Air Freight

Air or ocean? A simple way to choose for urgent stock

Air freight costs more, but a late product launch can cost even more. Use this simple test to decide.

SVRU 260730
4
Filed under
Air Freight
Published
July 30, 2026
Read time
4 min read
Portrait of a smiling man in a white T-shirt.
Leo Tan

Freight desk lead

Cargo jet flying in a blue sky

Air freight is about four to six times more expensive than ocean freight per kilo. But it takes days, not weeks. So when is it worth it?

Ask three questions

Many of our customers split launch orders. The first 10% flies, so shelves are full on day one, and the rest follows by sea at a much lower cost.

Fly what you need first. Ship the rest.

Filed under
Air Freight
Portrait of a smiling man in a white T-shirt.
Written by

Leo Tan

Freight desk lead

Leo runs the Shipvora freight desk in Chicago and writes about rates, ports and paperwork.

Need to ship?

Get a clear price in one business day

Send the route, the weight and your ready date. A coordinator replies with every fee listed.

Questions about your freight?
Close-up portrait of a man in his 30s on a gray background.
Daniel Ortiz

Freight coordinator

More notes
from the yard

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Have freight to move this month?

Send us the details today. A coordinator calls you back with a clear price within one business day.