Shipping times and costs from Germany to China

Shipping from
Germany
Shipping to
China
Shipping times
1 - 3 Days by air
15 - 20 Days by sea

1 Bedroom flat

Shipping costs by air ยฃ3,331 - ยฃ3,679
Shipping costs by sea ยฃ1,749 - ยฃ1,931

3 Bedroom house

Shipping costs by air N/A
Shipping costs by sea ยฃ2,690 - ยฃ2,972

5 Bedroom house

Shipping costs by air N/A
Shipping costs by sea ยฃ4,035 - ยฃ4,457

The cost of shipping is all dependent upon how much you need to ship, and how far. Read up on all you need to know about international shipping to your chosen country.

Please note: the prices listed here are meant as an estimate only. The best way to get a comprehensive, tailored quote is to fill out our form and be matched with a supplier.

Shipping Container Costs to China

If youโ€™re a people person, youโ€™ll love China. Nicknamed โ€œThe Red Dragonโ€, the East Asian nation is the most populous country on Earth, home to over 1.4 billion people. Itโ€™s also the third biggest country in the world, with landscapes ranging from the Gobi Desert and the Himalayan Mountains to the subtropical forests of the South. Chinaโ€™s major cities โ€“ such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou โ€“ are situated along its enormous east coast, while inland youโ€™ll find incredible natural beauty. Expect a magical combination of ancient history, sensational cuisine, and cuddly pandas.

Sea freight or air freight?

If youโ€™re moving to China, youโ€™ll probably have some belongings youโ€™d like to ship over there. The two main options are air freight or sea freight.

Air freight offers a quick service; cargo planes can reach China from almost anywhere in the world in just 2-3 days. This is handy if you need to make a last-minute move, but air freight is also very expensive, so it isnโ€™t ideal if youโ€™re moving on a budget.

Sea freight is much more affordable, typically costing around five times less than air freight. Container ships are slow and can take several weeks to reach their destination, but plan your move well in advance and this wonโ€™t be a problem.

If you choose sea freight, you will use either a 20ft container or a 40ft container. However, you donโ€™t need to fill the whole container; if the total volume of your cargo is around 15 cubic metres or less, you will share the use of a container with other people in a process known as Less Than Container Load (LCL).

Most of our shipping suppliers provide a full door-to-door service, which means theyโ€™ll take your belongings all the way from your old house to your new one.

Major shipping ports

China has a vast coastline and a lot of container ports. The ten largest container terminals in the world features no less than seven Chinese ports, with the Port of Shanghai at number one (Statista, 2017). If youโ€™re moving to Beijing, your container will be shipped to the Port of Tianjin, while the Port of Shenzhen is the main entry point in the south of China. Once your container has reached Chinese soil, it will pass through customs, and travel by truck and/or train to your new home.

Clearing customs in China

Papers please! The customs process can seem a bit daunting, but our experienced shipping companies will guide you through it. You are required to create an inventory (i.e. a detailed list) of everything that youโ€™re bringing into China, which is helpful to know before you start packing. All shipments are X-ray scanned, and about 20-30% of them are physically inspected, so make sure your inventory is accurate and truthful.

Unless youโ€™re a diplomat, most of your personal belongings and household goods will be subject to import duties. The rates generally range between 10-30% of the value of each item (assessed by a customs official), and shipments typically take around 10-15 working days to clear. See below for an idea of the things that are prohibited or restricted by Chinese customs.

Shipping Container Options

20Ft Shipping Container

Dimensions:
33 Cubic Meters
5.9m x 2.35m x 2.39m (l x w x h)

Price: ยฃ2,690 - ยฃ2,972

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  • Boxes
    16 x medium boxes
  • Kitchen
    1 x american fridge, 1 x small fridge, 3 x kitchen appliances
  • Bedrooms
    1 x wardrobe, 1 x double bed, 1 x single bed, 2 x lamps
  • Lounge
    1 x sofa, 4 x chairs, 1 x table, 1 x armchair, 1 x television
  • Various
    1 x motorbike, 4 x bicycles

Please note that this is an estimate and is intended for rough guidance only.

40Ft Shipping Container

Dimensions:
67 Cubic Meters
12.03m x 2.35m x 2.39m (l x w x h)

Price: ยฃ5,111 - ยฃ5,646

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  • Boxes
    28 x medium boxes
  • Kitchen
    1 x american fridge, 1 x small fridge, 3 x kitchen appliances
  • Bedroom
    1 x wardrobe, 1 x double bed, 1 x single bed, 2 x lamps
  • Lounge
    1 x sofa, 4 x chairs, 1 x table, 1 x armchair, 1 x television
  • Various
    1 x car, 1 x motorbike, 4 x bicycles

Please note that this is an estimate and is intended for rough guidance only.

Car shipped by sea freight

Max Dimensions: 5.75m x 2.2m x 2.2m (l x w x h)

Base Price: ยฃ833 - ยฃ920

Quarantine & Taxes: ยฃ1,000 - ยฃ2,500

Price: ยฃ4,790 - ยฃ8,222

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Unusual Restricted Items

Cigarettes
Cigarettes are subject to restricted entry requirements.
Alcohol
Alcohol is subject to restricted entry requirements.
Disruptive Media
Films, prints, records, digital media which could be considered harmful to China's politics, economy or culture.
Cash
Amounts over RMB 6000 in Yuan (approx 550 GBP).
Any Weapons
Weapons, simulated weapons, ammunition and explosives.
Animals
All living animals (excluding dogs and cats) and their sperm, zygotes, embryos and other genetic things.