The comparison at a glance
| Mode | Door-to-door | Indicative rate | Billing unit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Express | 3–6 days | €8.50–16.90/kg | 1 m³ = 200 kg |
| Air | 6–9 days | €4.90–8.50/kg | 1 m³ = 167 kg |
| Road | 16–22 days | €360/m³ | 1 m³ or 333 kg |
| Rail | 22–28 days | €230/m³ | 1 m³ or 333 kg |
| Sea | 35–45 days | €175/m³ | 1 m³ or 1,000 kg |
Example: 2 m³ and 400 kg from Shanghai
| Mode | Billed basis | Door-to-door price |
|---|---|---|
| Sea groupage | 2 m³ × €175 | €350 |
| Rail groupage | 2 m³ × €230 | €460 |
| Road groupage | 2 m³ × €360 | €720 |
| Air | 400 kg × €5.40 | €2,160 |
Rail costs only slightly more than sea for a two-to-three-week saving, while air costs six times more. Run your own figures in our freight calculator.
When to use each mode
- Sea freight: lowest cost for volume; a full 20' container usually pays off above 14–15 m³.
- Rail freight: the best price/transit compromise, groupage from 1 m³, low carbon footprint.
- Air freight: urgent, high-value or launch stock; under 70 kg, express is simpler.
- Road freight: door-to-door without transhipment, ideal for urgent pallets of 5–30 m³.
Our rule of thumb
- Under 70 kg and urgent: express. Under 500 kg, not urgent: rail or sea DDP parcel line.
- 1–15 m³: rail if time matters, sea groupage otherwise, road for bulky urgencies.
- Over 15 m³: a full sea container, or rail if lead time is critical.
Frequently asked questions
Is sea groupage slower than a full container?
Yes, by a few days: goods are consolidated at origin and unpacked on arrival. Allow 35–45 days door-to-door in groupage versus 30–38 days port-to-port for a full container.
Can I combine two modes?
Yes: ship part of the stock by air to launch sales and the rest by rail or sea. We handle both flows from the same consolidation in China.
Torn between two modes?We will send you both quotes with their door-to-door transit times.
