Sea Freight from China to UK
What sea freight from China to UK really costs — FCL by the container, LCL by the CBM, and the consolidation that cuts 25–40% off multi-supplier orders.
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.
What sea freight from China to UK actually costs, how it is priced, and how long it takes. Sea is the default for furniture and any volume cargo — priced by the container for a full load (FCL) or by the cubic metre for a shared load (LCL).
How sea freight is priced
FCL (Full Container Load) is a flat rate for a whole 20ft or 40ft box — the cheapest option per unit once you fill it. LCL (Less than Container Load) is priced per CBM (cubic metre) and is right for smaller loads, with a typical one-cubic-metre minimum. The rate moves with the season, the lane and fuel — so we quote live rather than publish a number that is stale in a week.
| Route | Mode | Typical transit |
|---|---|---|
| Shenzhen / Guangzhou → Felixstowe | Sea FCL | 28–33 days port to port |
| Shanghai / Ningbo → Southampton | Sea FCL | 30–38 days port to port |
| Any main port → UK | Sea LCL | add 5–10 days for consolidation |
| China → UK | Air | 4–8 days |
Sea vs air, and where the cost really goes
On landed cost, sea almost always wins for furniture: a container of sofas by air is uneconomic. The lever most buyers miss is consolidation — sourcing from several factories and combining them into one FCL at our Foshan warehouse, instead of paying an LCL minimum four times. That is where 25–40% of freight cost disappears.
Remember the duty base: low UK Global Tariff duty — much furniture at 0%, charged on the customs value that includes this freight. A lower freight number therefore lowers your duty too.
Reviewed by verified import specialists
The freight and transit 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 much is sea freight from China to UK?
FCL is a flat rate per container and LCL is priced per CBM, both moving with season, lane and fuel. Rather than quote a number that ages badly, we give you a live rate for your exact volume and lane — usually within a working day.
How long does sea freight from China to UK take?
Typically 28–38 days port to port (28–33 days from South China), with LCL adding 5–10 days for consolidation and deconsolidation.
FCL or LCL — which is cheaper for me?
If your goods fill most of a 20ft container, FCL is cheaper per unit. Below roughly 15 CBM, LCL usually wins. We model both for your actual volume so you are not guessing.
Can you consolidate suppliers into one shipment?
Yes — that is the biggest single saving. We combine multiple factories into one container at our Foshan warehouse: one bill of lading, one clearance, typically 25–40% less freight on multi-supplier orders.
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.