Shipping from China to United States
Does Taobao ship to the US?
US rules for parcels from China changed several times in 2025 and 2026. Here is how Taobao orders reach the US now, what duties apply and how long shipping takes.
Short answer
Not reliably. Taobao's own international shipping covers some countries, but US coverage is limited, many items and sellers are excluded, and listings, seller chat and after-sales are in Chinese. Most US buyers use an agent.
With us: send the links, we buy and inspect the items, combine them and ship to the US in about 8–20 days after your parcel leaves our warehouse.
Shipping lines to the US
We weigh your packed parcel and send you the options that accept your items. Times are counted from our warehouse in China and are typical, not guaranteed.
| Line | Typical time | Good for |
|---|---|---|
| Express courier (DHL, FedEx, UPS) | 5–10 days | Urgent orders; duties billed by the courier |
| US duty-paid line | 10–20 days | Clothes, shoes and accessories; duties included in the shipping price |
| Sea freight | 35–60 days | Heavy or bulky orders, usually over 20 kg |
Price depends on weight and size: carriers charge the higher of the real weight and the volume weight (length × width × height in cm ÷ 5000 for most express lines). How shipping is priced.
Import duties and taxes in United States
| $800 de minimis | Suspended for all countries since 29 August 2025; the law repealing it takes effect on 1 July 2027 |
| Duty | Charged on every parcel by product classification, plus Section 301 duties on most consumer goods made in China |
| Postal shipping | Since 22 October 2026 most China-made goods can no longer use the informal postal entry, so parcels travel by courier or commercial lines with a customs broker |
| Sales tax | No federal import VAT |
We quote duty-paid lines where a line offers them, so nothing more is due at your door. With an express courier the duty is billed to you by the courier. Either way the duty estimate is in your shipping quote.
Rules checked November 2026. Tax rules change; we confirm the current treatment in every shipping quote. Sources: Landed Math, US de minimis and postal route (Oct 2026), overview of Taobao's official shipping coverage.
Tips for buyers in United States
- Chinese sizes run one to two sizes smaller than US sizes. Send your measurements in inches or cm and we compare them with the seller's chart.
- Combine items into one parcel: duties are assessed per shipment and every parcel adds brokerage.
- Batteries, power banks, liquids and food are restricted on US lines. Ask before you buy.
What it costs with us
Item price and the seller's China shipping at cost, plus our 8% service fee (min $5 per order). Inspection photos, 60 days of storage and combining parcels are free. Shipping to the US is quoted for your actual parcel. All fees.
Several items? Use the full order calculator with weight estimate and payment options.
Questions
Does Taobao ship directly to the US?
For most orders, no. Taobao's own shipping has limited US coverage and many sellers only ship within China. An agent buys for you, receives the items in China and ships them to the US.
How long does shipping from Taobao to the US take?
Allow 3–7 days for the seller to ship and for inspection in China, then 5–10 days by express courier or 10–20 days on a duty-paid line.
Will I pay customs duty on a Taobao order?
Yes. Since the $800 de minimis was suspended on 29 August 2025 every parcel from China pays duty based on what is inside. On a duty-paid line it is included in the shipping price.
Can I pay for Taobao with a US card?
Taobao accepts some international cards, but payments from abroad can be declined and sellers still ship only inside China. With us you pay in dollars by PayPal, Wise or Western Union.