Amazon FBA Shipping Calculator — China to US Inbound Freight (Air / LCL / FCL)
Answer: Amazon FBA inbound shipping cost = (chargeable weight × air rate) OR (CBM × LCL rate) OR FCL flat cost, plus prep cost × carton count. Mode choice is driven by urgency, weight, and CBM.
What does it cost to ship to Amazon FBA from China?
Amazon FBA inbound shipping cost = base freight (by mode) + prep cost per carton × carton count. The mode choice — air, ocean LCL, or ocean FCL — depends on urgency, chargeable weight, and CBM. Prep cost is separate because FNSKU labels, polybags, and palletization aren’t included in a forwarder’s freight quote.
How the calculator works
Pick a mode, fill the rate input for that mode, then enter cartons and prep fee. The calculator:
- Air — multiplies chargeable weight (kg) by your air rate (USD/kg) to get base freight.
- LCL — multiplies CBM by your LCL rate (USD/CBM) to get base freight.
- FCL — uses your all-in flat cost per container as base freight.
- Prep — multiplies cartons by prep fee per carton.
- Total — base freight + prep total.
Toggle modes to compare side by side. If you don’t know chargeable weight yet, use the Chargeable Weight Calculator first.
Worked example: 100 cartons, China → US FBA
Your shipment: 100 cartons, 320 kg actual weight, 4 CBM total.
Air option (5.2 USD/kg, chargeable weight 667 kg using 6000 cm³/kg):
- Base freight: 667 × 5.2 = USD 3,468
- Prep: 100 × 0.80 = USD 80
- Total: USD 3,548 • Transit ~8 days
Ocean LCL option (140 USD/CBM, 4 CBM):
- Base freight: 4 × 140 = USD 560
- Prep: 100 × 0.80 = USD 80
- Total: USD 640 • Transit ~40 days
Ocean FCL option (40HQ flat USD 4,200):
- Base freight: USD 4,200
- Prep: 100 × 0.80 = USD 80
- Total: USD 4,280 • Transit ~32 days
At 4 CBM and 100 cartons, ocean LCL wins by a wide margin if you can wait. FCL only makes sense once the shipment fills enough of a container — usually 15+ CBM.
Mode comparison
| Mode | Best for | Typical transit (CN → US FBA, May 2026) | Cost driver |
|---|---|---|---|
| Air express | < 50 kg, urgent restock | 5–8 days door-to-door | Chargeable weight × rate |
| Air freight | 50–500 kg, urgent | 8–12 days door-to-door | Chargeable weight × rate |
| Ocean LCL | 2–15 CBM, time-flexible | 35–50 days | CBM × rate |
| Ocean FCL | 15+ CBM | 28–42 days | Flat per-container |
FBA-specific cost layers most calculators miss
| Layer | Typical range (May 2026) | Where it appears |
|---|---|---|
| FNSKU labeling | USD 0.20 – 0.40 / unit | Prep fee per carton |
| Polybag / bundling | USD 0.50 – 1.00 / carton | Prep fee per carton |
| Pallet build at US prep center | USD 5 – 15 / pallet | Prep fee per carton (averaged) |
| FBA appointment booking | USD 75 – 200 / shipment | Often bundled into destination fees |
| Section 301 tariff | 7.5% – 25% of CIF | Use US Customs Duty Calculator |
Why the prep layer matters
A USD 0.80 prep fee on 100 cartons is USD 80 — a rounding error. Same fee on 1,000 cartons is USD 800, and on 5,000 cartons it’s USD 4,000. Sellers comparing two forwarder quotes often miss that the cheaper freight rate includes no prep, while the higher rate bundles labeling and palletization. Modeling prep separately keeps the comparison honest.
When this calculator isn’t enough
This page prices freight + prep only. For the full landed cost into FBA, also add:
- US customs duty + section 301 tariff — see US Customs Duty Calculator.
- Last-mile drayage from port to FBA or to a US prep center — quote separately.
- Amazon FBA fulfillment fees — Amazon Seller Central’s revenue calculator, not this tool.
- Storage fees — monthly and long-term, also outside this calculator.
Lock the freight + prep number here, then layer the rest for a true unit-cost-into-Amazon figure.
FAQs
Does this include Amazon FBA fulfillment fees? No. It covers inbound freight and prep only. Amazon referral, fulfillment, storage, and placement fees must be modeled in Seller Central or a separate profit calculator.
When is air freight better for FBA inventory? Use air for urgent replenishment, launch inventory, or small shipments where stockout risk is higher than the freight premium. Ocean LCL usually wins once timing is flexible.
When should an FBA seller switch from LCL to FCL? FCL usually becomes attractive around 15+ CBM, depending on the lane, CFS fees, and whether a prep center or Amazon appointment can receive the container.
Should I ship direct to Amazon or through a prep center? Direct can work for compliant small parcel and pallet shipments. Ocean containers often route through a prep center for labeling, palletizing, appointment control, and exception handling.
Why model prep cost separately? A freight quote may exclude FNSKU labels, polybags, bundling, pallet build, and appointment handling. Separating prep keeps two forwarder quotes comparable.
Dated facts
- As of May 2026, China → US West Coast air freight runs USD 4.50 – 6.20 per kg for shipments under 500 kg, dropping to USD 3.80 – 5.00 above that.
- Ocean LCL Shenzhen → LA is roughly USD 110 – 170 per CBM all-in, with a 1 CBM minimum charge.
- A 40HQ China → LA spot rate sits around USD 3,800 – 4,500 ocean freight, plus USD 1,000 – 1,800 in origin and destination local charges.
- Amazon FBA inbound receive times are running 3–7 days at most LAX-area FCs and 5–10 days at Inland Empire FCs once cartons arrive.
Frequently asked questions
- What does the FBA shipping calculator estimate?
- It estimates inbound freight from China (or other origin) to a US FBA warehouse by mode — air, ocean LCL, or ocean FCL — plus prep cost per carton. The output is the freight + prep portion of your landed cost, not Amazon fulfillment fees.
- Does this include Amazon FBA fulfillment fees, referral fees, or storage?
- No. Amazon FBA fulfillment fees, monthly storage fees, long-term storage fees, and referral fees are separate. This calculator is for inbound freight planning only — the cost to move cartons from your supplier to the Amazon fulfillment center.
- How do I decide between air, LCL, and FCL for FBA inbound?
- Air freight makes sense for urgent replenishment or shipments under ~150 kg chargeable weight. Ocean LCL is usually cheapest between roughly 2 and 15 CBM. Ocean FCL wins above ~15 CBM because the per-CBM rate drops sharply once you fill a 20ft or 40HQ container. Compare all three by changing the mode selector.
- Why does the calculator include a prep fee per carton?
- FBA shipments often require FNSKU labels, polybagging, bundling, or palletization that the freight quote does not cover. Prep typically runs USD 0.50 – 1.50 per carton in China, plus USD 5 – 15 per pallet for floor-loaded to palletized conversion at a US warehouse. Modeling it separately keeps the freight comparison honest.
- How long does FBA inbound shipping take from China in 2026?
- As of May 2026, China → US FBA transit times are roughly: air express 5–8 days door-to-door, air freight 8–12 days, ocean LCL 35–50 days, ocean FCL 28–42 days. Add 3–7 days for FBA receiving once the shipment hits the warehouse.
- Can I ship directly to Amazon FBA, or do I need a US prep center?
- Most ocean shipments route through a US-side prep center because FBA does not accept floor-loaded containers without an appointment, and pallets must meet ISPM-15 and Amazon stacking specs. Air shipments often go direct or via a forwarder that handles section 321 and FBA appointment booking.