Amazon FBA Shipping Costs from China: Complete Breakdown
Amazon FBA shipping costs from China have a habit of expanding in the landed cost calculation as sellers account for costs they didn’t initially budget. The ocean freight quote is step one. By step eight — after duties, VAT, FBA fees, storage, and dimensional weight adjustments — the total landed cost per unit looks very different from the supplier’s FOB price. This guide walks through every component of the cost chain, with numbers you can use in your own product analysis.
For up-to-date numbers on a specific lane while you read this guide, you can check current China to Nigeria air freight rates — pricing is refreshed live from the carrier feed.
The Full Cost Chain: China Factory to Amazon FC
1. Factory Pickup and Inland Trucking in China
Getting goods from your factory to the Chinese port or airport. Typically included in a DDP quote or quoted separately by your freight forwarder. Cost: USD $80–$250 per shipment depending on factory location and volume.
2. Chinese Export Customs Clearance
Your freight forwarder files export customs declarations in China. Included in DDP pricing. If arranging separately: USD $50–$100 per shipment for standard goods.
3. Ocean or Air Freight
The main freight cost. Representative rates in 2026:
| Mode | Rate | Best For |
|---|---|---|
| Express courier (DHL/FedEx) | $8–$18/KG | Under 50 KG, urgent |
| Air freight DDP | $5–$11/KG | 50–500 KG |
| LCL sea DDP | $250–$480/CBM | 1–12 CBM |
| FCL 20′ sea DDP | $3,500–$7,000 | 12+ CBM |
4. Destination Customs Clearance
Included in DDP pricing. If self-clearing: $80–$250 broker fee + duty + VAT upfront. For US FBA via Section 321 (under $800): no duty, but still broker fee.
5. Import Duty
Varies by country and HS code. Key rates on typical FBA categories:
- US: 0–25% (Section 301 tariffs apply to many Chinese goods)
- UK: 0–12% depending on product
- EU: 0–12% at MFN rates
- Canada: 0–18%
- Australia: 0–5%
6. Import VAT / GST
Applies on (customs value + duty + freight):
- UK: 20% (recoverable if VAT-registered)
- Germany: 19% (recoverable)
- France: 20% (recoverable)
- Canada: 5% GST (recoverable if GST-registered)
- Australia: 10% GST (recoverable if GST-registered)
7. Amazon FBA Fees (UK Example)
Amazon’s fulfillment and storage fees are separate from freight but must be modeled in the landed cost calculation:
- Referral fee: 8–15% of selling price
- FBA fulfillment fee: £2.50–£5.50 per unit depending on size/weight
- Storage fee: £0.52–£1.92 per cubic foot per month (higher Oct–Dec peak)
Per-Unit Cost Calculation Example
Sample product: wireless earbuds, 300g per unit, 100 units per order, packaged in box of 30×20×8 cm per unit.
- FOB China price: $12.00/unit → $1,200 total
- Air freight (30 KG actual, 24 KG volumetric → 30 KG actual wins): $8.00/KG × 30 = $240
- UK customs duty (3.7% on $1,440 CIF): $53
- UK import VAT (20% on $1,493): $299 (recoverable)
- Customs clearance: included in DDP rate
- Total landed cost before Amazon fees: $1,493 + $53 = $1,546
- Per unit: $15.46
- Amazon UK FBA fee (small, under 150g packed): ~£2.80 = ~$3.50
- Amazon referral fee (at £25 selling price, 8%): £2.00 = $2.50
- Total cost per unit: ~$21.46
- Selling price £25 (~$31.50) → Net margin: ~$10.04/unit (32%)
This margin looks healthy, but it assumes normal sell-through rate. Slow-moving stock incurs monthly storage fees that erode margin quickly — especially October–December when Amazon’s storage rates nearly double.
The Dimensional Weight Wildcard
If those earbuds were packaged in a box twice the size (35×25×15 cm), the volumetric weight per unit = 35×25×15/5000 = 2.625 KG, × 100 units = 262.5 volumetric KG vs. 30 actual KG. The freight would be billed at 262.5 KG — a 775% increase in freight cost per kilogram relationship. Packaging optimization is one of the most overlooked cost levers in FBA China sourcing.
Run your numbers using our China freight calculator. Customer experiences with China to FBA shipping are documented in our verified reviews section.
Amazon FBA Shipping Resources
For real-world pricing and country-specific guides, see the live rate pages below:
- Amazon FBA UK shipping methods
- How to ship to Amazon FBA Canada
- Live FBA freight rates to Canada
- China to the UK air freight cost at 21kg
- China to the USA air freight cost at 21kg
- China to Canada air freight cost at 21kg
FAQ
What is the cheapest way to ship from China to Amazon FBA?
By pure freight cost: FCL sea freight for large volumes, LCL for medium volumes, air freight for small volumes. The cheapest option isn’t always the best — sea freight’s 35–45 day transit requires more inventory capital tied up in transit, which has its own cost.
How do I calculate per-unit shipping cost for FBA?
Total freight cost ÷ number of units = per-unit freight cost. Add per-unit duty (total duty ÷ units) + per-unit VAT (if not recoverable). This gives your landed cost per unit before Amazon fees.
What are Section 301 tariffs and how do they affect FBA shipping from China?
Section 301 tariffs are US trade remedies on Chinese imports, ranging from 7.5% to 25% on hundreds of product categories. They significantly increase the landed cost for US FBA sellers sourcing from China. Check the USTR tariff list for your specific HS code before modeling US FBA unit economics.