Poleview Group

First-leg freight estimator

Amazon FBA Shipping Cost Calculator

Estimate door-to-door freight, duties, taxes and per-unit landed cost from China to Amazon FBA warehouses — by air, sea, express courier or full container load.

Live estimate

Build your shipment

Enter your carton specs and destination. The quote updates as you type. Rates are indicative market estimates — request a firm quote before booking.

Shipment details
×
×
kg
USD
%
Peak season surcharge
Applies a ×1.20 multiplier to freight
Freight quote · estimate China → United States · Air-to-door
Transit
7–12 d
Chargeable weight 320 kg volumetric
Total landed cost
$0.00
Cost / unit
$0.00
480 units
Duties, import tax and clearance are bundled into this door-to-door rate (duty-paid line). For an unbundled lane, switch to Express or FCL.
Indicative estimate only. Final cost depends on carrier, route, fuel, season and HS classification.
Get an exact freight quote

Choose a method

Air vs sea vs express vs FCL

Each method trades speed against cost. Express is fastest, sea is cheapest per kilogram, and FCL gives the lowest unit cost once you fill a container.

Method Indicative rate Transit Customs & delivery Best for
Air-to-door
 ~$6.5–9.2 / kg 7–12 days Duty-paid, delivered to FBA Restocks, mid-volume, time-sensitive
Sea-to-door
 ~$1.6–2.6 / kg 30–45 days Duty-paid, delivered to FBA Bulk, heavy, planned ahead
Express (DHL/UPS/FedEx)
 ~$7–10.5 / kg 3–7 days Duty & tax billed separately Samples, small urgent batches
FCL (full container)
 ~$1.4k–4.6k / container 30–45 days You clear customs + arrange drayage Large volume, lowest unit cost

The math

How chargeable weight works

Air, sea-to-door and express carriers bill on chargeable weight — the greater of your actual gross weight and the volumetric (dimensional) weight of the space your cartons occupy.

  • Volumetric weight = L × W × H (cm) ÷ divisor
  • Divisor is 6000 for air & sea-to-door, 5000 for express
  • Chargeable weight = max(actual, volumetric)
  • Freight = chargeable × rate × (1 + fuel) × peak

FCL is the exception — it is priced per container, so volume and weight only decide how many containers you need.

Worked example · Air to US
1 carton = 60 × 40 × 40 cm
Volumetric = 96,000 ÷ 6000 = 16 kg
Actual = 12 kg → bill the larger
Chargeable/carton = 16 kg
Chargeable × 20 cartons320 kg
Rate (300 kg+ tier)$6.50 / kg
Fuel surcharge+10%
Freight$2,288.00

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

What is Amazon FBA first-leg (head) shipping?
FBA first-leg shipping, also called head shipping, is the freight that moves your inventory from the factory or warehouse in China to an Amazon fulfilment (FBA) warehouse in the destination country. It typically covers export handling, the main air or ocean leg, and last-mile delivery to the FBA warehouse.
How is Amazon FBA freight cost calculated?
Air, sea-to-door and express freight is charged on chargeable weight, which is the greater of actual gross weight and volumetric weight. Volumetric weight equals length × width × height in centimetres divided by 6000 for air and sea, or 5000 for express courier. Full container load (FCL) is priced per container instead of per kilogram.
What is the difference between air, sea, express and FCL?
Express courier (DHL, UPS, FedEx) is fastest at 3 to 7 days but most expensive per kg. Air-to-door takes 7 to 12 days at a moderate rate. Sea-to-door is the cheapest per kg at 30 to 45 days. FCL gives the lowest unit cost for large volumes, but you arrange your own customs clearance and drayage to the FBA warehouse.
How long does shipping from China to Amazon FBA take?
Typical transit times are 3 to 7 days by express courier, 7 to 12 days by air-to-door, and 30 to 45 days by sea-to-door or FCL. Customs delays, peak season and FBA appointment scheduling can add several days.
Does the freight price include duties and taxes?
Air-to-door and sea-to-door lines are usually duty-paid (double clearance), meaning duties, import VAT or GST and clearance are bundled into the per-kilogram rate. With express courier and FCL you normally pay customs duty, import tax and clearance separately on top of the freight.
How is volumetric (dimensional) weight calculated?
Volumetric weight in kilograms equals carton length × width × height in centimetres divided by a volumetric divisor: 6000 for air freight and sea-to-door, and 5000 for express courier. You are billed on whichever is larger — the actual gross weight or the volumetric weight.
What is a duty-paid or double-clearance line?
A duty-paid line, often written as double clearance or DDP, is a door-to-door service where the freight forwarder handles export clearance, import clearance, duties and taxes for you and includes them in one all-in rate to the FBA warehouse. You receive a single price with no separate customs bill.
How accurate is this FBA shipping calculator?
The calculator gives a planning estimate based on indicative market rates. Real freight rates change with carrier, route, fuel, season and HS code, so use the result as a budgeting guide and request a firm quote for an exact price.
Can you ship bath bombs, soap and candles to Amazon FBA?
Yes. Soap and bath bombs ship as general cargo by air, sea, express or FCL. Candles and some scented products can be classed as flammable or restricted on certain air and express lanes, so confirm the lane and any dangerous-goods handling, and check destination duties such as anti-dumping measures on candles entering the United States.

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Send us your product, cartons and destination — we'll return a firm door-to-door FBA freight quote, with duty-paid and unbundled options.

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