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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nThree Levers That Cut Your Rate<\/h2>\n\n\n\n1. Shared fixed costs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Every air shipment carries a minimum charge (often $45\u2013$80), an AWB fee ($25\u2013$50), and a clearance entry ($35\u2013$90). Ship five boxes separately and you pay those five times. Consolidate and you pay them once, spread across the whole batch. On a small first order this alone can halve the effective rate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Better weight-break tier<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Air rates improve as total weight rises (e.g. $6\/kg under 100 kg, $4.50\/kg at 300 kg, $3.50\/kg at 500 kg+). Merging suppliers pushes you into a lower tier, and that lower rate applies to the entire consolidated weight \u2014 not just the marginal kilos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Lower chargeable weight<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Air bills on chargeable weight, not physical weight. By repacking and right-sizing cartons at the warehouse, the consolidator reduces your volumetric weight. Less chargeable weight at a better tier is a double win. The mechanics are in our chargeable weight guide<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Two suppliers, 80 kg each, same destination:<\/p>\n\n\n\n That is roughly 27% saved<\/strong>, and the goods still fly together within a day or two of the separate plan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Suppose you ship 120 kg of cushions that measure 1.2 cbm. At \u00f76000 that is 200 kg chargeable \u2014 you pay for 200 kg, not 120. Repack into tighter cartons at the warehouse, drop to 0.8 cbm (133 kg chargeable), and consolidate with a dense 200 kg order. Combined 333 kg lands in a lower tier, and your cushions bill on 133 kg instead of 200. The saving here comes almost entirely from lever 3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Be honest about the edge cases. If you have a single supplier, a tiny weight, and extreme urgency, the warehouse hand-off can add a day you cannot spare, and the fixed-cost saving is small. Consolidation shines when you have multiple suppliers, meaningful weight, or bulky cargo<\/strong> \u2014 which describes the majority of China imports. For the full rate context, see 2026 consolidated air rates<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Most multi-parcel shipments save 30%\u201350% versus shipping boxes individually by courier, from shared fixed costs, better weight-break tiers, and lower volumetric weight after repacking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Usually one to three extra days for receiving and merging at the warehouse. For most e-commerce and wholesale buyers that trade-off is worth the saving, but genuinely urgent single boxes may still go direct.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes. Goods from Shenzhen, Yiwu, Guangzhou, and elsewhere can all route to our Guangzhou hub, be merged, and fly together as one shipment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It should be. We offer consolidation warehouse insurance<\/a> that covers merged shipments from arrival at the hub through to delivery.<\/p>\n\n\n\nA Worked Example<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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<\/figure>\n\n\n\nA Second Example: The Bulky Order<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How the Process Works<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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When Consolidation Is Not Worth It<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How much can consolidation save on China air freight?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Does consolidation slow down air freight a lot?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Can I consolidate air freight from different suppliers in different cities?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Is my cargo insured when consolidated for air freight?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n