1688 Shipping to USA & UK: Methods, Costs and Timelines
Quick answer: 1688 sellers only ship inside mainland China, so 1688 shipping to the USA or UK always runs in two legs: the seller sends goods to a forwarder or agent warehouse in China, and the forwarder ships them abroad. Air express takes about 3–7 days, special air lines 7–15 days, and sea freight roughly 25–45 days.
Last updated: 3 November 2026.
Key takeaways
There is no direct international shipping on 1688. You need a China address, usually a forwarder's or sourcing agent's warehouse.
Weight decides the method. Small parcels suit air express or special lines; once a shipment reaches about 100 kg or one cubic metre, sea freight usually wins.
You pay for the bigger of real and volumetric weight. Repacking and consolidation often cut the bill more than switching carriers.
US duty rules changed in 2025. The $800 de minimis exemption no longer covers China-origin goods, so budget for duty on every US shipment.
Landed cost, not the 1688 price, decides your margin. Add domestic freight, forwarder fees, international freight, duty and tax before comparing with Alibaba.com or AliExpress.
How does 1688 shipping to the USA and UK actually work?
1688.com is Alibaba Group's wholesale marketplace for buyers in mainland China. Its sellers quote prices in yuan and ship to Chinese addresses only. International delivery is never part of the listing. That is the main reason 1688 prices sit below export platforms, as our 1688 vs Alibaba price difference breakdown shows: the seller is not paying for export logistics.
So every 1688 order to the US or UK moves in two legs. First, the seller ships to a warehouse in China, typically in Guangzhou, Yiwu or Shenzhen. This domestic leg is cheap, often a few yuan per parcel for light goods. Second, a forwarder or agent receives, checks, repacks and ships the goods abroad. The second leg is where almost all of your logistics cost sits.
If you have not set up an account, a warehouse address and a payment route yet, start with how to buy from 1688 outside China. This guide assumes your goods are already on their way to a China warehouse.
Forwarder or sourcing agent: who should ship for you?
A freight forwarder only handles logistics. You buy on 1688 yourself, pay the seller, and give the forwarder's warehouse as the delivery address. A sourcing agent does more: it can place orders, pay suppliers, check quality and then ship. Agents charge a service fee, often a percentage of the goods value, while forwarders charge mainly for storage, handling and freight. Our comparison of 1688 agents covers the trade-offs in detail.
Which shipping method should you use from 1688?
The right method depends on weight, urgency and what you are shipping. Use the table below as a first filter, then ask two or three forwarders for quotes on your actual cartons.
Method | Typical transit to USA / UK | Relative cost | Best for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Air express (DHL, FedEx, UPS) | 3–7 days | Highest per kg | Samples, urgent restocks, parcels under ~20 kg | Volumetric weight; duty often billed on delivery |
Special air line (dedicated postal/line service) | 7–15 days | Medium | Regular small parcels, dropshipping stock | Check whether duty is included (DDP) or not |
Air freight (airport to airport) | 5–10 days plus clearance | Medium, falls with volume | Roughly 100–300 kg needed quickly | You may need a customs broker at arrival |
Rail freight (China–Europe) | About 18–30 days to the UK | Below air, above sea | Mid-size UK and EU shipments | Fewer forwarders offer it; not for the USA |
Sea freight (LCL or FCL) | About 25–45 days door to door | Lowest per kg | From ~1 cubic metre or ~100 kg upward | Minimum charges; port and clearance fees at arrival |
Transit times are typical ranges reported by forwarders and change with season. Before Chinese New Year and in the weeks before Black Friday, capacity tightens and both prices and delays rise. Our guide to the Chinese New Year shipping shutdown explains how to plan around the biggest slowdown of the year.
How much does 1688 international shipping cost?
Forwarders price by chargeable weight, which is the larger of actual weight and volumetric weight. For air and express, volumetric weight is usually length × width × height in centimetres divided by 5,000 (some carriers use 6,000). A 50 × 40 × 40 cm carton therefore counts as 16 kg even if it weighs 6 kg. Light, bulky goods such as pillows, toys and packaging are where buyers get surprised.
Sea freight is priced per cubic metre (CBM) with a minimum charge, which is why it rarely makes sense for a single small carton. Whatever the method, ask every forwarder for the same thing: the all-in price for your carton dimensions, to your postcode, with or without duty.
A landed cost worksheet for 1688 orders
The 1688 listing price is only the first line of your real cost. Fill in every line below before you compare a 1688 supplier with an Alibaba.com or AliExpress listing.
