Short answer: Air freight takes roughly one to two weeks and ocean about five weeks, but for a heavy order ocean can cost a small fraction of air, so large print runs often ship by ocean or split between the two.
Books are heavy, and freight is priced by weight. That makes the shipping method one of the biggest cost decisions after the print spec itself.
The three options on a Printseoul quote
- Air Express and Air Economy: about 1 to 2 weeks. The two services are priced differently, so the quote shows both.
- Ocean + Trucking: about 35 days.
These are estimates. Carriers and weather affect the actual arrival, and freight forwarding means a tracking number may not be issued until the shipment reaches its final carrier.
A worked example
Take a saddle-stitched, 100-page, 8.5 x 11" booklet with a 250gsm matte cover and 120gsm matte interior, 5,000 copies, delivered to a U.S. address. The shipment weighs about 1,960 kg. At the time of writing, the instant quote shows roughly $28,000 for Air Express, about $27,000 for Air Economy, and under $5,000 for Ocean + Trucking. Prices change, so run your own spec in the quote tool, but the shape of the result is typical: for a heavy order the air options cost several times what ocean does.
Splitting a shipment
You do not have to pick one method for the whole order. The quote tool lets you divide the quantity between delivery locations and methods: for instance, send a smaller batch by air to cover an early event or review mailing, and the remainder by ocean. Each leg is priced by its own weight and quantity.
One detail worth knowing: Air Express pricing can step up for shipments of more than 2,000 copies, so a leg of 2,000 copies or fewer can cost proportionally less than a larger air leg. The quote tool applies this automatically per delivery leg.
How to choose
Work backward from the date you need the books in hand. If ocean fits the calendar, it usually costs the least. If it does not, split the order, and compare Air Express with Air Economy in the quote: the two air services are priced differently by weight and quantity, so the faster option is not always the more expensive one.
Frequently asked questions
How long does ocean freight take from Korea?
Printseoul quotes Ocean + Trucking at about 35 days. It is an estimate and carriers and weather affect the actual arrival.
Can I ship part of an order by air and the rest by ocean?
Yes. The instant quote tool lets you split one order across multiple delivery locations and methods, and each leg is priced separately.
Is freight included in the checkout total?
If you select freight in the quote tool or cart, it is included in your checkout total. If you do not, checkout says so, and a freight quote is sent and billed separately.
Related reading
- How Long Does Overseas Book Printing Take? From Files to Your Door
- Printing Books in Korea for U.S. Publishers: What to Expect