The short answer: most first orders land 25–50% above the supplier’s price
If you ask ten importers what it costs to import from China to the USA, you will get ten answers. That is because the number depends on what you buy, how much you buy, how fast you need it, and which duties apply. A practical rule for small and mid-size buyers: budget 25–50% on top of the FOB product price for freight, tariffs, customs fees, inspections, and delivery. Heavy, low-value goods often land at the higher end. Light, high-value goods moving by sea can land lower.
The only number that matters is your landed cost: the final cost per unit after it reaches your warehouse, 3PL, or Amazon FBA. This guide breaks down each cost so you can build a realistic estimate before you pay a deposit.
What goes into the landed cost?
Your supplier’s quote is rarely your final cost. A typical import has these layers:
- Product cost (FOB): the supplier’s price plus delivery to the China port and export clearance.
- Freight: sea, air, or express.
- Insurance: usually 0.1–0.5% of cargo value if you buy it.
- Duties and tariffs: based on HTS code, value, and country of origin.
- Customs brokerage, ISF, and bond: the paperwork to clear your goods.
- Port and terminal fees: charged at origin and destination.
- Inland delivery: port to your door.
- Inspection and audits: factory checks, pre-shipment inspection, lab testing.
- Sourcing or agent fees: if someone finds and manages the supplier.
- Compliance and labeling: FDA, FCC, CPSIA, Prop 65, batteries, cosmetics, toys, and more.
- Payment and currency fees: wire fees, platform fees, exchange-rate spread.
- Contingency: delays, exams, damage, or rework.
Here are typical ranges. They are not quotes. Freight and tariff numbers move often, so use them for planning only.
| Cost category | Typical range | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sourcing agent | 3–10% of order or $30–$80/hour | Flat fees are common for small orders |
| Factory audit | $300–$1,000 per factory | More for complex social compliance audits |
| Pre-shipment inspection | $100–$300 per man-day; $200–$500 total | Depends on product size and location |
| Lab testing / compliance | $300–$3,000+ per product | FDA, FCC, CPSIA, Prop 65, battery UN38.3 |
| Express courier | $8–$20/kg | 3–7 days, best for samples and small parcels |
| Air freight | $4–$10/kg | 5–12 days door-to-door, plus fees |
| Sea LCL | $80–$200 per CBM port-to-port | Plus destination fees; 25–40 days |
| Sea FCL 20ft | $1,800–$5,500 port-to-port | Rates change with season and route |
| Sea FCL 40ft | $2,500–$7,500 port-to-port | East Coast often costs more |
| Normal customs duty | 0–10% | Depends on HTS code |
| Section 301 / additional tariffs | 7.5–25%+ | Check current policy by product |
| Customs brokerage | $100–$250 per entry | Plus ISF and bond |
| Single-entry bond | $50–$100 | Annual bond $400–$600 |
| Port / terminal fees | $100–$400 | Varies by port and carrier |
| Inland delivery | $150–$800 | From port to ZIP code |
| Warehousing / FBA prep | $20–$60 per pallet/month | Plus labeling and prep fees |
| Contingency | 10–15% of total | Customs exams, demurrage, delays |
A real example: $10,000 FOB order
Say you buy 1,000 units of a home product. The supplier quotes $10,000 FOB Shenzhen. The shipment is 2 CBM and 400 kg. You choose sea LCL to Los Angeles, then truck to a 3PL in Texas.
| Item | Estimated cost |
|---|---|
| FOB product cost | $10,000 |
| LCL ocean + destination fees | $850 |
| Duty and tariffs (15% total) | $1,500 |
| Customs brokerage, ISF, bond | $250 |
| Inland delivery | $300 |
| Pre-shipment inspection | $350 |
| Sourcing agent (5%) | $500 |
| Labeling / compliance | $200 |
| Contingency | $500 |
| Total landed cost | $14,450 |
| Landed cost per unit | $14.45 |
That is about 44% above FOB. If the product were duty-free and moved in a full container, the percentage would drop. If it were bulky furniture with 25% tariffs, it could rise past 60%.
