More than $800 million in goods are imported to Guam yearly—goods that keep Guam’s businesses moving and the island’s residents supplied. Another $20+ million in goods are exported from Guam each year.

Wondering how long it takes these goods to arrive at their destinations? Below, we’ll take you through a list of Guam air freight and ocean freight transit times. These transit times will help you figure out when you can expect your freight to arrive.

If your shipment is small enough to be considered a small parcel, we’ll also walk you through some shipping times to Guam. Finally, we’ll answer some frequently asked questions about Guam shipping times to give you a solid foundation on the overall topic.

Need more exact timing for your shipment? Reach out to our freight experts for assistance.

In This Article:

Guam Ocean Freight Transit Times

  • Guam–Mainland U.S. Shipping Times
  • Guam–Hawaii Shipping Times
  • Guam–Japan Shipping Times
  • Guam–Korea Shipping Times

Guam Air Freight Transit Times

Guam Small Parcel Shipping Times

  • UPS, USPS, FedEx, and DHL Shipping Times

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Guam Freight & Guam Shipping

Guam Ocean Freight Transit Times

ocean freight

Ocean freight is the most budget-friendly method to move freight to Guam. It’s also well-suited for heavy, dense, and oversized items, which may not be able to travel to Guam any other way.

There’s just one catch: Ocean freight takes longer than other modes, like air freight. However, if cost is your primary concern, ocean freight is the way to go.

Just how long does it take? Let’s take a closer look…

Transit Time vs. Door-to-Door Time

Keep in mind that transit time only takes into account how long it takes for a vessel to travel from the origin port to destination port. It doesn’t take into account:

  • Cut-off times for receiving freight
  • Time cargo might sit, waiting for the next sail date
  • Loading or unloading time
  • Customs procedures
  • Pick-up, unloading, and delivery time

To get a full picture of how long it will take your freight to get to Guam, you’ll need to add a few days on either end of the transit time.

Or, to get more precise timing, request a quote and a timeline from our team.

Guam–Mainland U.S. Shipping Times

Shipments Headed to Guam from the Mainland

California to Guam Transit Time: ~2 weeks

Freight heading from California to Guam takes approximately two weeks (14 days), port to port.

When you take into account the cut-off time—and the time it takes for the container to be offloaded, cleared through customs, and made available for pickup or delivery—you’re probably looking at three weeks to receive your freight on Guam.

Shipments Headed to the Mainland from Guam

If you’re sending freight the opposite direction, the timing can be a little different.

Guam to Los Angeles Transit Time: ~2.5 – 3 weeks

Freight heading from Guam to Los Angeles takes approximately 18-21 days, port to port. If your freight is headed for another West Coast port, you’ll need to account for additional transit time.

Eastbound Guam–Mainland Transit Times

Destination Transit Time
Los Angeles 18 – 21 days
Oakland 24 – 29 days
Seattle 36 – 40 days

What About Consolidations?

Less-than-container load options/consolidations are available from Guam. For consolidations, you’re looking at the following average transit times:

Eastbound Consolidation Transit Times

(Guam to Mainland U.S.)

Destination Transit Time
West Coast 6 – 9 weeks
Central 8 – 11 weeks
East Coast 8 – 11 weeks

Guam–Hawaii Shipping Times

Guam to Honolulu Transit Time: 3-4 weeks

Eastbound freight from Guam to Honolulu can take three to four weeks. Many of the routes that take freight from Guam to Honolulu make stops through Asia first, hence the longer transit time.

If you’re moving freight from Honolulu to Guam (westbound), you can expect a transit time of about seven days.

Guam– Japan Shipping Times

Guam to Okinawa Transit Time: 3 days

Ocean freight from Guam to Naha Harbor in Okinawa can take as little as three days port to port.

In the reverse direction, freight headed to Guam from Japan takes four to eight days in transit, depending on the port the freight leaves from.

