Courier, air, sea or rail: which fits my order?
Choose by the goods, route, required arrival date and complete delivered quote, not a universal order-size threshold. For a first comparison, give every provider the same packed dimensions, actual weight and destination.
- Applies to
- Overseas small-business buyers planning a first or small commercial order from China.
Compare the service, not just the mode
| Option | What to investigate | Cost or delay easily missed |
|---|---|---|
| Courier | Pickup, delivery address, clearance service and product acceptance | Dimensional weight, remote-area and clearance charges |
| Air cargo | Airport-to-airport or door-to-door; who handles each end | Terminal handling, broker, local transport and storage |
| Sea freight | Shared container space or a dedicated container; exact ports and delivery | Consolidation, destination handling, storage and final delivery |
| Rail | Whether the actual origin-to-destination route is offered and acceptable for the goods | Transfers, border procedures and road legs |
This is a planning comparison, not a promise that one option is always fastest or cheapest. Rail is not an available direct solution to every destination. For current transit days and port conditions by country, see our shipping lanes page.
Send a complete shipment brief
Include commodity, material and use; destination and postal code; number of cartons; outside dimensions and actual weight of each; ready date; required delivery date; declared value; and any batteries, liquids, magnets or dangerous-goods concerns.
Ask whether the quote includes pickup, export handling, main transport, insurance, clearance, applicable taxes and delivery. Identify excluded charges and who pays them. Do not assume a quote includes insurance simply because it includes carriage.
Check weight and time
For bulky goods, ask for the actual dimensional-weight formula and rounding rules. FedEx's US guidance uses the higher of actual or dimensional weight; its published inch/pound calculation uses 139. This is an example, not a divisor for every provider.
Ask for the production completion date separately from pickup, departure, arrival and final delivery. A transit estimate beginning at departure does not tell you when you will receive goods from an unfinished order.
Risk signals
- "Door to door" has no precise destination or import arrangement.
- A low freight number excludes all destination costs.
- A provider promises to ship restricted goods without an accurate declaration.
- No one explains claims evidence or the insurance scope.
Official sources
- FedEx US: dimensional weight: example of carrier-specific billing.
- ICC: Incoterms 2020: transport responsibilities and risk.
Sources read 2026-10-26. The mode comparison is our planning checklist, not official cost or transit-time guidance.
Still uncertain
Current rates, route availability, restrictions, insurance, duties and delivery times need a written order-specific quote.
Next step
Obtain comparable delivered quotes for feasible routes and check the product's import requirements before booking.
Contact us