How Long Does Dropshipping from China Take?
Bryan Xu
More and more sellers are choosing to work with Chinese dropshipping agents. They are often informed that their customers will need to wait a certain number of days to receive the products. This article will explain why this wait is necessary, what the full order fulfillment process looks like, how long each step takes, what may cause delays, and how to avoid them.
Shipping Times from China to Different Countries and Regions
| Countries and Regions | Estimated Shipping Times |
| United Kingdom | 6–10 days |
| North America | 8–12 days |
| Europe | 9–13 days |
| Australia | 5–10 days |
| Japan | 3–5 days |
| Africa | 12–14 days |
| South America | 17–19 days |
| Southeast Asia | 5–7 days |
| Central Asia | 11–14 days |
| Middle East | 8–10 days |
Sourcing
Once you’ve chosen your agent, you need to clearly communicate your product requirements.
In general, there are two scenarios and they result in different sourcing times.
·You’re okay with using existing products and packaging already available in the market.
·You want to customize the product or packaging.
If you're happy with products and packaging your agent finds from their existing supply chain, the sourcing process is much faster. In most cases, your agent can complete the purchase the same day you finish the payment. Then you just need to wait for the supplier to ship it.
However, if your product or packaging requirements are unique or simply too demanding, your agent may not be able to meet them. So, it’s important to understand the capabilities of Chinese manufacturing before making requests. If you spend much time communicating only to find that the product or packaging you want doesn’t exist, you’re just wasting your time.
Customization has gradually become a trend, such as private labeling or personalized packaging. These requests add another hurdle—most manufacturers only offer customization for larger order quantities (for example, 500 units, actually it depends on the customization complexity and costs). If you're not ready to meet the MOQ, the sourcing process might be interfered. You’ll either need to find a agent who accept a lower MOQ or drop your customization plans.
Waiting for the Manufacturer to Ship
Once the manufacturer receives the purchase order, they can usually ship within 48 hours. However, if you require a sample before full production starts, you’ll need to take the time to make the sample, ship it to your address, and wait for your feedback into consideration.
Custom orders also take longer than standard orders. If the customization is simple, such as jewelry engraving, logo printing on T-shirts, or bundling small gifts, you’ll only need to wait 1–2 more days. But if it requires mold making, complex packaging, or custom materials, the timeline becomes unpredictable. In those cases, you need to communicate with your agent beforehand to make sure the wait time is acceptable.
Shipment from Manufacturer
This step involves how the product is handled after it leaves the manufacturer. Your product can be sent directly to the dispatch location or to the agent’s warehouse- most agents have their own warehouses.
If it’s sent directly to the dispatch location, that usually means no further processing is needed (like repackaging) and no storage in a China-based warehouse is required. After a basic quality check (you should request this for accountability), it’s ready to go on board. This process usually takes no more than 3 days, depending on the distance between the manufacturer and the dispatch location.
If the product is sent to the agent’s warehouse for further handling, you’ll be expecting an additional 2 days of processing. But such case is rare. Most products are already ready-to-ship when they leave the manufacturer.
When the Product Arrives in the Target Market
If your product is pre-stocked in the agent’s warehouse, shipping will be much faster. Once your customer places an order, the product skips the sourcing and manufacturing stage and is shipped right away.
If the agent has a warehouse in your target market, delivery is even faster. The product goes straight from the local warehouse to your customer.
For cross-border shipping, the shipping time depends on the shipping method and the shipping distance. Most dropshipping agents offer air shipping. Here's a breakdown:
Shipping Times by Region and Method
| Country/Region | Express Shipping (DHL/UPS) | Standard Air Shipping (incl. customs + delivery) |
| East Asia (Japan/Korea) | 2–4 days | 3–5 days |
| Southeast Asia (Thailand/Vietnam) | 3–5 days | 4–7 days |
| Middle East (UAE/Saudi) | 4–6 days | 5–8 days |
| Europe/North America | 5–8 days | 7–12 days |
| Australia/New Zealand | 5–7 days | 7–10 days |
| Africa (South Africa/Nigeria) | 6–10 days | 8–14 days |
| South America (Brazil/Chile) | 7–12 days | 10–15 days |
| Central Asia (Kazakhstan, etc.) | 5–9 days | 6–10 days |
Note: Some products are restricted from air shipping and must be sent by special line or sea freight, which extends the shipping time.
Customs Clearance
Customs clearance speed varies by country. See the table below. If there are paperwork errors or value declaration issues, clearance will be delayed.
As a dropshipping merchant, you don’t get to directly handle customs, but there are still things you should do to help:
·Make sure the recipient’s info is accurate and complete.
·Be ready to cooperate with taxes if needed.
·Actively follow up with your supplier to avoid unexpected customs delays.
Customs Clearance Time by Country and Region
| Country/Region | Customs Clearance Time (Typical) | Efficiency Rating |
| Japan | 1–2 days | Very Fast |
| South Korea | 1–2 days | Fast |
| Singapore | 1 day | Extremely Fast |
| United States | 2–5 days | Relatively Fast |
| Canada | 3–5 days | Slightly Slow |
| United Kingdom | 2–4 days | Moderate |
| Major EU | 2–6 days | Moderate |
| Australia | 3–6 days | Moderate |
| Brazil | 7–15 days | Slow |
| South Africa | 5–10 days | Slow |
| Mexico | 5–10 days | Slow |
| Middle East | 4–8 days | Unstable |
| Russia | 5–12 days | Slow(Worsened post-COVID) |
| India | 5–10 days | Policy-Sensitive |
Local Delivery After Customs
Delivery time depends on which local courier your supplier chooses. In the U.S., USPS is the most commonly used final-mile option for dropshipping suppliers. Other popular ones include UPS Ground, FedEx Ground, and DHL eCommerce.
·Standard delivery: 2–5 days
·Expedited: as fast as 1 day
·Economy/remote areas: 5–8 days
Tip: The Most Popular Way to Reduce Shipping Time
If you already have a stable order volume, improving shipping speed becomes even a priority. Even with strong supply chains, shipping from China will never be as fast as domestic shipping within your target market.
Pre-stocking inventory might be the best solution. That’s why many sellers choose suppliers with overseas warehouses. What you need to do is estimating your future order volume and ask your agent to ship the products to your target market.
Summary
The full order fulfillment process includes sourcing, manufacturing, international shipping, local delivery. To ensure smooth delivery, make sure your product and customization needs can be met, and realistic production timelines are acceptable. Also remember to provide accurate recipient info and cooperate with tax declaration.
FAQ
Q: Is there an MOQ if I don't do private labeling?
A: Usually no. Most agents support single-item shipping.
Q: Which country has the fastest delivery from China?
A: Japan.
Q: How can you help me if I’m selling in the U.S.?
A: We help ship directly from our local warehouses in LA and New Jersey.
Q: What’s the average delivery time?
A: It depends. Refer to the table above.
Q: Why choose you?
A: Compared to most Chinese dropshipping agents, we offer more transparent and affordable sourcing and shipping.
Q: How long have you been in the dropshipping business as an agent? How many orders do you handle? What’s your rating?
A: With 7 years of dropshipping experience, we handle over 5,000 orders per day and have a 95% positive feedback rate.
