Door to door shipping from China to Germany is an efficient and convenient logistics solution suitable for corporate procurement, cross-border e-commerce and personal freight needs. Compared with traditional port to port or airport to airport transportation, door to door service is fully responsible by the logistics company, including pickup, transportation, customs clearance, delivery and other links, which greatly reduces the difficulty of operation for buyers.

What is door-to-door shipping from China to Germany?

Door to door shipping refers to the direct delivery of goods from the place of shipment to the place of receipt, which is operated by the logistics company throughout the process. The shipper and consignee do not need to arrange customs clearance, warehousing or delivery by themselves. Compared with traditional transportation methods, door to door transportation provides a more convenient one-stop service, which is particularly suitable for small and medium-sized enterprises, e-commerce sellers and personal freight needs.

Door to door transportation usually includes the following modes:

Express: such as DHL, FedEx, UPS, suitable for small and urgent goods, with the fastest timeliness, but higher costs.

Air freight + last-mile delivery: Applicable to bulk cargo with high timeliness requirements. Freight forwarding companies usually arrange air transportation to German airports, and then complete the last mile of transportation through local delivery.

Ocean freight + last-mile delivery: Applicable to large quantities of goods, with lower costs but longer timeliness, suitable for heavy goods such as furniture, machinery and equipment.

Railway transportation + last-mile delivery: Applicable to goods with a balance between timeliness and cost. China-Europe Express can deliver goods to Germany within 15-20 days, and then local logistics companies will complete the delivery.

Why choose door-to-door shipping from China to Germany?

The reason why door-to-door shipping service from China to Germany is favored by enterprises and individuals is mainly because it greatly simplifies the entire logistics process, allowing both shippers and consignees to enjoy a more worry-free and efficient logistics experience.

Simplified customs clearance process
Traditional international logistics requires buyers to handle destination customs clearance by themselves, while door-to-door service is usually handled by freight forwarding companies, and buyers do not need to deal with German customs in person, thereby reducing the uncertainty and delay risks in customs clearance.

Save time and energy
After choosing door-to-door transportation from China to Germany, the shipper does not need to arrange for pickup, find a transportation company, connect with a customs clearance agent and other tedious links. Instead, the freight forwarding company handles it all in one stop, saving a lot of time.

Predictable logistics costs
Traditional transportation methods may incur additional costs at the destination, such as customs clearance fees, storage fees or delivery fees, while door-to-door transportation is usually an all-inclusive quote, with more transparent costs and avoiding hidden costs.

Suitable for all kinds of goods
Whether it is small parcels, large goods, or special commodities (such as electronic products, mechanical equipment, car tires, solar panels, etc.), door-to-door transportation can provide suitable solutions to meet the needs of different customers.

Door-to-door shipping methods from China to Germany

Air freight door-to-door

Air freight is the fastest mode of transportation and is suitable for goods with high timeliness requirements, such as electronic products, high-end fashion products, fresh food, etc. Under normal circumstances, it takes about 5-7 days to air freight from major airports in China (such as Guangzhou Baiyun Airport, Shanghai Pudong Airport, Beijing Capital Airport, etc.) to Germany (Frankfurt, Munich, Hamburg, etc.), including customs clearance and delivery time.

Sea freight door-to-door

For large quantities of goods, sea freight is the most cost-effective option. Sea freight door-to-door usually includes two methods: full container load (FCL) and less than container load (LCL). The shipping time from China (such as Shanghai, Ningbo, Shenzhen ports) to German ports (Hamburg, Bremen, Duisburg, etc.) is usually 30-40 days, including customs clearance and delivery.

Door-to-door rail transportation

The China-Europe Express provides an option between air and sea transportation, with a time limit of about 15-20 days, which is faster than sea transportation and cheaper than air transportation. Rail transportation is particularly suitable for electronic products, industrial parts and auto parts. Duisburg in Germany is an important terminal of the China-Europe Express, which can be distributed to various parts of Germany by land transportation after customs clearance.

Door-to-door shipping process from China to Germany

Door-to-door shipping from China to Germany involves multiple links, and the following are the process steps:

Cargo preparation
The shipper prepares the goods in China, including packaging, labeling, and providing necessary documents such as commercial invoices, packing lists, etc.

Pickup
The freight forwarding company arranges trucks to pick up the goods at the door, transports the goods to the warehouse or distribution center, and selects the appropriate mode of transportation according to the type of goods.

