🇨🇳 Shipping to China from the USA
¥50 is a tax waiver, not a value threshold, and personal parcels are limited to ¥2,000
Quick answer
- How long: 4 to 10 days by express; 2 to 5 weeks by USPS and China Post, with clearance the main variable.
- Personal parcels: tax is waived if the amount due is ¥50 or less. Rates are about 13%, 20% or 50% by product.
- Limit: ¥2,000 per parcel for personal items, unless it is one indivisible item verified for personal use. Over that, it is returned or cleared as goods.
- Commercial goods: need a proper importer. US-origin goods can also carry additional tariffs.
Tax waived
Of tax due, not value
Parcel limit
About US$300
Postal tax
By product band
Delivery
Express to postal
Shipping Rates to China
| Carrier & Service | 1 lb | 5 lbs | 10 lbs | 20 lbs | Delivery Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| USPS First-Class Intl | $32.05 | N/A | N/A | N/A | 15-30 days |
| USPS Priority Mail Intl | $65.20 | $85.70 | $117.90 | $182.15 | 10-20 days |
| USPS Priority Mail Express Intl | $76.75 | $106.35 | $142.90 | $221.80 | 7-14 days |
| UPS Expedited | $78.00 | $125.00 | $205.00 | $355.00 | 5-10 days |
| FedEx International Priority | $82.00 | $132.00 | $217.00 | $377.00 | 4-8 days |
| DHL Express | $75.00 | $118.00 | $192.00 | $342.00 | 4-8 days |
USPS prices are official retail rates from Notice 123 (effective October 4, 2026). UPS, FedEx, and DHL figures are rough list-price estimates before fuel and other surcharges, not quotes, and a live quote can be much higher or lower. Delivery times exclude customs delays unless stated.
Reference list-price estimates before fuel and demand surcharges, duties and taxes, not quotes. Times include typical clearance. Hong Kong has a separate customs system and is not covered by this table.
How long shipping to China takes
Express parcels to Shanghai, Beijing, Guangzhou and Shenzhen usually land in 2 to 3 days and clear in a few more. Customs may ask for ID, a purchase invoice or a value explanation, so 4 to 10 days is the realistic window. Second-tier cities and western provinces add days. USPS parcels pass to China Post, and may be held at the entry office for tax review. The weeks around Lunar New Year and the 1 October Golden Week see slow clearance. Check the DHL delivery times guide for network context.
How personal parcels are taxed
The earlier version of this page treated ¥50 as a value threshold and ¥1,000 as the parcel limit. Neither is right now. China's Measures for import taxes on inbound articles took effect on 1 December 2024 and raised the limit for parcels to ¥2,000, replacing the old ¥800 and ¥1,000 figures. The ¥50 test is on the tax amount: if the assessed tax is ¥50 or less, it is waived. If it is more, the whole amount is due, not just the excess.
| Declared or assessed value | Band | Tax | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¥333 (about US$50) | 13% | ¥43 | Waived |
| ¥333 (about US$50) | 20% | ¥67 | Pay ¥67 |
| ¥667 (about US$100) | 20% | ¥133 | Pay ¥133 |
| ¥1,334 (about US$200) | 50% | ¥667 | Pay ¥667 |
As a broad guide, books, food and some household goods sit in the 13% band, clothing and many electronics in the 20% band, and alcohol, tobacco, fine jewelry and some cosmetics in the 50% band. Customs can use its own value list rather than the figure you declared. Rates may change, so ask the carrier for the classification.
Commercial shipments are different. They need an importer with customs registration, full tariff classification, 13% or 9% import VAT, and in many cases additional tariffs on US-origin goods. China kept a 10% additional duty and suspended a further 24% for a year from November 2025, so that suspension is up for decision around 10 November 2026. Sellers should check the current Tariff Commission notice. Cross-border e-commerce platforms run a separate regime for consumers.
Prohibited
- Publications or media judged harmful to politics, economy or morals
- Used clothing
- Weapons and ammunition
- Narcotics
- Fresh food, meat and plant material from many origins
Restricted
- Drones, radios and encryption devices: permits or approvals
- Cosmetics and food for sale: registration
- Electronics for sale: CCC certification
- Books and media: content review
- Medicines: personal quantities with prescription
Tips for China
- Get the recipient's ID: couriers often need a resident ID or passport copy to clear a personal parcel. Without it, a parcel can sit or go back.
- Add a Chinese address: put the address in characters as well as pinyin, with a mobile number.
- List every item: vague lines such as "gift" or "personal effects" often prompt questions.
- Keep to personal quantities: several identical items suggest resale, which moves the parcel to goods clearance.
- Lithium batteries and magnets: check carrier limits on the FedEx and DHL pages.
From elsewhere?
Hong Kong and Macau are separate customs territories. Hong Kong generally has no VAT or customs duty on ordinary goods, with duties limited to items such as alcohol and tobacco, but a parcel to Hong Kong then re-entering the mainland is a new import. Parcels from Japan or South Korea are often a few days faster than from the US. The personal limits are not origin-dependent.
China shipping questions
Can I send gifts to China?
Yes, within personal use limits. There is no separate gift exemption, so the ¥50 rule and ¥2,000 limit apply.
What if my parcel is over ¥2,000?
It can be returned or cleared as goods, unless it is a single indivisible item that customs accepts as personal use.
Which carrier is best?
For anything time-sensitive, an express network; see UPS vs FedEx.
Why was tax higher than expected?
Customs can reassess value against its reference prices, and the waiver disappears the moment tax exceeds ¥50.