Guam–Korea Shipping Times

Guam to Busan Transit Time: 6 days

Moving cargo from Guam to Busan involves a transit time of six days.

If you’re moving cargo from Busan, Korea to Guam, expect a transit time of seven to eight days.

Guam Air Freight Transit Times

If speed is your main concern, choose air freight to move your cargo to Guam. Air freight will be more expensive than ocean freight, but, as you’ll see, it means much shorter shipping times.

Because of the cost, air freight is most commonly used for time-sensitive or high-value goods, such as:

  • Electronics
  • Textiles and leather
  • High-end accessories, including handbags and jewelry
  • Medical and surgical equipment
  • Precision instruments
  • Pharmaceuticals
  • Fresh meat and seafood

Air Freight Shipping Times to/from Guam

Air Freight Transit Time: ~2-4 days

Air freight can arrive on Guam as quickly as two to four days.

If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly solution, consider air freight consolidations. In partnership with our DeWitt sister company, Approved Freight Forwarders, we offer weekly air freight consolidations to Guam. If we have your freight to the Approved terminal in City of Industry, California by noon on Thursday, it will arrive on Guam by Monday.

To learn more about weekly air freight consolidations to Guam, reach out to our team.

Guam Small Parcel Shipping Times

In some cases, the items you’re sending to Guam can move as a small parcel, as opposed to freight. Carriers like the U.S. Postal Service, UPS, FedEx, and DHL all move small parcels to Guam.

To qualify for small parcel shipping, packages generally need to weigh less than 70 lbs. That’s the weight limit for packages sent via USPS. Certain types of USPS packaging (like Flat Rate envelopes) have lower weight limits.

If you have a package heavier than 70 lbs., you may still be able to send it via UPS, FedEx, or DHL:

  • UPS will accept packages up to 150 lbs. with a maximum length of 108″ and a maximum of 165″ in length and girth combined. [Girth = (width x 2) + (height x 2)] Domestic packages to Guam move under UPS Worldwide service.
  • FedEx will accept packages up to 150 lbs. FedEx moves packages from the U.S. to Guam via their International Priority and International Economy services. International packages may measure up to 108″ in length and 130″ in length and girth.
  • DHL will accept packages up to 70 kg. in weight with dimensions up to 120 x 80 x 80 cm. Larger packages require a dedicated quote.

What About Retailers Who Won't Ship to Guam?

Even though the USPS, FedEx, DHL, and UPS all move packages to Guam, some online retailers simply don’t ship to Guam.

That’s where our E-Ship Program comes in. Generators, exercise equipment, auto parts, furniture, and more—we’ll help you move it all to Guam.

Let’s take a look at how long it takes to ship an item to Guam via one of the small-parcel carriers. All times below are approximate, based on carrier estimates.

Domestic Shipping Speed to Guam

USPS Priority Mail Express  3 business days 
USPS Priority Mail  3-5 business days 
UPS Worldwide Express*  3-5 business days 
UPS Worldwide Saver*  4-6 business days 
UPS Worldwide Expedited*  5-7 business days 
FedEx International Priority**  3 business days 
FedEx International Economy**  5 business days 
DHL  3 business days 

* UPS shipments outside of the 50 U.S. states move under UPS Worldwide service.

** FedEx packages move to Guam via International service, even though Guam is a U.S. territory.

International Shipping Speed to Guam

UPS Express Saver   3-7 business days 
UPS Worldwide Expedited  5-8 business days 
FedEx International Economy  3 business days 
FedEx International Priority  3 business days 
DHL  3 business days 

Now that we’ve covered most of the common shipping methods for moving items to Guam, let’s go through a few common questions about Guam shipping and freight.

Frequently Asked Questions About Guam Freight & Guam Shipping

Since all shipments will clear through the Guam Customs and Quarantine Agency (CQA), they must be accompanied by the proper documentation. 