The five biggest cost drivers
1. The HTS code and product category
Your HTS code decides the duty rate. A phone case, a lithium battery, a cotton shirt, and a steel bracket can have very different tariffs. Your supplier may give you a code, but suppliers are not customs experts. Ask a US customs broker to confirm it. A one-digit mistake can change your cost by thousands.
2. Freight mode and volume
Express is fast but expensive. Air freight is a middle option for urgent, light goods. Sea freight is cheapest for heavy goods, but slow. LCL is useful for small shipments, yet destination fees can make it expensive per CBM. Once you pass about 15 CBM, a 20ft container often costs less than LCL.
3. Tariffs and trade policy
US tariffs on Chinese goods have changed many times. Section 301 tariffs, Section 232 tariffs, and other measures can apply. Some products have no extra tariff. Others face 25% or more. Because policy can change while your order is in production, build a tariff buffer into your pricing.
4. Packaging and dimensional weight
Air and express carriers charge by actual or dimensional weight, whichever is greater. Oversized boxes can cost more than the product inside. Ask your supplier for carton dimensions and gross weight before you request freight quotes. Better packaging can lower freight and reduce damage.
5. Supplier reliability and quality control
A cheap supplier becomes expensive if the goods arrive wrong. Rework, returns, air-freight replacements, and lost sales often cost more than a $300 inspection. Factory audits and pre-shipment inspections are not overhead. They are insurance.
Common hidden costs
New importers often forget these:
- Amazon FBA prep: labeling, poly bagging, bundling, palletizing.
- Storage at origin or destination: free time is limited.
- Demurrage and detention: $100–$300 per container per day after free time.
- Customs exams: $300–$1,500, plus delays.
- Samples: $50–$300 per sample plus $30–$100 shipping per round.
- Payment fees: wire transfers $25–$50; platforms 1–3%.
- Currency swings: a 2% move on a $50,000 order is $1,000.
- Defective units: replacement production, freight, and disposal.
- Compliance updates: new labels, warnings, or testing when rules change.
Incoterms: who pays for what
Incoterms decide where your cost begins. They also affect your risk.
| Incoterm | Supplier pays | You pay |
|---|---|---|
| EXW | Factory only | Everything from factory door |
| FOB | Delivery to China port + export clearance | Ocean/air freight, insurance, duties, US delivery |
| CIF | FOB + freight + insurance to US port | Customs, duties, US delivery |
| DDP | Delivered to your door with duties | Usually just receive; confirm what is included |
A DDP quote can be convenient, but check the details. Some low DDP quotes use undervalued invoices or slow consolidations. That creates customs risk and unpredictable delivery. Ask what carrier, what duty rate, and what happens if customs asks questions.
How to get a useful quote
- Ask your supplier for FOB price, MOQ, lead time, carton dimensions, gross/net weight, and HS code.
- Confirm the HTS code and duty rate with a US customs broker.
- Get freight quotes for sea, air, and express. Compare port-to-port and door-to-door.
- Add inspection, agent, compliance, and delivery fees.
- Add 10–15% contingency.
- Compare landed cost per unit, not just supplier price.
- Re-quote if freight rates or tariffs change before production ends.
Ways to reduce cost without cutting corners
- Consolidate suppliers. One shipment from multiple factories often costs less than three separate LCL shipments.
- Use sea freight for non-urgent goods. Air freight can erase your margin.
- Order an inspection before final payment. Fixing defects at the factory is cheaper than fixing them in the US.
- Negotiate FOB and use your own forwarder. You see the real freight cost instead of a marked-up number.
- Plan around Chinese New Year. Factories close for 1–3 weeks, and freight rates spike before and after.
- Keep customs values accurate. Under-declaring is not a cost strategy. Penalties, seizures, and lost goods cost more.
- Check compliance early. FDA, FCC, CPSIA, Prop 65, and battery rules can change your packaging and testing budget.
When a China concierge is worth the fee
If you do not speak Chinese, cannot visit factories, or have never cleared customs, the learning curve can cost more than the service. A local team can check suppliers, negotiate prices, inspect goods, consolidate shipments, and give you real freight numbers. The value is not just the fee. It is the mistakes you avoid.
If you want a local team in China to handle sourcing, factory checks, inspections, consolidation, and delivery, Globesino can be your on-the-ground partner.