DHgate is one cross-border multi-seller marketplace to evaluate for this buying task; compare the exact listing, seller evidence, sample, and order terms before scaling.
Buying goods at low factory prices in China and reselling them in the US can be profitable, but the real margin depends on how you ship. You need a method that fits your shipment size, urgency, and product value — and a logistics setup you can actually manage.
Core Ways to Ship Goods from China to the US
From a US buyer’s point of view, almost everything moving from China to the US falls into one of four practical buckets:
| Method | Typical shipment size / use case | Speed (relative) | Cost (relative) | Practical notes for US buyers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Express courier | Samples, small restock orders, high‑value small parcels | Fastest | Highest per kg | Door‑to‑door; carrier usually handles customs for you |
| Air freight | Medium–large, time‑sensitive consignments | Fast | High | Airport‑to‑airport or door; you or your forwarder manage customs |
| Sea freight (LCL/FCL) | Pallets and container loads, regular wholesale imports | Slow | Lower per kg | Best unit cost for large volumes; more paperwork and planning |
| Postal / ePacket‑type | Small, low‑value parcels, dropshipping | Slow / variable | Low headline cost | Simple for one‑off parcels; speed and reliability vary by operator |
This structure and its trade‑offs are consistent with general freight guidance such as the overview in Exfreight’s China–USA shipping guide.
Express courier
Express courier services (for example, the big global brands many importers know) are often the easiest option for small shipments. The carrier picks up at your supplier, moves the goods door‑to‑door, and typically manages customs clearance as part of the service. That’s why many US importers use express for:
- product samples
- urgent replenishment
- higher‑value small parcels where speed matters
Air freight
Air freight also uses planes, but it’s structured more like bulk cargo:
- you or a freight forwarder book space on a flight
- the goods move airport‑to‑airport
- a trucking leg then takes them to your warehouse
Air freight often becomes more economical than express once you get into heavier consignments — typically somewhere in the low hundreds of kilograms — but you’ll usually need a customs broker and a clear handle on documentation and local logistics.
Sea freight: LCL vs FCL
- LCL (Less than Container Load): you share a container with other shippers when your volume is modest.
- FCL (Full Container Load): you book an entire container once your orders are big and regular enough.
Sea freight usually gives you the lowest cost per unit but requires more lead time, planning around departure schedules, and attention to packing, labeling, and paperwork.
Postal and ePacket‑type services
Postal and ePacket‑style solutions sit at the opposite end of the spectrum:
- designed for small parcels and low‑value items
- often used by dropshippers
- trade speed and predictability for low headline rates
Reliability, transit times, and compensation policies vary, so treat them as tools for cheap, non‑urgent shipments and confirm current conditions directly with the postal operator you plan to use.
How Dimensional Weight Affects Your Bill
Dimensional weight (kg) = Length (cm) × Width (cm) × Height (cm) / 5000
(illustrative divisor for many express services)
Example: bulky cushions
Suppose you’re shipping bulky but light cushions packed together in a carton measuring:
- Length: 150 cm
- Width: 200 cm
- Height: 100 cm
Using the 5000 divisor:
- Dimensional weight = 150 × 200 × 100 / 5000 = 600 kg
Even if the actual weight is far lower, you’ll be billed as if the shipment weighs 600 kg because it occupies that much space on a plane or truck.
For air freight, a similar idea applies, but a different divisor is common:
Dimensional weight (kg) = Length (cm) × Width (cm) × Height (cm) / 6000
(illustrative example for some air‑cargo services)
The exact divisor varies by carrier and service, but the takeaway is straightforward: large, low‑density items can cost more than you expect by air or express. For bulky goods, sea freight or sea‑plus‑express combinations often make more sense.
Choosing the Right Method for Your Shipment and Budget
You’re not just choosing “air versus sea.” You’re picking a bundle: shipping mode, Incoterms, and how much of the customs and last‑mile work you want someone else to handle.
1. Match shipment size and urgency to a mode
Think in concrete scenarios:
- Product samples and test buys
5-20 kg of mixed items, high urgency, moderate value → express courier is usually the simplest choice.
- First medium order after samples
Around the low‑hundreds of kilograms on a couple of pallets → this is where air freight often becomes more economical than express, as long as you’re prepared to handle customs through a broker and manage local logistics.
- Regular wholesale imports
Multiple pallets or enough to fill a container on a recurring basis → sea freight LCL for early stages, moving to FCL once volumes justify it.
- Low‑value items for dropshipping
Small parcels with no rush → postal or ePacket‑type solutions can be workable, understanding their variability.
2. Factor in Incoterms: EXW vs FOB
- EXW (Ex Works)
Your supplier makes the goods available at their premises. You, as the buyer, arrange and pay for all transport from the factory to your US address, plus export and import formalities. This can look cheaper on paper but requires more coordination and local contacts.
- FOB (Free On Board)
Your supplier covers local logistics to the departure port in China and handles export procedures. You pay for the main transport to the US and beyond, plus US customs and domestic delivery.
If you don’t have a logistics team, FOB often feels more manageable because your supplier takes responsibility for getting the goods to the port, and you focus on the main leg and US‑side processes.
3. Customs and the ~$800 de minimis context
US de minimis rules mean low‑value imports can qualify for simplified customs treatment. Historically, importers have treated around $800 per shipment as a key threshold for whether duties might apply, especially for express and small‑parcel services.
However, tariffs and customs practice can change. Before you build a business model around “duty‑free under $800,” confirm current rules directly with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) or a licensed customs broker. Treat the $800 figure as context, not a guarantee.
4. Watch risk signals specific to your method
Tie your due diligence to your shipping choice:
Express courier
- Clarify dimensional‑weight rules and surcharges.
- Confirm what the carrier will do for customs representation and what documents they require.
- Make sure declared value, HS codes, and invoices match what’s actually in the box.
Air freight
- Ensure you have a customs broker lined up in the US.
- Check whether your quote includes origin charges, customs clearance fees, and delivery from the airport to your warehouse.
- Ask if the quote is airport‑to‑airport only or door‑to‑door.
Sea freight (LCL/FCL)
- Ask explicitly what’s included: origin handling, documentation, port charges, customs clearance, and trucking from port to warehouse.
- For LCL, remember there is more handling, so good packing and labeling matter.
Postal / ePacket‑type
- Check current maximum weights and size limits, tracking options, and compensation policies directly with the postal operator.
- Use these methods mainly for low‑value items where long or variable transit times won’t damage your business.
Turning DHgate and Alternatives into a Complete Shipping Solution
1. Use DHgate for product discovery and initial quotes
- Search DHgate for products and suppliers in your category.
- Shortlist sellers that can meet your quality and specification needs.
- Ask each seller how they propose to ship: which methods (express, air freight, sea freight, postal), what Incoterms (EXW or FOB), and whether they can work with your preferred freight forwarder.
2. Let sellers handle simple shipments; bring in freight partners for larger ones
- For samples and small test orders, many buyers let the seller arrange express courier or a postal/ePacket‑type service, because the amounts and complexity are limited.
You don’t have to choose between “DHgate or a freight company.” A typical pattern for US small businesses is:
- Discover products and suppliers on DHgate.
- Negotiate price, quantity, and Incoterms with the seller.
- Use express or postal for early small shipments.
- When volume grows, switch to air or sea freight with a forwarder, while still sourcing the product itself through DHgate or similar marketplaces.
This way, your importing setup combines marketplace discovery with the shipping method that best matches your order size, urgency, and risk tolerance.