What does shipping actually cost?
The question every buyer asks after the price per piece. Pick a product, a quantity and a destination, and see roughly what freight adds per piece on the routes we actually run: air and sea to North America, and air, road, rail and sea to Europe and the UK. All three are delivered duty paid, so the number below is what it costs to get product from our floor in Guangzhou to your door. Treat it as a ceiling for budgeting. We quote on the cautious side here, and the booked rate usually comes in under it.
How the estimate is built
Piece weight from the product spec, multiplied by a 25% packing factor for cartons, then the lane rate for that weight band, plus origin customs and handling. A minimum chargeable weight applies on small shipments, which is why 100 pieces cost more per piece than 1,000.
Duty and clearance included
The rates above are delivered duty paid on the lanes we book. Customs clearance, duty and final delivery are inside the number. You are not asked to become the importer of record or to pay a broker separately.
Why the estimate runs high
We would rather quote cautiously and come in under it than surprise you two weeks before shipment. The figures here carry a buffer for peak season, residential delivery and remote postcodes. If none of those apply to your shipment, the booked rate is lower and that is what you pay.
Why we do not publish a rate card
Ocean and air rates change monthly, We would rather give you a number we can stand behind than a table that goes stale. Ask for the quote and you get the current figure in writing.
What changes it
Fabric weight and packing. A fleece-backed set weighs half as much again as a mid-weight one, and a printed box adds weight and volume that a poly bag does not. Vacuum-compressed cartons cut the volume on bulky styles.
Frequently asked questions
Is this the price I will be charged?
No, and we have deliberately set it on the high side. Treat every number here as a ceiling for budgeting. Rates move monthly, lanes change what they accept, and your real chargeable weight depends on the finished cartons — in practice the booked rate usually comes in below these figures. We confirm it in writing before you commit.
What does DDP mean here?
Delivered duty paid. On the sea lanes we use, the rate already includes customs clearance and duty into the destination country, and delivery to your address, 3PL or Amazon FBA warehouse. You do not act as importer of record on those lanes.
Why is sea freight so much cheaper per piece?
Air is charged on the greater of actual and volumetric weight, and thermals are bulky for their weight. Sea spreads a container cost over tonnes. For a 100-piece first order the absolute difference is small, which is why most first orders fly. Above about 300 pieces, sea is worth the wait.
What routes do you use to Europe?
Four, all delivered duty paid: air into Germany or Belgium (about 10–14 days, or 5–7 days on the express service), road by China–Europe truck (about 22–28 days), China–Europe rail (about 28–40 days), and sea into Rotterdam or Antwerp (about 48–60 days). The UK runs the same way with DPD delivery and a 5-day express air option. We book whichever fits your launch date and your budget.
What about Russia, Kazakhstan and other markets?
We ship to Russia and Central Asia by rail and road, and to Australia and South America by sea and air. Those lanes are quoted per shipment because they change often; ask and we send the current rate. По-русски: доставка в Россию.
What is not included?
Destination storage, FBA prep and labelling at a US warehouse, returns, and destination-side fees your 3PL charges. Lithium batteries, aerosols and alcohol are not accepted on these lanes at all.
Can you ship to Amazon FBA directly?
Yes. The sea lanes we use deliver into FBA warehouses in the US and Canada on appointment, with the carton and pallet labelling FBA requires. Tell us the warehouse code and we quote that lane.
Which is right for a first order?
Before the season, the cheapest one that still lands in time. Thermals are light but bulky, so sea or rail saves a lot per piece above a few hundred pieces. Once the season has started, air: a sold-out listing in December costs more than the freight difference.
Get the real number in your quote
Send us the product and quantity. The quote itemises product, labels, packing and freight as separate lines — within 24 hours.