Realistic transit times
Air express from China to the UK, US, Canada or UAE typically runs 7–12 working days door to door for general goods. That is the whole journey: collection, export clearance, flight, import clearance, local delivery.
Sea freight is 25–35 days and is not a substitute for air on a small parcel — it is for pallets. Anyone quoting “cheap shipping” at a low price per parcel is usually quoting sea, and usually not mentioning that it cannot carry a single order.
Two things add to the estimate. Batteries and liquids require different handling and add 2–4 days. Public holidays in China — particularly the week around National Day in early October and Chinese New Year in January or February — stop factories and forwarders entirely, and a parcel ordered into that window can sit for two weeks without moving.
What customs actually does
For the UK: goods under £135 imported by the consumer are subject to UK VAT at 20%, and since 2021 the seller is expected to account for it at the point of sale rather than the parcel being stopped. Above £135, duty and VAT are assessed on import and the courier collects before delivery.
For the US: the de minimis threshold is high enough that most single orders arrive without duty. Sales tax is a separate matter and depends on the seller's registration in the buyer's state, not on the parcel.
For the UAE: 5% VAT applies, and goods are screened more carefully for anything that could be considered restricted. For Canada, duty and tax depend on the province and the declared value.
The practical consequence for a buyer: a price that excludes VAT is not cheaper, it is just a price that will be topped up later. A shop that includes it in the displayed price is telling you the real number.
Dispatch date vs delivery estimate
A dispatch date is a promise the seller controls: the day the parcel leaves. A delivery estimate depends on airlines, customs and a local courier, none of which the seller controls.
Good practice is to publish the dispatch date per item and not to publish a delivery guarantee at all. A shop that promises “delivered in 5 days” from China is either using an expensive express service or guessing.
If a listing shows neither, ask before ordering. If it shows a dispatch date, that is the number to hold them to — and it is the number that matters if something goes wrong and you need to open a case.
What to check when it arrives
- Weigh the parcel against the stated weight before opening — a large discrepancy is the fastest way to spot a wrong item.
- Film the unopened parcel if the item is fragile or high value. It is the only evidence that counts in a dispute.
- Check the item against the listing's stated dimensions, not against the photo.
- Report damage within 48 hours, with photos of the packaging as well as the item.
Questions people actually ask
How long does shipping from China to the UK take?
7–12 working days door to door by air express for general goods. Batteries or liquids add 2–4 days, and Chinese public holidays can add two weeks if an order lands in the middle of one.
Will I have to pay customs?
In the UK, VAT at 20% applies to goods under £135 and should be included in the price you pay at checkout. Above £135, duty and VAT are collected by the courier before delivery. In the US most single orders fall under the de minimis threshold.
Why does the tracking number not move for days?
Usually one of three things: the parcel is waiting for a flight, it is in export clearance, or the tracking has not been scanned at a handover point. A gap of 3–5 days is normal. Beyond 10 days without a scan, ask the seller to chase the forwarder.
Where this comes from. Everything above is based on handling these products ourselves — packing orders, checking batches, answering the emails that follow. Where a number appears, it's a number we measured or a published figure we can point to. If something here is wrong or out of date, tell us and we'll fix it.
Next step. We publish a dispatch date on every product page instead of a delivery guarantee, because the second one depends on airlines and customs and we would rather give you a number we control. See the shop or read the full shipping terms.