Here’s a question I get at least a few times a week from US brand owners: “Okay, I love the samples — but what does it actually cost to get them to me, and how long does it take?” It’s a completely fair question, and honestly, it’s one where a lot of factories are vague on purpose. Numbers get blurry, timelines get padded, and then you end up with a surprise freight bill and a shipment that arrives two weeks after your launch window.
So let me just put the real numbers on the table. I run production at My Sweater Factory, we’ve been making knitwear since 1994, and we ship to US brands regularly — everything from 50-piece test runs to multi-thousand-piece seasonal orders. This is what the shipping piece actually looks like in 2025–2026.
Sea Freight vs. Air Freight: Which One Makes Sense for Your Order
For knitwear specifically, you’re almost always choosing between these two. Rail and road to the US aren’t really on the table from China, and express courier (DHL, FedEx, UPS) works for samples but gets expensive fast for production quantities. So let’s talk sea and air.
Sea Freight (Ocean Freight)
Sea is the default for most production orders. It’s significantly cheaper per unit and handles large volumes without breaking your landed cost math. From our factory in Dongguan, Guangdong, transit to major US ports (Los Angeles, Long Beach, New York) typically runs 18–28 days door-to-port. Add US customs clearance and inland delivery, and you’re looking at roughly 25–35 days total from our factory floor to your door.
Cost-wise, sea freight for a standard 20-foot container (which can hold roughly 3,000–5,000 sweaters depending on packaging) typically runs $1,500–$3,500 USD for the ocean leg in normal market conditions. On a per-unit basis, that’s often less than $1 per piece for a reasonably sized order. LCL (Less than Container Load) — which is what most brands at 50–300 pieces use — costs more per cubic meter but is still far cheaper than air per piece. Rough LCL budget for a 50–100 piece knitwear order: $200–$600 USD for the freight itself.
Air Freight
Air freight from Guangdong to the US (LAX, JFK, ORD) takes 5–8 days — fast, predictable, and reliable. The catch is the cost. Air freight runs roughly $5–$10 USD per kilogram depending on the route, season, and carrier. A sweater typically weighs 300–700 grams depending on weight and yarn. So a 100-piece order of mid-weight merino sweaters at ~450g each is about 45kg of product, plus packaging weight — call it 55kg total. At $7/kg, that’s around $385 USD in freight. That’s manageable for a first sample run or a rush order, but it adds $3–$4 to your landed cost per piece, which starts to matter at scale.
Most of our US clients use sea freight for production orders and air freight for first samples and urgent replenishments. That’s the sensible split.
US Tariffs on Knitwear from China: What You Need to Budget For
This is the part of the conversation that has gotten a lot more complicated in the last couple of years, so I want to be straightforward about what we know as of early 2026.
Knitwear and sweaters from China fall under HTS codes in Chapter 61 (knitted or crocheted clothing). The standard US import duty rate on most knitwear from China is approximately 12–20% ad valorem (percentage of the declared customs value) depending on the specific HTS code — for example, wool sweaters sit in a different bracket than cotton or man-made fibre sweaters.
On top of the standard tariff, there are Section 301 tariffs that apply to Chinese goods, which for most knitwear categories have been running at 7.5–25% depending on the product classification. The combined effective tariff rate for a typical knitwear import from China to the US has been landing somewhere between 20–32% of the customs value for most brands I work with. That is a real number you need in your landed cost calculation — not something to footnote and deal with later.
Here’s a practical example. Say your ex-factory cost on a custom merino crew neck is $35 USD per piece. You’re importing 200 pieces, so the declared value is $7,000. At a 25% combined tariff rate, you’re looking at $1,750 in duties. Add $400 in sea freight, $150 in customs broker fees, and maybe $100 in miscellaneous port fees, and your total landed cost adds roughly $12 per piece on top of the ex-factory price. Budget for it from the start.
We strongly recommend working with a licensed US customs broker — they’ll classify your goods correctly, make sure your documentation is in order, and often save you more than their fee in avoided errors. If you don’t have one, we can refer a couple we’ve worked with successfully. See our production process page for more on how we handle commercial invoices, packing lists, and other customs documentation from our end.
The Full Timeline: From “I Want This Made” to “It’s In My Warehouse”
Let me give you a realistic end-to-end timeline for a first-time US brand order. This is based on what we actually see, not the optimistic version.
