How-to & Troubleshooting
According to the latest data, for cargo under 500 kg, air freight is about twice as expensive as sea freight. For cargo over 500 kg, air freight is 5 to 10 times higher. The exact ratio depends on cargo volume, shipping routes, and transportation methods (LCL/FCL, bulk cargo/dedicated lines, etc.). To help you understand more clearly, we have prepared the table below to show the price ratio between air freight and sea freight.
| Scenario Type | Air Freight ÷ Sea Freight (Ratio) | Key Reasons |
|---|---|---|
| Small-volume bulk cargo (<500kg / <1CBM) | 3–8 times | LCL sea freight includes fixed charges (booking, devanning, warehousing). Unit costs surge after allocation for small volumes, even approaching air freight. |
| Medium-small volume (500kg–2 tons / 1–5CBM) | 5–12 times | Air freight is charged by weight, while LCL sea freight spreads fixed costs. The unit cost gap widens; sea freight becomes more cost-effective as volume increases. |
| Large-volume FCL (>2 tons / >28CBM) | 10–20 times | FCL sea freight achieves maximum economies of scale, with unit costs as low as 1/20 of air freight, ideal for bulk cargo and long-term stocking. |
| Special routes (e.g., China-Europe / China-US) | 5–15 times | Due to the Red Sea crisis and cross-border e-commerce demand, sea freight rates may surge temporarily, narrowing the ratio to 5–8 times. |
In addition, three key factors affect the price ratio: market conditions, cargo characteristics, and additional charges.
• Market conditions: Intense competition, port congestion may cause sea freight rates to jump short-term, reducing the ratio from 10–20 times to 5–8 times. During peak cross-border e-commerce seasons, surging air cargo demand may temporarily push the ratio to 15–25 times.
• Cargo characteristics: Light-volume goods (furniture, down jackets) are charged by dimensional weight in air transport, resulting in a larger cost difference. The ratio may be 30%–50% higher than for heavy goods such as metals and building materials.
• Additional charges: Sea freight may incur port detention and container detention fees (¥50–300/day). Air freight includes fuel surcharges (up 35% during peak seasons). If you need a precise calculation of how many times air freight will cost compared to sea freight based on your cargo weight, volume and destination route, please feel free to contact us!
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