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Air Freight From China to Canada: What 100 kg Really Costs You (The Quote Is Only Part of the Bill)
The PFC Royal Logistics team, Shenzhen, since 2010 · Facts checked
Every forwarder shows you a price per kg. It is the number you compare. It is also not the number you pay. Here are the 5 bills behind it, and a calculator for your own cargo.
"CARM has been a nightmare to get into so get it going right away."
A small business owner in Canada, Reddit, February 2025. Read the threadIf you are new to importing, that line should worry you. The goods are ready in China. The flight is booked. And the paperwork on your side is not.
Picture the day your cargo lands
100 kg of stock. Three cartons. The quote said a clean price per kg, so you did the sum: 100 times the rate.
The plane lands in Toronto. Then the messages start.
A customs broker wants your import account number. You do not have one. Someone mentions duty. Someone else mentions GST. A third person quotes a handling fee.
Meanwhile your cargo sits in a warehouse. And your customers are waiting.
None of this is rare. All of it is avoidable. You just need to see the whole bill before you book.
What you will learn on this page
- The 5 bills behind one freight quote.
- What CARM is, and what Canada's border agency says you must set up.
- The CAD $3,300 line, and why it changes how your goods clear.
- A calculator that turns any quote into your real cost per kg.
- 6 questions to ask every forwarder, including us.
The 5 bills behind one quote
- Freight.The price per kg times the chargeable weight. Carriers charge on the greater of actual weight or volume weight. Big, light cartons cost more than they weigh.
- Duty.It depends on your goods and their tariff code (HS code). Ask your broker for the rate before you ship.
- Tax.GST applies, and some provinces add their own sales tax or use HST.
- Customs broker.Canada's border agency does not regulate brokerage fees. Each broker sets its own. Ask for it in writing.
- Delivery in Canada.Air cargo lands at an airport such as Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal or Calgary. Getting it from there to your door is a cost too, unless your forwarder includes it.
What Canada says you must set up
This part comes straight from Canada's border agency (CBSA). For commercial goods:
- Register in the CARM Client Portal and create an import program account.
- You may give a licensed customs broker authority to act for you. They cannot file for you without it.
- To have goods released before you pay duty and tax, enrol in Release Prior to Payment and post financial security. The agency calls this the most common method.
- Goods worth CAD $3,300 or less can go through the courier low value program, when the courier is approved. Above that, a declaration must be submitted through CARM.
This is why the Reddit quote above matters. The earlier you start, the less your cargo waits.
Turn any quote into your real cost per kg
The quote says: $600
Duty + tax + fees on top: $502
Real cost to land the goods: $1,102
That is $11.02 per kg, not $6.00.
Every number here is a starting example. Replace each one with yours. Tax is worked out on the goods plus duty. Delivery in Canada and your own time are not in this sum. Your broker confirms the exact duty and tax. Tax of 5% is the federal GST, and your province may add more.
6 questions to ask every forwarder
1What is the full price to my door?
Ask: "What do I pay in total, from your warehouse to my address, with every fee?"
Red flag: a per-kg rate and nothing about clearance, broker or delivery.
Our answer: our air freight runs airport to door, and we clear customs at both ends. Ask for the exact total for your cargo.
2Who is the importer on the customs form?
Ask: "Whose name is on the declaration? Do I need my own CARM account?"
Red flag: "Don't worry about it." You should know.
Our answer: on DDP shipments, PFC is the importer on the customs form. Ask us about your case before you book.
3How do you work out chargeable weight?
Ask: "Do you charge on actual or volume weight? Which is bigger for my cartons?"
Red flag: no clear answer. Cartons that are big and light can double your bill.
4How long does it really take?
Ask: "When does the clock start, and how long to my door?"
Our answer: air freight takes 5 to 10 days from airport to door. Customs checks can add days.
5Can you combine my suppliers?
Ask: "Can you receive from several suppliers and send one shipment? How long is storage free?"
Our answer: we charge no receiving fee. New customers get 30 days of storage free. After that it is $0.49 per cubic metre per day. We set no minimum volume and no contract.
6What if goods are lost or damaged?
Ask: "Is cover included? What does it cost?"
Our answer: cover is not included automatically. We offer it for an extra fee. Ask before you ship.
See what a carrier pays by law in our insurance guide.
Which way fits your cargo?
| Cargo | Way | Time |
|---|---|---|
| 21 kg and up | Air freight | 5 to 10 days |
| Small, fast | Express | 2 to 5 working days |
| Parcels to Canadian buyers | GOFO or Dragonfly | 6 to 10 days |
| Large, not urgent | Sea freight | Ask for your city |
Customs checks can add days.
Where PFC fits
We are PFC Royal Logistics. We work from Shenzhen, and have since 2010.
- Suppliers send goods to our warehouse. We charge no receiving fee.
- We count and check every carton, and tell you the result.
- We combine everything into one shipment.
- We fly it, clear customs at both ends and deliver to your address.
What happens when you ask for a quote
- You tell us what you ship.The goods, the weight and your city in Canada. It takes 2 minutes.
- We reply within 24 hours.You get a price for the ways that fit.
- You put it in the calculator.You see your real cost per kg. A quote is free.
Quick questions
How long does air freight from China to Canada take?
Our air freight runs 5 to 10 days from airport to door, and we clear customs at both ends. Customs checks can add days. Smaller parcels on our Canada carriers take 6 to 10 days with GOFO and 6 to 9 days with Dragonfly.
What is the smallest air freight shipment?
21 kg. Below that, express or a parcel carrier usually fits better.
What does 100 kg of air freight cost?
It depends on the goods, the size of the cartons and the week. Ask us for a price for your exact cargo. The calculator on this page shows what to add on top of any freight quote, so you can compare quotes fairly.
Do I need a CARM account to import into Canada?
For commercial goods, yes. Canada's border agency says importers register in the CARM Client Portal and create an import program account. You can give a licensed customs broker the authority to act for you.
What is the CAD $3,300 line?
Goods worth CAD $3,300 or less can use the courier low value shipment program, when the courier is approved for it. Above that, a commercial accounting declaration must be submitted through the CARM Client Portal for release.
Who sets the customs broker's fee?
The broker does. Canada's border agency says it does not regulate brokerage fees. Ask for the fee in writing before you ship.
Can you insure my goods?
Cover is not included automatically. We offer cargo cover for an extra fee. Ask before you ship, and tell us the value of the goods.
Does a quote cost anything?
No. A quote is free. Tell us what you ship, how much it weighs, and your city in Canada. We reply within 24 hours.
Where this comes from
- Canada Border Services Agency: Release, account and pay duties and taxes (RPP, financial security, CARM), page dated 17 September 2026
- Canada Border Services Agency: Set up your business to import (CARM Client Portal, import program account, brokers)
- Canada Border Services Agency: Courier Low Value Shipment Program (the CAD $3,300 line)
- Canada Border Services Agency: Ship and report goods (what happens above CAD $3,300)
- A small business owner in Canada on getting a CARM account, Reddit r/SmallBusinessCanada, February 2025
Rules change. We checked these on 24 October 2026. Check again before you ship.