United StatesUnited StatesLos Angeles to Houston shipping route.
4,526 nautical miles via Panama Canal, about 13.5 days of steaming at 14 knots.
Sea Distance Between Ports: Los Angeles and Houston
Port to Port Distance on the map, along real shipping lanes.
Los AngelesPanama CanalHoustonShipping time from Los Angeles to Houston
| Route | Distance | 12 kn | 14 kn | 18 kn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| via Panama Canal (shortest) | 4,526 nm | 15.7 d | 13.5 d | 10.5 d |
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About the Los Angeles to Houston shipping route
Ships leaving Los Angeles for Houston head east and cover a sea distance of 4,526 nautical miles (8,383 km), via Panama Canal. The straight line between the ports is 2,214 km; coastlines and shipping lanes add the rest. On the way the vessel passes Panama Canal, so canal transit fees and waiting time at the canal are part of every voyage.
At sea, the voyage lasts 15.7 days at 12 knots, 13.5 days at 14 knots and 10.5 days at 18 knots. Container transit time on a liner service is longer than the steaming time: ships call at other ports on the rotation, and cargo may transship at a hub. Add terminal time at Los Angeles and Houston to plan the full ocean transit time.
405 nm of the route, 9% of it, lies inside North American ECA. In an emission control area ships must burn fuel with no more than 0.1% sulphur or clean the exhaust with scrubbers. That fuel costs more, and carriers add it to the ocean freight bill as a low sulphur or ECA surcharge.
Container freight rates on Los Angeles to Houston move with fuel prices, ship capacity and the season. Compare several carriers before booking: the cheapest sailing is often the slowest one. At Houston (USHOU) carriers give about 4 free days before demurrage and detention charges start, so plan the truck or rail pickup before the box lands.
Of the 65 port to port routes from Los Angeles in this directory, Houston is the 8th shortest. Closer destinations include Callao (3,654 nm), Cartagena (3,301 nm) and Balboa (2,974 nm).
FAQ
How many nautical miles from Los Angeles to Houston?
The port to port distance from Los Angeles to Houston is 4,526 nautical miles (8,383 km), via Panama Canal. The route passes Panama Canal.
What is the shipping time from Los Angeles to Houston?
About 13.5 days at 14 knots and 10.5 days at 18 knots of steaming, without port calls. Scheduled liner services add calls and transhipment.
How much of the route is in an emission control area?
405 nm sit inside ECA waters (North American ECA), where ships burn 0.1% sulphur fuel.
Is the return route the same?
The reverse route Houston to Los Angeles has its own page with the same distance and route.
More port to port distance
- Los Angeles to Oakland385 nm
- Los Angeles to Seattle1,214 nm
- Los Angeles to
Vancouver1,235 nm - Los Angeles to
Manzanillo1,284 nm - Los Angeles to
Balboa2,974 nm - Los Angeles to
Cartagena3,301 nm - Savannah to Houston1,370 nm
- Charleston to Houston1,401 nm
- Balboa to Houston1,552 nm
- Cartagena to Houston1,765 nm
- New York to Houston1,921 nm
Callao to Houston2,939 nm
How we count: sea routes follow shipping lanes and canals, time is pure steaming at 14 knots without port calls. Engine navo-distance-time 0.3.0. See all sea distance between ports or the Shipping Routes Directory.