends on the package’s size, weight, and destination. In most cases, Gonest’s sea freight is more economical than air freight.

How much does it cost to ship a package?

The cost is based on weight, volume, shipping method, and destination. For many packages, Gonest’s sea freight provides the lowest cost experience.

Why is sea freight so much slower than air freight?

Sea shipping depends on schedules and often waits until containers are full. It’s also affected by weather and has slower travel speeds. In contrast, air freight usually takes only 2–3 days once the plane departs.

How do I use Gonest’s service?

• Register a Gonest account and get a warehouse address.
• Shop on Chinese platforms and ship goods to that address.
• Log in, wait for all packages to arrive, then request packaging.
• Enter your delivery address and select air or sea shipping.
• Pay the shipping cost and wait for confirmation and packaging.
• Your package will be delivered to your door upon arrival.