In short: Most US importers don't need a "freight forwarder" and a "customs broker" as two separate hires — a good China-side freight forwarder either has an in-house licensed customs broker or works with one directly, and can quote you door-to-door pricing that already includes ISF filing, a customs bond, and delivery to your warehouse or Amazon FBA facility. For a 1-CBM parcel shipment, expect to pay roughly $180-$350 all-in by sea (25-35 days) or $6-$9/kg by air (7-10 days); for a full 20ft container, sea freight typically runs $2,800-$4,500 door-to-door depending on the season and US port. The cheapest quote is rarely the safest one — vet the forwarder's licensing before you vet their price.

What does a freight forwarder actually do for a US importer?

A freight forwarder is the company that moves your goods from a factory in China (or Vietnam) to your door in the US. They book space with shipping lines or airlines, consolidate your cargo with other shippers if you don't have a full container, handle the paperwork on the China side, and coordinate with a licensed customs broker to clear your shipment through US Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

They are not the same as a customs broker, though many forwarders offer both services under one roof. A customs broker is specifically licensed by CBP to file your entry paperwork and pay duties on your behalf — you legally need one (or need to self-file, which almost no small importer does) for any commercial shipment entering the US.

Freight forwarder vs. customs broker vs. sourcing agent

Epic Sourcing's bilingual teams on the ground in China and Vietnam coordinate all three functions for US clients, so you get one point of contact instead of three separate vendors to chase when something goes wrong.

How much does a freight forwarder from China to the USA actually cost?

Pricing depends on shipment size, season, and whether you're going by sea or air. Here's a realistic worked example for a mid-sized US importer bringing in a first order of private-label products:

These figures include ocean/air freight, destination customs clearance, ISF filing, and delivery to a single US address. They do not include US import duty, which is calculated separately based on your product's HTS code — see our Import Duty from China to the USA guide for worked duty examples.

Do I need a different freight forwarder if I'm shipping to Amazon FBA?

Not a different forwarder, but you do need one experienced with FBA-specific requirements: carton labeling to Amazon's spec, palletization rules, and delivery appointments at Amazon fulfillment centers (which often involve wait times and strict compliance windows that a general forwarder unfamiliar with FBA can get wrong). Ask any forwarder quoting your Amazon-bound shipment how many FBA deliveries they handle per month — "a few" is a red flag; "hundreds" is what you want to hear.

What should I check before choosing a freight forwarder in China?

• Licensing: Ask for their NVOCC/FMC license number (for ocean freight) or IATA certification (for air freight), and verify it on the FMC or IATA public registries.
• Customs broker relationship: Confirm whether they have an in-house licensed US customs broker or a named partner broker — don't accept a vague "we handle customs" answer.
• Insurance: Cargo insurance should be offered, not just mentioned. A forwarder that skips this question is one you should skip.
• Communication during transit: Ask what tracking and updates look like once your container is on the water — this is where cheap forwarders go quiet for three weeks.
• References from other US importers: A legitimate forwarder can point you to at least two current US clients.

If you're working through a sourcing agent rather than going direct to a factory, make sure the same diligence applies to that relationship — see our guide on what should be in a sourcing agent contract before you sign anything. And if you haven't yet found a sourcing partner in the US, our guide to finding a sourcing agent in the USA covers vetting and costs.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to use a freight forwarder or ship directly with a carrier?

For most small-to-mid volume importers, a freight forwarder is cheaper because they consolidate your cargo with other shippers (LCL) and negotiate bulk rates with carriers that you can't access directly at low volumes. Direct carrier booking only becomes cost-competitive once you're regularly shipping full containers.

How long does sea freight from China to the USA take?

Typically 25-38 days door-to-door depending on the origin port, destination coast, and whether your cargo is FCL or LCL. West Coast ports (Los Angeles/Long Beach) are usually 7-10 days faster than East Coast ports for cargo from South China.

Can a freight forwarder help with US customs duty?

A forwarder's customs broker will calculate and collect duty on your behalf as part of clearance, but they are not responsible for classifying your product's HTS code correctly unless you provide clear product specifications — get that classification right yourself or through your sourcing agent before shipping.

What's the minimum shipment size a freight forwarder will handle?

Most forwarders will handle LCL shipments from as little as 0.1 CBM, though per-unit costs drop significantly once you're above 1 CBM.

Should my sourcing agent or my freight forwarder handle customs paperwork?

Your freight forwarder's customs broker legally files the entry, but your sourcing agent should be the one making sure your commercial invoice, packing list, and product descriptions are accurate before the shipment leaves China — errors here cause the delays that get blamed on "customs."

How Epic Sourcing helps

Epic Sourcing coordinates freight forwarding, customs clearance, and quality control as one service for US importers, with bilingual teams on the ground in China and Vietnam who inspect your goods before they ever reach a port. Talk to our team about a door-to-door freight quote for your next shipment.

Last updated: September 27, 2026