Shipping from China to Amazon FBA USA is one of the most essential steps for sellers who source products from Chinese suppliers. With the right approach, you can reduce logistics costs, avoid customs issues, and ensure your goods reach Amazon’s fulfillment centers smoothly.
This tutorial explains everything you need to know — from shipping options and costs to customs clearance and delivery preparation.
Table of Contents:
- Understanding Amazon FBA shipping requirements
- Shipping options from China to Amazon FBA USA
- Cost breakdown: Shipping cost from China to USA Amazon FBA
- Step-by-step: How to ship from China to Amazon FBA USA
- How to choose the best shipping method
- Common challenges in Amazon FBA shipping from China
- Optimize your FBA supply chain from China to the USA
Why shipping to Amazon FBA USA matters
Amazon FBA (Fulfillment by Amazon) enables sellers to store their products in Amazon’s warehouses, where Amazon handles packing, shipping, and customer service on their behalf. However, to benefit from FBA, your products must arrive on time and comply with Amazon’s strict requirements.
Understanding the Amazon FBA shipping requirements
Before choosing a shipping method, it’s crucial to understand Amazon’s specific requirements for inbound shipments.
Here’s what Amazon expects:
- FBA labeling: Each unit must have an FNSKU barcode. Use clear, scannable labels on the outer packaging.
- Packaging rules: Avoid mixed cartons. Use polybags for textile items, bubble wrap for fragile products, and sturdy cartons that weigh under 50 lbs.
- Shipment plans: Create your shipment plan in Seller Central before exporting from China. It defines your U.S. fulfillment center destinations.
- Appointment scheduling: Palletized shipments require appointments with Amazon’s warehouse (via truck or freight). Late or unannounced deliveries will be refused.
- S. import compliance: You’ll need a customs broker or DDP service to manage import duties and taxes.
Shipping options from China to Amazon FBA USA
1. Air freight (Fast & reliable)
Transit time: 5–10 days
Best for: Medium-volume shipments, restocks, and time-sensitive items.
Air freight is the go-to choice for sellers needing faster delivery to FBA warehouses. It’s faster than sea freight but more affordable than express couriers like DHL or FedEx when shipping bulk cargo.
Typical cost:
- $10–$18 per kg (depending on route and weight)
- Includes customs clearance and last-mile trucking to Amazon FBA centers
2. Sea freight (Economical for bulk orders)
Transit time: 25–40 days
Best for: Large-volume shipments, heavy products, or inventory replenishment.
Sea freight offers the lowest shipping cost from China to the USA for Amazon FBA, but requires more planning. You can choose:
- FCL (Full Container Load) for large shipments (ideal for 10+ CBM)
- LCL (Less than Container Load) for smaller volumes
You’ll also need to account for port handling, customs clearance, and domestic delivery to the FBA warehouse.
3. Express courier (Fastest but costliest)
Transit time: 3–6 days
Best for: Small, urgent shipments or sample deliveries.
Carriers like DHL, UPS, or FedEx offer door-to-door service, simplifying customs clearance. However, the Amazon FBA shipping from China to the USA via express can be costly — often exceeding $18/kg.
It’s ideal for sending product samples or launching new SKUs quickly.
4. DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) shipping
Transit time: 10–25 days (air or sea DDP)
Best for: Sellers without a U.S. import license or customs experience.
With DDP shipping from China to Amazon FBA USA, your freight forwarder handles everything, covering export, customs clearance, duties, and last-mile delivery. You only need to pay an all-in rate, and your goods arrive at the Amazon warehouse ready for check-in.
It is one of the most popular methods among new sellers because it eliminates the need for a U.S. importer of record.
5. ASLG U.S. Overseas Warehouse Solution (Flexible FBA Alternative)
Transit time: 8–20 days (depending on route and mode)
Best for: Sellers who need faster and more flexible alternatives to direct FBA delivery.
ASLG offers a U.S. Overseas Warehouse Solution, designed for sellers shipping from China to the USA who want more control over their inventory. Instead of sending goods straight to Amazon FBA, sellers first ship entire batches to ASLG’s private U.S. warehouse. There, our team sorts, repacks, relabels, and distributes the products to your customers as needed.
