How Much Does It Cost to Ship 20ft and 40ft Containers from China to USA?

Presou Logistics Company News 09 Apr 2025

There is frequent trade between China and the United States, with a large amount of goods flowing between the two countries across the Pacific Ocean. Among various transportation methods, container shipping, with its high efficiency and stability, has become an important bridge connecting the trade between the two countries. In particular,20 foot container shipping and 40 foot container shipping plays a significant role in Sino-US trade. A thorough understanding of all aspects of its transportation, including cost composition, influencing factors, and relevant processes, is crucial for import and export enterprises to rationally plan logistics costs and improve transportation efficiency.

20ft and 40ft Containers: Features and Use Cases

Comparison Items	20 - foot Container	40 - foot Container
External Dimensions	Length: approximately 6.10 m; Width: 2.44 m; Height: approximately 2.59 m	Length: 12.19 m; Width: 2.44 m; Standard height: approximately 2.59 m, High - cube height: approximately 2.69 m
Internal Dimensions	Length: approximately 5.89 m; Width: approximately 2.35 m; Height: approximately 2.39 m, Volume: approximately 33 cubic meters	Length: approximately 12.03 m; Width: approximately 2.35 m; Standard height: approximately 2.39 m, High - cube height: approximately 2.70 m, Volume: Standard container approximately 67 cubic meters, High - cube approximately 76 cubic meters
Load - bearing Capacity	Approximately 28 tons	Common dry containers have a load - bearing capacity of 28.6 - 28.8 tons, with differences for special types of containers
Applicable Cargo Types	Small - batch cargoes, such as small - scale e - commerce orders; Cargoes with relatively large weight but small volume, such as precision mechanical equipment, high - value electronic products	Large - batch cargoes, such as light industrial finished products like textiles and toys; Cargoes with large volume but low density, such as furniture
Single - container Transportation Cost	Relatively low	Relatively high
Transportation Cost per Cubic Meter	Relatively stable when the cargo density is high and close to full load, and the cost increases for low - density and large - batch cargoes	Has an advantage when transporting large - batch and low - density cargoes, with reduced costs
Port Loading and Unloading Convenience	More convenient, with flexible equipment operation, accurate positioning, and conducive to fast turnover	Slightly higher operation difficulty, requires equipment with greater lifting capacity, higher requirements for site space, and slightly slower turnover speed

Cost of Shipping Containers from China to the United States

Cost Composition

1. Ocean Freight: This is the basic transportation cost from Chinese ports to US ports and accounts for the largest proportion in the total transportation cost. The level of ocean freight is affected by many factors, including the distance of the shipping route, the operating cost of the ship, and the market supply and demand relationship.

2. Port Charges: It covers terminal usage fees, loading and unloading fees, etc. The charging standards vary from port to port. Some busy ports in the United States, due to their high operating costs, have relatively high port charges.

3. Fuel Surcharge: Affected by fluctuations in international oil prices, the fuel surcharge will be adjusted accordingly. When international oil prices rise, the fuel surcharge will also increase, thereby increasing the transportation cost.

4. Security Surcharge: This is a fee charged to meet maritime security requirements such as customs inspections, which is used to ensure the safety of goods during transportation.

5. Destination Port Charges: It includes terminal fees, customs clearance fees, etc. at US ports. These fees also vary depending on the port and may be adjusted with changes in port policies.

China to USA Container Shipping: How Much for 20ft and 40ft?

Shipping Costs to the U.S. East Coast

20-foot container: $2,850 - $3,800
40-foot container: $3,800 - $5,700

Shipping Costs to the U.S. West Coast

20-foot container: $1,900 - $2,850
40-foot container: $2,850 - $4,750

From China - To USA(Ports)	20ft Container Cost (after 5% reduction)	40ft Container Cost (after 5% reduction)
From Shanghai to Los Angeles	$1947.5 - $2850	$3040 - $4275
From Shenzhen to Los Angeles	$1900 - $2755	$2992.5 - $4417.5
From Ningbo to Los Angeles	$1900 - $2850	$3182.5 - $4512.5
From Shanghai to Long Beach	$1947.5 - $2802.5	$3087.5 - $4322.5
From Shenzhen to Long Beach	$2042.5 - $2850	$2992.5 - $4370
From Ningbo to Long Beach	$1900 - $2707.5	$3040 - $4275
From Shanghai to New York	$2850 - $3610	$3847.5 - $5272.5
From Shenzhen to New York	$2897.5 - $3705	$4132.5 - $5320
From Ningbo to New York	$2897.5 - $3800	$3990 - $5372.5
From Shanghai to Savannah	$2897.5 - $3705	$3895 - $5320
From Shenzhen to Savannah	$2897.5 - $3657.5	$3895 - $5462.5
From Ningbo to Savannah	$2897.5 - $3705	$4085 - $5552.5
From Shanghai to Houston	$2707.5 - $3515	$3895 - $5372.5
From Shenzhen to Houston	$2802.5 - $3705	$3847.5 - $5372.5
From Ningbo to Houston	$2660 - $3705	$3847.5 - $5372.5