Cost line | Who charges it | How it is usually priced |
|---|---|---|
Product price | 1688 seller | Per unit in yuan, tiered by quantity |
Domestic China freight | 1688 seller | Per parcel or per kg to the warehouse |
Payment cost | Alipay, card issuer or agent | Percentage fee plus currency conversion |
Agent or forwarder service | Agent / forwarder | Percentage of goods value or per order |
Inspection, repacking, storage | Forwarder | Per carton, per photo or per day |
International freight | Forwarder / carrier | Per chargeable kg or per CBM |
Import duty and tax | Customs (US CBP / HMRC) | Percentage of customs value, by product code |
Last-mile and clearance fees | Carrier or broker | Fixed fee per shipment |
Divide the total by the number of sellable units. That landed cost per unit is the number to compare across platforms. A supplier who looks 30% cheaper on 1688 can end up level with an Alibaba.com listing once freight and duty are added, especially for bulky goods.
What duties and taxes apply in the USA and UK?
USA. Until 2025, many small parcels entered duty-free under the $800 de minimis rule. That exemption was removed for goods from China and Hong Kong in May 2025 and suspended for all countries from 29 August 2025, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Every 1688 shipment to the US now pays duty, and many China-origin goods also carry additional tariffs whose rates changed several times in 2025. Check the current rate for your product's HTS code before you order, and ask your forwarder whether its quote is DDP (duties paid) or DAP (you pay at delivery).
UK. For consignments up to £135, VAT is normally charged at the point of sale by the seller or marketplace. Shipments from a forwarder rarely work that way, so in practice import VAT (20% standard rate) and any customs duty are collected at the border. Duty applies to goods over £135, at the rate for the commodity code. GOV.UK's guidance on goods sent from abroad sets out the current rules. VAT-registered businesses can usually reclaim import VAT, which changes the maths for sellers compared with private buyers.
How to ship from 1688 to the USA or UK, step by step
Choose a forwarder or agent first. Get its warehouse address and your customer code before you place any order.
Check restricted items. Batteries, magnets, liquids, powders and branded goods need a sensitive-goods line or cannot ship at all.
Order on 1688 with the warehouse address. Add your customer code to the recipient name or notes so the parcel is matched to you.
Wait for all suppliers to deliver. Consolidating several orders into one shipment cuts the per-kg price.
Ask for inspection photos and repacking. Removing retail boxes and air can lower volumetric weight substantially.
Compare quotes on the final carton size. Pick the method using the table above, and confirm DDP or DAP.
Declare accurately. Under-declaring value or using a wrong product code risks seizure, fines and delays.
Is 1688 still worth it once shipping is added?
For bulk orders of light, compact goods, usually yes: the product discount on 1688 is larger than the extra logistics cost. For one-off small orders, bulky items or anything that must arrive within a week, AliExpress or Alibaba.com often comes out cheaper and simpler, because the seller handles export. Our AliExpress vs Alibaba vs 1688 vs Taobao comparison shows where each platform fits.
One more lever sits on the product line rather than freight. Shipping and forwarder fees cannot earn cashback, but the goods themselves can: 1688 cashback through Refundy returns up to 3% of eligible order value when you pay from your own account, after a one-time activation through Refundy support. On AliExpress the same approach returns up to 11%, as our AliExpress cashback guide explains.
Frequently asked questions
Does 1688 ship to the USA or UK directly?
No. 1688 sellers ship only to addresses in mainland China. To get goods to the USA or UK, you send them to a forwarder or sourcing agent warehouse in China, which then ships them internationally.
How long does 1688 shipping to the USA take?
Add 2–5 days for the domestic leg to the warehouse. After that, air express takes about 3–7 days, special air lines about 7–15 days, and sea freight roughly 25–45 days door to door, depending on season and customs.
What is the cheapest way to ship from 1688 to the UK?
For shipments of about 1 cubic metre or more, sea freight is usually cheapest per kg, with China–Europe rail as a faster middle option. For small parcels, a special air line from a forwarder is often cheaper than express couriers.
Do I pay import duty on 1688 orders to the USA?
Yes. Since 2025, China-origin goods no longer enter the USA duty-free under the $800 de minimis rule. Budget for duty on every shipment and check whether your forwarder's quote includes it.
Can I earn cashback on 1688 shipping costs?
No. Cashback applies to eligible product value only, not to domestic freight, forwarder fees or international shipping. With Refundy, 1688 cashback is up to 3% and needs a one-time activation through support.
Images: Photo by william william on Unsplash; Photo by Ali Mkumbwa on Unsplash.
Refundy provides cashback on AliExpress, Alibaba.com, 1688, and Taobao. Cashback excludes shipping, fees, taxes, and split payments — see the cashback terms for details.