First-Order Timeline: China Factory to US Warehouse
- Days 1–10: Brief, Spec & Yarn Approval
You send us your design references, target yarn, silhouette specs. We send yarn swatches and confirm the tech pack. Most clients who move quickly lock this within a week. If you’re undecided on yarn or need to see multiple options, budget 10 days. To kick this off: reach out here with your brief. - Days 11–24: Sample Production & Shipping
We build your first sample in 7–14 days. Sample ships to you by express courier (DHL/FedEx) — 3–5 days to most US destinations. Budget $40–$80 for sample shipping depending on weight. - Days 25–30: Sample Review & Revision
You review the sample. Most first samples get one revision — a small fit adjustment, a colour tweak, an embroidery detail. We turn revision samples in 5–7 days. If the first sample is approved straight away (it happens more than you’d think when the brief is tight), you can skip this window. - Days 31–32: Order Confirmation & Deposit
You approve the sample, confirm your production order (minimum 50 pieces per style at our factory), and pay the production deposit. We lock your slot in our production schedule. At our capacity of 100,000 pieces per month, we generally have near-term availability. - Days 33–72: Production
Standard lead time for a 50–500 piece order is 30–45 days from order confirmation. We send you photo updates weekly. For larger orders (1,000+ pieces), budget 45–60 days. - Days 73–78: QC, Finishing & Export Docs
Every order goes through our in-house QC inspection. We prepare your commercial invoice, packing list, and any required certificates (OEKO-TEX, GRS, etc.). Export customs clearance from China typically takes 1–3 days. - Days 79–105: Ocean Freight to US Port
Sea freight from Guangdong to Los Angeles or Long Beach: 18–22 days. To New York or East Coast ports: 25–30 days. LCL cargo may add 3–5 days for consolidation at origin and deconsolidation at destination. - Days 106–115: US Customs Clearance & Inland Delivery
Customs clearance typically takes 3–7 business days with a prepared broker and clean documentation. Inland delivery from the port to your warehouse adds 2–5 days depending on destination. - Total First-Order Timeline: ~100–115 days (sea freight)
If you use air freight for production, compress the logistics section by about 20 days, but add the freight cost premium. For repeat orders with an approved sample, the total timeline compresses to roughly 55–70 days since you skip the sampling phase.
How to Calculate Your Real Landed Cost Per Piece
A lot of brands get burned because they only look at the ex-factory price. The landed cost — what you actually pay to get one piece sitting in your US warehouse — is what matters for your margins. Here’s the formula we use with clients:
Landed Cost = Ex-Factory Price + Freight + Duties & Tariffs + Customs Broker Fee + Port/Handling Fees + Insurance
Let’s run two real examples:
Example A: 100-Piece Test Order, Merino Crew Neck, Air Freight
Ex-factory price: $38/piece × 100 = $3,800. Air freight (~60kg total): ~$420. Duties at 25%: $950. Customs broker: $150. Miscellaneous: $80. Total landed: ~$5,400 → $54 per piece. At a $130–$150 retail, that’s a healthy margin — but you see how freight and duties add $16 to the cost versus the sticker price.
Example B: 500-Piece Order, Cashmere/Merino Blend, Sea Freight
Ex-factory price: $52/piece × 500 = $26,000. Sea freight LCL (~1.5 CBM): ~$600. Duties at 25%: $6,500. Customs broker: $250. Port fees: $180. Insurance: $60. Total landed: ~$33,590 → $67.18 per piece. On a $180–$220 retail, that works well — and notice how much cheaper sea freight is per piece versus air once you’re at 500 units.
These are illustrative numbers, not quotes. Your actual costs depend on your specific yarn, HTS code, port of entry, and freight market at the time you ship. But this is the framework. Build it into your pricing before you commit to a retail price, not after.
5 Things That Actually Reduce Your Shipping Cost and Speed Up Delivery
1. Consolidate Styles Into One Shipment
If you’re ordering three styles, shipping them together in one LCL booking almost always costs less than three separate shipments. Coordinate your order confirmation dates so everything goes in one container.
2. Get Your Spec Right the First Time
Every sample revision adds 1–2 weeks and another sample shipping cost. A precise brief — reference images, yarn spec, exact measurements, detailed embroidery placement — reduces rounds. The best briefs I receive from US clients are the ones that over-communicate. Nothing is “too detailed.” Check our production process to see exactly what a good tech pack covers.