Export customs declaration in China
When making export declarations at the Chinese customs, freight forwarding companies usually provide customs clearance support to ensure the smooth departure of goods.

International transport
Goods are shipped to Germany by air, sea or rail, and the transportation time depends on the selected method.

Customs clearance in Germany
After arriving in Germany, the freight forwarding company is responsible for customs clearance to ensure compliance with German customs regulations. If necessary, import duties and value-added tax (VAT) will also be paid.

How to Clear Customs When Shipping Imported Goods from China to Germany

Final delivery
After customs clearance, the goods will be delivered to the final destination by local logistics companies or express companies (such as DHL, UPS) to ensure safe delivery of the goods.

Shipping Method	From China to the Germany (Cost)
Sea Freight (20ft Container)	Approx. USD 3,050 for a 20ft container
Sea Freight (40ft Container)	Approx. USD 3,600 for a 40ft container
LCL Sea Freight	Approx. USD 100 – 300 per cubic meters
Door to Door or DDP Shipping	Sea Freight : Approx. USD 3.1 per kgs Air Freight : Approx. USD 8 per kgs
Air Freight	Approx. USD 500 for 100kg (Approx. USD 5 per kilo)
Rail Freight	Approx. USD 6,800 to to 8,500 for a full container load
Express Shipping	Approx. USD 10 per Kgs

You may be interested in: Cost of Shipping 20ft & 40ft Container from China to Germany

Factors Affecting the Cost of Shipping from China to Germany

Transportation Methods

• Air freight is more expensive and is suitable for small, high-value goods, and the price is usually calculated by kilogram.
• Ocean freight is cheaper and is suitable for large quantities of goods, and the price is calculated by cubic meters or full containers.
• Rail transportation is between the two and is suitable for goods that need to balance timeliness and cost.

Cargo Volume and Weight
Logistics companies usually charge by “volume weight” or “actual weight”, whichever is larger. For example, light goods (such as clothing, plastic products) may be calculated by volume weight, while heavy goods (such as machinery and equipment, metal products) are charged by actual weight.

Destination City
The cost of delivery to major German cities (such as Berlin, Munich, Hamburg) is relatively low, while delivery to remote areas may have additional delivery fees.

Customs clearance and duties
When choosing the DDP (delivery duty paid) model, the seller needs to pay the German import taxes, while in the DDU (delivery duty unpaid) model, the buyer needs to pay the customs duties.

Related recommendations: DDP Shipping from China to Germany

The shipping time from China to Germany mainly depends on the selected mode of transportation:

Air freight: 5-10 days (suitable for urgent goods)

Railway: 15-25 days (suitable for goods that need to be delivered faster but at a controlled cost)

Sea freight: 30-45 days (suitable for large quantities and low-cost goods)

Related recommendations: How Long does a Container Ship take from China to Germany

In addition, peak seasons (such as Chinese New Year, Black Friday, Christmas, etc.) may lead to longer shipping times, so it is recommended to arrange freight plans in advance.

Door-to-door freight forwarding company from China to Germany

When choosing a door-to-door freight forwarder from China to Germany, it is recommended to pay attention to the following points:

Experienced international freight forwarding company
Choosing a freight forwarding company with rich experience in customs clearance in Germany can reduce the risk of customs inspection and additional fees.

Multiple transportation options available
A reliable logistics company should provide multiple modes of transportation such as air, sea, and rail to ensure that customers can choose the right solution based on timeliness and budget.

Transparent quotations and fees
Make sure the quotations provided by the logistics company are clear and avoid hidden costs. Especially when choosing DDP transportation, it is necessary to confirm whether all tariffs and customs clearance fees are included.

Basenton Logistics – Professional Door-to-Door Shipping Company from China to Germany

Shipping Company from China to Germany

Basenton Logistics is a professional international freight forwarding company that provides door-to-door logistics services from China to Germany. We provide multiple modes of transportation such as sea, air, and rail transportation, and support delivery methods such as DDP and DDU to ensure smooth delivery of goods.

Our advantages:
Full-process hosting, one-stop logistics solutions
Professional customs clearance team, reducing customs clearance delays
Transparent quotation, no hidden fees
Rich experience in China-Germany transportation

Basenton Logistics 2025 Annual Meeting Video:

If you are looking for reliable door-to-door logistics services, please contact us Basenton Logistics to get the best transportation solution!