If you’ve ever shipped something from China to the US, you’ve probably wrestled with the same question I hear from clients all the time:

When I first started working in freight forwarding, I thought the answer was simple — just pick the cheaper one. That illusion vanished after my first major shipment. We went with ocean freight because the ocean freight fee was a fraction of the air rate. On paper, it looked like a no-brainer. In reality? The vessel was delayed nearly three weeks, my client’s US warehouse sat half-empty, and they missed part of their holiday sales window. The “cheaper” option ended up costing them far more than they saved.

That’s when I learned that freight decisions aren’t just about price — they’re about balancing cost, time, and risk. Let’s break down how I approach this choice, and what you need to know about how ocean and air freight really stack up.

A lot of people think the ocean freight fee is just the cost of moving a container from one port to another. Technically, yes. But in practice, it’s a moving target shaped by market demand, fuel prices, seasonal surges, and even carrier tactics.

I’ve seen businesses lower their shipping bill without touching the base rate. One client negotiated a cap on the bunker adjustment factor (BAF) — basically the fuel surcharge — and saved thousands when oil prices jumped. Another scheduled their cargo to avoid peak port handling charges during China’s pre–New Year rush. These aren’t tricks you’ll find in a standard freight calculator, but they make a big difference in the real world.

Here’s the mental checklist I use with clients — not just a chart, but the logic behind it.

A quick story: In 2021, a manufacturer I worked with shipped heavy industrial parts by sea, saving roughly 80% compared to air freight. They were thrilled — until a port delay in Los Angeles wiped out nearly 10% of their quarterly profit. Lesson learned: sometimes, the real “cost” is measured in missed opportunities.

From years of shipments, I can tell you the fee moves for a handful of reasons:

They change weekly, but here’s a rough range I’ve seen recently:

If you want accuracy, skip the outdated charts and get a fresh ocean freight quote from a trusted forwarder. Prices can swing 20–30% depending on the month.

Here’s my process when figuring out if ocean shipping is worth it:

To make the differences between ocean freight fee and air freight cost easier to visualize, here’s a quick reference table based on recent China–US West Coast shipping data:

Note: Just so you know, these numbers are just estimates. What you actually pay for ocean and air freight can change based on things like gas prices, how busy it is, port delays, and trade stuff. Always get a fresh quote from your freight buddy before you ship.

Some methods I’ve used (and seen work):

Even if the ocean freight fee looks great, watch out for:

I once had a client pay more in storage fees than in the freight itself because clearance took longer than expected. Painful lesson.

Here’s what I’ve learned:

I always ask clients:

“If your shipment arrives two weeks late, what happens to your bottom line?”

If that loss is bigger than the cost difference between sea and air, you pay for air. If not, a well-managed ocean shipment is your budget’s best friend.

The ocean freight fee isn’t a fixed number; it’s a moving puzzle piece in your supply chain. Understanding how it’s built — and when to choose air instead — can save you money, stress, and sometimes your reputation.

If you want a clear, transparent breakdown of your China–US options, talk to Dafey Logistics. We deal with these trade-offs daily, and we’ll help you ship smarter, not just cheaper.