International · CN

How to Ship to China from the US

Shipping to China takes more care than most countries. Customs is strict, many everyday items are banned from the mail, and China Customs can destroy parcels that arrive without full customs details.

USPS hands mail to China Post and is the low-cost route for light parcels. DHL, FedEx and UPS clear customs themselves and usually arrive faster, but quote each shipment separately.

Typical 1 lb cost

$32–$65 by USPS (retail, July 2026)

Typical transit

5-30 business days (customs variability)

Carrier Options to China

DHL Express Worldwide

3-6 business days. Clears customs itself.

FedEx International Priority

3-6 business days to major cities.

UPS Worldwide Expedited

5-7 business days. Good for business shipments.

USPS Priority Mail International

From $65.20 for 1 lb at retail. Tracking and up to $200 merchandise insurance included. USPS quotes 6–10 business days for major markets; customs can add more.

USPS First-Class Package International

Lowest USPS price under 4 lb: $32.05 for 1 lb at retail. No USPS delivery confirmation to China.

Customs Forms Required

A customs form is needed on every parcel — it prints with the label when you buy postage online. Couriers also ask for a commercial invoice for goods. Parcels without full customs details can be destroyed by China Customs.

Commonly Prohibited Items

✕Books, media, and printed materials with 'sensitive' content (political, religious)
✕Cosmetics for sale without NMPA registration (the agency formerly called CFDA)
✕Used clothing and bedding (banned in USPS mail to China)
✕Knives, weapons, replica guns, pepper spray and stun guns
✕Chinese currency; gold, silver, jewelry and other valuables unless sent insured
✕Fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, milk and dairy, eggs, seeds and soil
✕Radios, walkie-talkies and other transmitters

China-Specific Shipping Tips

💡 For anything valuable or urgent, use Priority Mail International or a courier — the cheaper First-Class Package International has no USPS delivery confirmation to China
💡 Chinese addresses read largest-to-smallest: Province → City → District → Street
💡 Include recipient's phone number (mandatory for delivery SMS) and Chinese-character version of address if possible
💡 Avoid the weeks around Chinese New Year (February 6 in 2027) — many businesses and offices close for about a week, and parcels back up
💡 For commercial shipments, ensure HS codes are accurate and commercial invoice matches package contents exactly

How Much Does It Cost to Ship to China?

These are USPS's own prices, in effect from July 12, 2026. Retail is what you pay at the Post Office; buying online (Click-N-Ship or a postage platform) costs a little less.

First-Class Package International (up to 4 lb, up to $400 in value): $22.40 for 8 oz, $32.05 for 1 lb, $35.15 for 2 lb and $66.70 for 4 lb. Online: $29.90 for 1 lb.
Priority Mail International: $65.20 for 1 lb, $70.30 for 2 lb, $85.70 for 5 lb and $117.90 for 10 lb. Online: $63.09 for 1 lb.
Priority Mail International Flat Rate: Envelope $49.75, Small Box $51.40 (both up to 4 lb), Medium Box $96.40 and Large Box $121.30 (both up to 20 lb).
Express couriers (DHL, FedEx, UPS): priced per shipment. They charge by size as well as weight, so a big, light box can cost far more than its weight suggests.

💡 Compare flat rate with the price by weight. A 4 lb item costs $66.70 by First-Class Package International but $49.75 in a Flat Rate Envelope, if it fits (no tracking on that envelope). A 10 lb box costs $117.90 by weight but $96.40 in a Medium Flat Rate Box.

What China Customs Allows in a Personal Parcel

Value limit: personal parcels from the US are limited to RMB 1,000 each (RMB 800 from Hong Kong and Macao).
Small tax bills are waived: if the tax on a parcel comes to RMB 50 or less, it is not charged.
Above that, one combined tax covers duty and VAT. The rate is 13%, 20% or 50% depending on the type of goods.
Items must be for personal use and in reasonable amounts. Many identical items look like goods for sale and get taxed or stopped.

ℹ️ Declare the real value and describe each item plainly. China Customs can destroy parcels that arrive without proper customs details.

How to Address a Package to China

The best label has the address in Chinese characters, with an English version for US handling. If you only have it in English, you can write it small to large, as in the US:

Recipient's full name and phone number (couriers text or call before delivery).
Building, room number and street.
District and city.
Province and the 6-digit postal code.
CHINA — in capitals on the last line.

💡 Ask your recipient to send the address in Chinese so you can copy it exactly. For courier parcels, they may also be asked for ID details to clear customs.

Items That Get Parcels Stopped

China's rules for mail are stricter than most. USPS's list for China includes several things people often try to send:

Food: fresh fruit and vegetables, meat, milk and dairy products, eggs, and edible bird's nests.
Seeds, plants and soil.
Used clothing and bedding.
Radios, walkie-talkies and transmitters — and items such as watches, cameras and TV sets.
Chinese currency, and valuables such as jewelry or gold unless the parcel is insured.
Sealed containers you can't see into.

Frequently asked questions

Why is shipping to China so slow?

Customs clearance can take several days, even for simple parcels. Inside China, parcels with powders, liquids or lithium batteries can't go on domestic flights, so China Post moves them by ground, which adds time. Couriers clear customs themselves and are usually quicker.

How much does it cost to ship to China?

USPS retail prices from July 12, 2026: $32.05 for a 1 lb First-Class Package International parcel, or $65.20 by Priority Mail International. A 5 lb parcel is $85.70 by Priority Mail International. Buying postage online is a little cheaper ($29.90 and $63.09 for 1 lb). Couriers quote each shipment.

Can I ship electronics to China?

Check first. USPS's list for China bans radios, walkie-talkies and transmitters by mail, and it also names items such as watches, cameras and TV sets. Couriers have their own rules, so ask them before you send any device.

What if Chinese customs seizes my package?

Seized packages are either destroyed or returned to sender (at sender's expense). Work with the carrier to understand why — usually prohibited contents or incorrect documentation. China Customs can also destroy parcels that lack proper customs details, or that the recipient refuses or doesn't collect in time.

Is DHL the best for China?

DHL, FedEx and UPS all run their own customs clearance in China, so pick on price and speed for your box. For light, low-value parcels, compare them with USPS First-Class Package International ($32.05 for 1 lb at retail) — but it has no USPS delivery confirmation to China.

What is the cheapest way to ship a package to China?

Up to about 3 lb and worth under $400: USPS First-Class Package International — $32.05 for 1 lb at retail, $29.90 online. It has no USPS delivery confirmation to China, though. At 4 lb, a Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelope ($49.75) can be cheaper if it fits. For heavy boxes, a Medium Flat Rate Box ($96.40, up to 20 lb) can beat the price by weight.

What is the cheapest way to ship to China with tracking?

With USPS, Priority Mail International: $65.20 for 1 lb at retail or $63.09 online, with tracking and up to $200 of merchandise insurance included. USPS notes tracking has limits for some places and isn't offered on its Flat Rate Envelope or Small Flat Rate Box. Couriers include tracking too, so get a quote for the same box.

Which is cheaper to ship to China, FedEx or UPS?

There is no single answer. Both price by weight, box size, speed and your account discount. Enter the same box on both sites — or on a multi-carrier tool — before you buy.

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