Factors Affecting Transportation Costs

Season and Market Demand: During holidays or peak transportation seasons, such as the back-to-school season and Christmas season, the market demand for goods transportation increases significantly, leading to a sharp rise in transportation costs. This is because transportation resources are in short supply, and shipping companies will raise freight rates accordingly.
Fuel Prices: Fluctuations in international oil prices directly affect the fuel surcharge. When oil prices rise, the operating cost of ships increases, and the fuel surcharge also rises, increasing the total cost of 20-foot container shipping.
Port Congestion: Busy ports are prone to congestion. The extended stay of goods at the port may result in additional demurrage fees or congestion surcharges, increasing the transportation cost.
Cargo Type: Dangerous goods, temperature-controlled goods, and large goods often require special handling and transportation conditions, which will increase the transportation cost.
Distance to the Destination Port: Generally, the transportation cost to West Coast ports in the United States is lower than that to East Coast ports. However, when choosing the destination port, enterprises cannot only consider the transportation cost but also need to combine the final destination of the goods and the overall logistics cost to select the most suitable port.
Service Provider: Different logistics companies or shipping companies have different charging standards. When choosing a service provider, enterprises should comprehensively consider factors such as price and service quality.

Strategies for Optimizing Transportation Costs

Plan Transportation Time in Advance: Try to avoid peak transportation seasons. Plan the transportation schedule in advance and choose to transport during off-peak seasons. This can help enterprises enjoy relatively lower ocean freight and other fees, effectively reducing transportation costs.
Avoid Delay and Demurrage Fees: Make preparations for customs clearance and receiving in advance to ensure that the goods can be quickly loaded, unloaded, and transferred at the destination port, avoiding additional fees caused by the detention of goods at the port.
Optimize Cargo Packaging: On the premise of ensuring the safety of the goods, try to reduce the packaging volume, rationally design the packaging method and container loading layout, improve the space utilization rate of the container, and thus reduce the number of containers required, reducing transportation costs.
Choose Low-cost Ports: From China to the United States, the freight rates of East Coast ports are usually higher than those of West Coast ports. Enterprises can choose the port that is closest and has the lowest cost according to the destination of the goods, saving inland transportation costs.
Negotiate with Service Providers: Negotiate with shipping companies and freight forwarders. Especially when shipping a large amount of goods, it is possible to obtain certain discount offers.
Flexibly Select Trade Terms: According to the nature of the goods and the agreement between the buyer and the seller, select reasonable trade terms such as FOB (Free on Board) and CIF (Cost, Insurance and Freight) to reduce the logistics costs of all parties.
Utilize Free Trade Zones and Tax Reduction Policies: Store goods in the bonded areas of the importing country to delay the payment of tariffs, reducing short-term capital occupation costs. At the same time, make rational use of preferential tariff and duty-free policies, such as the China-US Economic and Trade Agreement and the Asia-Pacific Economic and Trade Agreement, to reduce tariff costs.

Customs Clearance Documents for Container Shipping from China to the United States

Commercial Invoice: It describes the content, value, and quantity of the goods in detail and is an essential document for customs clearance, which is used by customs to value and levy taxes on the goods.
Packing List: It lists the detailed information of all goods, including dimensions and weights, helping customs verify the contents of the goods and ensure that the goods are consistent with the declared information.
Bill of Lading (B/L): As a certificate of title to the goods, it is used for picking up the goods at the destination port. The bill of lading records the transportation information of the goods and the consignee information and is an important document in the goods transportation process.
Certificate of Origin: Depending on the nature of the goods and trade agreements, some goods may require a certificate of origin. The certificate of origin is used to prove the country of origin of the goods so as to enjoy corresponding preferential tariff policies.
Other Customs Clearance Documents: Certain specific goods may require other documents, such as licenses and test reports. The specific requirements need to be determined according to US import regulations.

The Importance of Choosing a High-quality Freight Forwarder

Freight forwarders play a key role in the process of 20-foot container shipping. As intermediaries between shippers and carriers, they can help enterprises reduce costs in the following ways:

Negotiate Favorable Freight Rates: Freight forwarders have established cooperative relationships with many carriers. With their resource advantages, they can strive for more favorable freight prices for enterprises.
Provide Consolidation Services: For small batches of goods, freight forward.

Why Choose Presou Logistics?

Cost Savings: Presou Logistics negotiates better rates with carriers and offers consolidation services to reduce shipping costs.
Expertise: With AEO certification, Presou ensures smooth customs clearance and compliance, avoiding costly delays.
Comprehensive Services: From door-to-door delivery to warehousing and insurance, Presou provides a one-stop solution.

Real-Time Tracking: Advanced technology allows you to monitor your shipments in real-time.
Fast Delivery: Optimized routes and efficient processes ensure your goods reach their destination quickly.
Reliable Team: Experienced professionals ensure your shipments are handled with care and expertise.

Choose Presou Logistics for a seamless, cost-effective, and reliable shipping experience.

Shipping 20-foot and 40-foot containers from China to the US involves multiple stages and considerations. Only by fully understanding these factors and planning transportation strategies based on their specific needs can companies achieve efficient cargo movement, reduce logistics costs, and enhance their competitiveness in presou logistics.