China → United Kingdom: what 5 kg costs to ship
Cheapest estimate: ¥60–¥95 (£6.78–£10.73) by Economy sea · about ¥12–¥19 per kg. Above the 1 kg consolidation sweet spot.
China Shipping Cost Calculator — 9 Countries
Pick a destination, build a virtual consolidation basket or type a total weight, and compare estimated route prices in CNY and your local currency.
1 kg consolidation meter
5 kg / 1 kg1 kg reached — consolidated parcels of 1.2 kg or more are the sweet spot.
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Ship everything as one consolidated parcel. Never split into tiny parcels. The meter counts actual (scale) weight; prices use chargeable weight.
| Route | Estimated price (CNY) | Local currency | Transit | Billed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard airEditorial estimate (not an official price) · Checked 2026-11-13 | ¥191–¥272 | £21.57–£30.72 | 8–15 days | 5 kg |
| Economy airEditorial estimate (not an official price) · Checked 2026-11-13 | ¥147–¥207 | £16.60–£23.38 | 12–20 days | 5 kg |
| Economy seaEditorial estimate (not an official price) · Checked 2026-11-13 | ¥60–¥95 | £6.78–£10.73 | 40–60 days | 5 kg |
Route detail for 5 kg to United Kingdom
| Route | Estimated price (CNY) | Local currency | Transit | Billed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard airEditorial estimate (not an official price) · Checked 2026-11-13 | ¥191–¥272 | £21.57–£30.72 | 8–15 days | 5 kg |
| Economy airEditorial estimate (not an official price) · Checked 2026-11-13 | ¥147–¥207 | £16.60–£23.38 | 12–20 days | 5 kg |
| Economy seaEditorial estimate (not an official price) · Checked 2026-11-13 | ¥60–¥95 | £6.78–£10.73 | 40–60 days | 5 kg |
- Standard air · 5 kg¥38–¥54/kg · £21.57–£30.72 total
- Economy air · 5 kg¥29–¥41/kg · £16.60–£23.38 total
- Economy sea · 5 kg¥12–¥19/kg · £6.78–£10.73 total
Going from 2 kg to 5 kg changes the cheapest per-kg estimate from about ¥16 to ¥16 — about the same per kg.
United Kingdom rate table by weight (CNY, estimates)
| Weight | Standard air | Economy air | Economy sea |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 kg | ¥55–¥80 | ¥43–¥63 | ¥60–¥95 |
| 2 kg | ¥89–¥128 | ¥69–¥99 | ¥60–¥95 |
| 5 kg | ¥191–¥272 | ¥147–¥207 | ¥60–¥95 |
| 10 kg | ¥361–¥512 | ¥277–¥387 | ¥110–¥170 |
| 20 kg | ¥701–¥992 | ¥537–¥747 | ¥210–¥320 |
| 50 kg | — | — | ¥510–¥770 |
Editorial estimate (not an official price) · checked 2026-11-13. Indicative planning ranges set by the ShipCostCalc editor. They are not taken from an official price list and are not live quotes. Real prices change with promotions, routes and parcel contents — always confirm the price in the forwarder's app before ordering.
United Kingdom tax and restrictions
Consignments up to £135: VAT (20%) is charged at the point of sale, no customs duty. Above £135: import VAT and customs duty are collected on arrival, usually with a carrier handling fee.
- Consignments up to £135: VAT (20%) is normally charged at the point of sale; above £135 import VAT and customs duty are collected on arrival.
- Meat and dairy from outside the EU are banned for personal imports.
- Knives, blades and replica weapons face extra checks and age verification rules.
Source: GOV.UK — VAT and overseas goods sold directly to customers in the UK · checked 2026-11-13
FAQ
What is the cheapest way to ship 5 kg from China to United Kingdom?
In our estimates, Economy sea is cheapest at ¥60–¥95 for 5 kg (billed 5 kg), taking 40–60 days.
How long does 5 kg take to reach United Kingdom?
The fastest estimated line is Standard air at about 8–15 days. Sea lines take longer but cost less per kg above their minimum weight.
Will I pay import tax in United Kingdom?
Consignments up to £135: VAT (20%) is charged at the point of sale, no customs duty. Above £135: import VAT and customs duty are collected on arrival, usually with a carrier handling fee.