Shipping from China to United States: times, customs & tracking
How long parcels take, what customs expects, and how to track every step of the journey.
Typical delivery times
| Service | Working days |
|---|---|
| Economy (Cainiao / AliExpress Standard) | 15–40 |
| ePacket-style (Yanwen, YunExpress) | 10–25 |
| E-commerce express (4PX, YunExpress) | 7–15 |
| Premium express (DHL, FedEx, UPS) | 3–7 |
Customs & duties
Section 321 de minimis lets shipments up to $800 enter duty-free, so most consumer parcels clear without charges. If a shipment exceeds the limit or is flagged, CBP may request documentation and the courier bills duties.
Tracking tips
USPS last-mile scans are reliable; the China-side "pre-advice" silence of 7–14 days is the most common support question. GetPackRoute flags the USPS handoff as soon as it appears.
FAQs — China to United States
What are the typical China → US shipping times?
10–40 days for economy services, 7–15 for e-commerce express and 3–7 for premium express couriers.
Which US carrier delivers cross-border parcels?
Most cross-border e-commerce parcels hand off to USPS, sometimes to Amazon Logistics or regional couriers such as OnTrac.
Will my cheap AliExpress parcel incur customs fees?
Under $800 (most single orders), no duties apply. Above that, duties and fees are billed by the carrier before delivery.
Why is my tracking stuck at "departed from origin country"?
Consolidated parcels wait for airline capacity. 7–14 days of silence between origin and destination scans is normal.