For instance, BOTTLED JOY, a leading hydration brand, uses ASLG’s U.S. overseas warehouse to manage its supply chain. Full container loads are shipped from China, received at the warehouse, and then sorted and dispatched for on-time deliveries across the U.S.
Key advantages:
- Complete DDP shipping support with customs clearance and prepaid duties
- Flexible warehousing, inventory storage, and on-demand delivery to FBA
- Reduced risk of FBA appointment delays or rejections
- Optional inspection, relabeling, and packaging services
Cost breakdown: Shipping cost from China to USA Amazon FBA
The shipping cost from China to the USA Amazon FBA depends on several factors:
| Factor | Description |
|---|---|
| Shipping Method | Air, sea, express, or DDP greatly affects cost per kg or CBM |
| Product Type | Dangerous goods, batteries, or liquids require special handling |
| Weight & Volume | Freight rates are based on chargeable weight or cubic meters |
| Destination | Shipping to West Coast (LA/ONT8) is cheaper than East Coast (NY/NJ) |
| Season & Demand | Rates rise during Q4 or major eCommerce seasons |
| Customs & Duty Fees | HS code classification determines import duties |
To get an accurate estimate, request a custom shipping quote from our logistics experts. Rates may change weekly depending on carrier capacity and fuel prices.
Step-by-step: How to ship from China to Amazon FBA USA
Step 1: Create your Amazon shipment plan
Set up your FBA shipment in Seller Central. You’ll receive Amazon warehouse codes (like ONT8, LAX9, or ABE2) to define your U.S. destinations.
Step 2: Choose a freight forwarder
Select a forwarder experienced in Amazon FBA shipping from China to the USA. They’ll guide you on labeling, packaging, customs paperwork, and route selection.
Step 3: Prepare cartons & labels
Your supplier should attach FNSKU and carton labels exactly as per Amazon’s format. Verify before pickup, because incorrect labeling is one of the top reasons for delayed check-ins.
Step 4: Export customs clearance in China
Your forwarder submits the export declaration to Chinese customs. Ensure all invoices and packing lists match the actual cargo.
Step 5: International transport
Depending on the method you choose, air, sea, or express, your freight forwarder ships the goods to a U.S. port or airport. For DDP, all duties and taxes are prepaid.
Step 6: U.S. customs clearance
For DDP shipments, your forwarder handles this under their importer code. Otherwise, your customs broker must process clearance before domestic delivery.
Step 7: Domestic trucking to Amazon FBA
After customs release, your forwarder delivers the goods to the designated FBA center and books the appointment through Amazon’s Carrier Central system.
Step 8: Amazon check-in & inventory availability
Once Amazon receives and scans your goods, they become active in your inventory. Tracking this stage is key for restocking decisions.
How to choose the best shipping method
| Scenario | Recommend |
|---|---|
| Launching new product, small quantity | Express or Air Freight DDP |
| Regular restock, 500kg - 2 tons | Air Freight DDP |
| Large bulk shipment, low urgency | Sea Freight DDP |
| High-value goods needing speed | Air Freight (with insurance) |
| First-time FBA seller | DDP (all-inclusive) |
| Customs & Duty Fees | HS code classification determines import duties |
In short: balance cost, delivery time, and risk. Air is faster but more expensive; sea is cheaper but slower.
Common challenges in Amazon FBA shipping from China
Even experienced sellers face issues like:
- Delivery appointment delays: Amazon warehouses run on tight schedules. Late or incomplete paperwork can prevent timely entry.
- Incorrect labeling: Missing or unreadable FNSKU labels cause rework and storage fees.
- Customs clearance problems: Misdeclared product values or wrong HS codes trigger inspections.
- Rising freight rates: Peak season surcharges can inflate the shipping cost from China to the USA Amazon FBA by up to 30%.
- Warehouse rejections:Non-compliant packaging or missing carton labels lead to returns or disposal fees.
To avoid these issues, work with a reliable logistics partner that provides door-to-FBA warehouse delivery, professional labeling, and real-time shipment tracking.
Optimize your FBA supply chain from China to the USA
Airsupply specializes in Amazon FBA shipping from China to the USA. We offer door-to-door services, customs clearance, labeling, and last-mile delivery to Amazon warehouses across the United States.
