Air vs Ocean Freight: full cost breakdown.

Two freight channels move 95% of global apparel. The choice between them is almost entirely a function of timeline and order size.

Air freight is fast — 14 to 21 days door-to-door from Ksawerów to most North American cities. It's also expensive: $0.90 to $2.20 per unit depending on garment weight and destination. For a 1,000-unit hoodie order to Los Angeles, that's roughly $1,400 in freight.

Ocean freight is the opposite calculation. 35 to 50 days port-to-door, but $0.20 to $0.55 per unit. Same 1,000-unit order to LA by ocean: roughly $320.

The decision logic is straightforward. Festival merchandise with a fixed gate-open date — air. Corporate activation eight weeks out — ocean. Replenishment mid-season — depends on stock-out risk.

We quote both options on every project. You decide the trade.