3. Plan Around Chinese Holidays
Chinese New Year (typically January–February) shuts most factories for 2–4 weeks. Golden Week in October adds another week. If your target delivery window is February–March or October–November, you need to factor those shutdowns into your production timeline. Brands that plan around this never have a problem. Brands that don’t are the ones who end up paying for air freight because their sea freight window closed.
4. Use a Good Customs Broker From Day One
Wrong HTS code classification is one of the most common causes of customs delays and unexpected duty bills. A broker who knows apparel imports will classify your knitwear correctly, flag any issues before the shipment arrives, and process clearance faster. It’s worth the $150–$300 fee on every shipment.
5. Use FOB Pricing and Manage Your Own Freight
We quote FOB (Free On Board) from our Dongguan facility. That means you control the freight booking, which means you choose your forwarder, your carrier, and your delivery speed. Some brands prefer DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) where we handle everything — but you pay a premium for that convenience. Controlling your own freight usually saves 10–15% on the logistics cost.
FAQ: US Brand Owners Ask Us These All the Time
How much does it cost to ship a 100-piece sweater order from China to the US?
For 100 sweaters (roughly 50–70kg total with packaging), budget approximately $350–$600 for air freight and $200–$450 for sea freight LCL, not including duties. Air gets your order to a US port in 5–8 days; sea takes 18–28 days. The right choice depends on your timeline. For most first-time orders where speed matters, brands choose air. For repeat orders with better runway, sea is the better call on cost. Want a specific quote for your order? Send us your specs.
What import duties do I pay on knitwear from China to the US in 2026?
The effective combined tariff rate (standard MFN duty + Section 301 tariffs) for most knitwear categories from China currently sits at roughly 20–32% of the declared customs value, depending on your specific HTS code. Wool sweaters, cotton sweaters, and synthetic sweaters each sit in slightly different brackets. We strongly recommend confirming the exact HTS code with your customs broker before your first import — it’s a 10-minute conversation that can save you from an unexpected bill. We provide all the documentation you need (commercial invoice, packing list, fibre content certificates) to make your broker’s job straightforward.
What’s the minimum order I can realistically ship from China to the US?
Our MOQ is 50 pieces per style, and that’s a shippable order. At 50 pieces, you’ll almost certainly be using LCL sea freight or air depending on your timeline — there’s no container fill issue. The economics work at 50 pieces; the freight cost per unit is a bit higher than at larger volumes, but it’s manageable for a test order. Many US brands start at 50–100 pieces, prove the style, then reorder at 200–500 where the freight efficiency improves significantly. Reach out here and we’ll walk you through what makes sense for your first run.
How long does the total process take from first contact to delivery in the US?
For a brand-new first order via sea freight, the realistic end-to-end timeline is 100–115 days: roughly 10 days for spec/sampling prep, 14 days sampling, up to 10 days for sample revision and approval, 35–45 days production, and 25–35 days for shipping and US customs clearance. If you use air freight for production, knock about 20 days off the logistics tail. For repeat orders with an already-approved sample, that compresses to 55–70 days. The brands that hit tight windows are the ones who start the process earlier than they think they need to.
Do you handle shipping and customs documentation, or is that on us?
We handle everything on the China side: export customs filing, commercial invoice, packing list, certificate of origin, and any product certification documents (OEKO-TEX, GRS, etc.). We ship FOB from our Dongguan facility, which means the freight from the port forward is your responsibility — but we can refer freight forwarders and customs brokers we’ve worked with. Some clients prefer DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) where we manage everything door to door; that’s available on request, usually at a small premium on the logistics cost. Either way, we’ve been shipping to the US for years and the paperwork side is pretty well sorted on our end. See our production and shipping page for more detail.
The Bottom Line on China-to-US Knitwear Shipping
Shipping knitwear from China to the US is very manageable once you know the real numbers going in. The brands that get surprised are almost always the ones who calculated their margins on ex-factory price and discovered the tariffs and freight later. The ones that plan properly — building in duties, freight, broker fees, and a realistic timeline — find that the economics work well, especially when you’re sourcing from a factory with the quality, MOQ flexibility, and reliability to actually deliver what you ordered.
At My Sweater Factory, we’ve been doing this since 1994. We’ve shipped to 500+ brands across the US, Europe, and Australia. Our 50-piece MOQ, 7–14 day sampling, and full-custom capability — jacquard, embroidery, print, any yarn spec you need — mean you can test properly before going big.
If you want a real landed cost estimate for your specific order — not a ballpark, but an actual number based on your style, quantity, and destination — just send us your brief. We’ll come back with a quote within 24 hours.
