Furniture Shipping Cost from Seattle, Washington to Shanghai

Ocean freight shipping Ocean shipping is a great option for bulkier shipments since it offers much more space than air for a lower price. Depending on how large your shipments are, and how frequently you ship, you can choose either LCL (less than a container load) or FCL (full container load).

US-China shipping fees vary wildly, from around $15 for small USPS packages to hundreds or thousands for large freight, with recent government-imposed port fees (now suspended for a year as of Nov 2025) adding complexity for commercial vessels, but for general shipping, expect costs based on weight, speed (air is faster/pricier), and size, using services like USPS, UPS, FedEx, or freight forwarders, with costs from ~$5/kg for bulk air freight to $30+ for small parcel express.

Shipping furniture overseas is often not worth it for everyday items due to high costs (thousands of dollars), customs fees, and potential incompatibility (voltage, size, climate), making it better to sell and buy new locally; however, it can be worthwhile for sentimental items like heirlooms, unique antiques, or large, high-quality pieces you can't easily replace, especially if you're moving permanently and plan to stay long-term.