When you’re moving freight, our team will help you put together the right paperwork to help your shipment clear quickly and efficiently. 

Yes. Some items are not allowed to be imported to Guam. Others can be brought in, as long as they follow the guidelines set forth by the CQA.  

Prohibited Items  

The following items may not be imported to Guam:  

  • All food items, including things like dried food, spices, perishables, meats, and liquids  
  • Narcotics and dangerous drugs  
  • Pornography  
  • Misbranded articles  
  • Hazardous articles, including firework
  • Toxic and poisonous substances  
  • Endangered species and artifacts  
  • Rooted plants, flowers, soil, and fruits  
  • Non-DOT approved tires  

Restricted Items  

You’re more likely to see these items in household goods shipments, but it’s important to be aware of all customs rules when shipping items to Guam: 

  • Guam law allows the import of up to four legally authorized firearms for personal use. Ammunition is strictly prohibited, and documentation is required.  
  • An individual 21 years and older can bring in one gallon (3.8 liters) of alcoholic beverages. Any amount in excess will result in a 4% duty based on the value of the alcohol and the cost of the ocean freight of the entire shipment.  
  • Only normal required quantities of medicines and narcotics are acceptable for import, provided they are supported by a prescription or statement from a personal physician. They must also be properly identified. Narcotics listed under Schedule I, II and III of the Controlled Substance Act are generally prohibited. Severe penalties will be imposed if these substances are improperly imported.  

If you have questions, feel free to reach out to our team.  

Guam is a U.S. territory, so shipments between another U.S. destination and Guam are not considered international by most carriers. However, UPS and FedEx do move shipments to Guam under “international” service levels. 

As part of its territorial agreement with the U.S., Guam operates its own Customs and Quarantine Agency (CQA). As a result, all freight shipments, international and domestic, need to be accompanied by the correct paperwork.  

Finally, freight from Guam to any other part of the U.S. also needs to clear U.S. customs at the first point of entry. 

Yes, shipments arriving to Guam are processed by Guam’s Customs and Quarantine Agency (CQA). 

If you need assistance clearing your freight through customs—or if your container is selected for inspection—our team can connect you with the right resources. We even operate a Container Freight Station (CFS) on Guam, where your container can be securely unloaded for inspection (if necessary).  

If you’re using small parcel carriers like FedEx, UPS, and DHL, shipping to Guam can get expensive quickly. The U.S. Postal Service’s Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes are a good value, since they cost the same as service between the 50 states. 

Where Guam freight is concerned, the best way to understand how expensive your shipment will be is to get a quote. Our team would be happy to help you calculate your cost to move freight to Guam. 

Yes, the U.S. Postal service operates in Guam.  

In fact, the USPS considers Guam “domestic” for the purposes of sending mail and packages. That means that sending a Priority Mail Flat Rate package or envelope to Guam from the continental U.S. (and Hawaii!) costs the same as sending between states. 

Yes, packages and letters sent to Guam are charged domestic rates by the USPS. So if you’re living in California and sending a standard letter to Guam, you can just put a regular Forever stamp on it. Additionally, you can send domestic Priority Mail Flat Rate boxes and envelopes to Guam, and you’ll pay the usual “if it fits, it ships” domestic rate. 

Most everything you’ll buy on Guam is imported. Shipping costs add up, and they get wrapped into the cost of goods, which is what makes Guam a more expensive place to live than the continental U.S.  

If you want to learn more about the real cost of living on Guam, check out our article: What’s the Real Cost of Living on Guam? Is It Expensive? 

The International Trade Administration does not consider shipments to Guam exports. As a result, they’re exempt from export tariffs. 

Guam Freight Shipping Made Easy

Need some help with your next Guam freight project? The DeWitt family of companies has you covered for all types of freight projects to and from Guam. We can assist with air freight, ocean freight, and trucking solutions to and from Guam.

Just reach out to our team to get started.

Tell us about your move!