How long does it take a cargo ship to go from China to the United States?

The amount of time it takes for a cargo ship to travel between China and the United States depends on the exact route and the speed of the ship. In most cases, these journeys take between two weeks and a month to complete.

In addition to the length of time it takes to physically cross the ocean, handling, customs and other procedures can add significantly to the amount of time necessary to ship goods across the Pacific. It can take as many as 33 days to prep a shipment for transit, and once the ship arrives in the United States, it can take six more days before the cargo is released.