Express
Courier from China for samples and small parcels
Four to eight days door to door, clearance handled inside the service. The right mode under about 30 kg — and the cheapest way to validate a product before you commit to a container.
Choosing courier
Small and urgent, or not at all
Courier is the most expensive mode per kilogram and the cheapest way to move a sample. Both statements are true, and the reason is fixed charges.
Sea LCL applies a one-CBM minimum plus CFS handling, destination charges and clearance whether you ship one cubic metre or a shoebox. Air freight applies a minimum chargeable weight plus its own handling and clearance. Courier folds clearance into the service, so a 20 kg parcel does not pay for infrastructure it never uses.
Use courier for
- Samples, before committing to a bulk order
- Small parcels under roughly 30 kg
- Urgent spares and replacement components
- Documents and small high-value items
Do not use courier for
- Stock replenishment at volume — the per-kilo rate destroys the margin
- Batteries, magnets, liquids, powders, aerosols or anything classed as dangerous goods
- Anything where the duty treatment needs to be established properly in advance
Mode comparison
All four modes, honestly compared
| Courier | Air freight | Sea LCL | Sea FCL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Door to door | 4–8 days | 6–9 days | 22–28 days | 20–26 days |
| Sensible size | Under 30 kg | 30–500 kg | 1–12 CBM | 15 CBM+ |
| Cost per kg | Highest | High | Low | Lowest |
| Fixed charges | Lowest | Moderate | High | High |
| Clearance | In the service | RGIA | ICD Sanathnagar | ICD Sanathnagar |
| Best for | Samples | Urgent stock | Regular stock | Volume stock |
Always sample first
The cheapest week you will ever spend
One courier sample costs a fraction of a container and takes under a week. It tells you whether the supplier ships what they photographed, whether the quality is what your customers will accept, and what the packing is really like. Skipping it is the most expensive decision a new importer makes.
Questions
About courier shipping
Is there a duty-free allowance on courier shipments?
Not for commercial imports. Goods brought in for business are assessed and duty applies regardless of how small the parcel is. Anyone advertising duty-free courier import of commercial goods is describing something that will not survive assessment.
When should I use courier instead of air freight?
Below roughly 30 kg, and when speed matters more than the rate per kilo. Courier is door to door with clearance handled inside the service, so it avoids the fixed charges that make small air consignments expensive.
How long does courier take from China?
Typically 4 to 8 days door to door, depending on the service and how quickly the parcel clears. Faster than air freight for small parcels mostly because there is no separate clearance step for you to wait on.
What cannot go by courier?
Batteries, magnets, liquids, powders, aerosols and anything classed as dangerous goods are restricted or prohibited. Restricted commercial quantities also cannot go by courier — the mode is designed for samples and small consignments, not for stock replenishment at volume.
Can I courier a sample before a bulk order?
Yes, and it is the right way to do it. A sample by courier in under a week costs far less than discovering the problem in a container five weeks later.
Is courier cheaper than sea for small orders?
Per kilo it is far more expensive. In total it can still win, because sea LCL charges a one-CBM minimum plus CFS handling, destination charges and clearance regardless of how little you ship. For a 20 kg parcel, courier usually lands cheaper. The calculator will show you both.
Get started
Send a sample across
Give us the supplier address, the weight and the dimensions. We will tell you the cost, the transit and the duty position before it moves.