Air Freight from China to UK
Air freight from China to UK when speed matters — rates, chargeable weight, and the transit times that justify the premium.
Get your landed-cost quote
Tell us what you’re importing to UK. We reply on WhatsApp, usually within a working day.
Factory-direct pricing
We buy at the Foshan factory gate — the same piece you see online, without the retail or middleman markup.
Quality checked before it sails
Photos and inspection at the factory and again at our warehouse, so problems are caught in China, not at your door.
Door-to-door to UK
Sea and air freight to Felixstowe, HMRC’s CDS (Customs Declaration Service) clearance and last-mile — handled end to end.
Air freight from China to UK in 4–8 days — the right call for high-value, low-volume, or time-critical goods. Air is priced on chargeable weight: the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight, so bulky-but-light cargo is penalised.
How air freight is priced
Carriers charge the chargeable weight — actual kilograms versus volumetric kilograms (length × width × height in cm ÷ 6000), whichever is greater. Dense, valuable goods fly economically; light and bulky goods (most furniture) do not, which is why furniture almost always goes by sea. Rates move daily with capacity, so we quote live.
| Factor | What it means |
|---|---|
| Transit time | 4–8 days door to airport, plus clearance |
| Priced on | Chargeable weight (actual vs volumetric, whichever is higher) |
| Best for | Samples, high-value items, urgent restocks, launch orders |
| Not for | Bulky furniture and volume cargo — use sea freight |
| Duty base | low UK Global Tariff duty — much furniture at 0%, on customs value including the airfreight |
When air is worth it
Air makes sense when the cost of not having the goods is higher than the freight premium — a sold-out product, a sample round before a big order, or a launch date you cannot miss. For a standing furniture line, sea plus good planning beats air on every metric that matters.
Reviewed by verified import specialists
The air freight guidance on this page reflects HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC) practice and the applicable tariff schedule as of August 2026. Rates and procedures can change — we re-verify this page each quarter and confirm the rate for your specific HS code before you commit to an order. This is practical guidance, not a customs ruling on your particular goods.
Frequently asked questions
How long is air freight from China to UK?
4–8 days airport to airport, plus a day or two each side for pickup, clearance and delivery.
How is air freight priced?
On chargeable weight — the greater of actual weight and volumetric weight (L×W×H cm ÷ 6000). Bulky-but-light cargo is charged on its volume, which is why furniture rarely flies.
Is air freight worth it for furniture?
Rarely. Furniture is bulky and light, so air is expensive per unit. We use air for samples and urgent items and move the main order by sea.
Can you split a shipment — samples by air, bulk by sea?
Yes, and it is a common, smart pattern: fly a sample to approve, then ship the container by sea once you sign off. We coordinate both.
Get your landed cost before you commit to an order
Send us your product list or a supplier link. We classify the goods, confirm the rate against the HS code, and come back with one landed-cost figure delivered to your door in UK — goods, freight, duty, tax and local charges in a single number.
Related guides
Get your landed cost before you commit to an order
Send your product list or a supplier link. We classify the goods, confirm the duty against the HS code, and come back with one number to your door in UK — goods, freight, duty, tax and local charges.
No obligation · We reply on WhatsApp
Start your quote
One number, no surprises. We usually reply within a working day.