United States
ChinaLos Angeles to Shanghai shipping route.
5,749 nautical miles direct, about 17.1 days of steaming at 14 knots.
Sea Distance Between Ports: Los Angeles and Shanghai
Port to Port Distance on the map, along real shipping lanes.
Los AngelesSeaShanghaiShipping time from Los Angeles to Shanghai
| Route | Distance | 12 kn | 14 kn | 18 kn |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| direct (shortest) | 5,749 nm | 20.0 d | 17.1 d | 13.3 d |
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Live numbers for this lane from Navo apps, updated 2026-10-31.
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About the Los Angeles to Shanghai shipping route
The shipping route from Los Angeles, United States to Shanghai, China covers 5,749 nautical miles port to port, on a direct course. On a globe the two ports sit 10,442 km apart, so the ship sails 1.02 times the straight line distance. No canals or major straits on this leg, the ship stays close to the direct line.
At sea, the voyage lasts 20.0 days at 12 knots, 17.1 days at 14 knots and 13.3 days at 18 knots. Liner schedules on the lane quote 12 to 29 days port to port, because the services call at other ports and some transship. Over the last 30 days we counted 125 sailings by 10 carriers (CMA CGM, COSCO, Evergreen, HMM and Hapag-Lloyd).
683 nm of the route, 12% 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.
Recent freight rates for USLAX to CNSHA start at $4,591 for a 20GP and $6,545 for a 40GP ($6,548 for a 40HC). These are spot market prices from carriers that sail the lane; your quote will also include terminal handling, documentation and any bunker surcharge. At Shanghai (CNSHA) carriers give about 6 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, Shanghai is the 16th shortest. Closer destinations include Incheon (5,716 nm), Busan (5,280 nm) and New York (4,998 nm).
FAQ
How many nautical miles from Los Angeles to Shanghai?
The port to port distance from Los Angeles to Shanghai is 5,749 nautical miles (10,648 km), direct.
What is the shipping time from Los Angeles to Shanghai?
About 17.1 days at 14 knots and 13.3 days at 18 knots of steaming, without port calls. Scheduled liner services on this lane quote 12 to 29 days.
What are freight rates from Los Angeles to Shanghai?
Recent spot rates for USLAX to CNSHA start at $4,591 per 20GP and $6,545 per 40GP, before local charges. Rates change weekly.
How much of the route is in an emission control area?
683 nm sit inside ECA waters (North American ECA), where ships burn 0.1% sulphur fuel.
Is the return route the same?
The reverse route Shanghai 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 - Qingdao to Shanghai410 nm
Busan to Shanghai469 nm- Incheon to Shanghai538 nm
- Dalian to Shanghai553 nm
- Xiamen to Shanghai589 nm
Kaohsiung to Shanghai635 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.