How to Ship Samples Home from the Canton Fair

Once you’re collecting samples from multiple booths, the carry-versus-ship decision becomes a real trade-off between cost, convenience, and how much luggage space and weight allowance you actually have left.

When carrying them makes sense

A small number of light, compact samples are usually simplest to carry home directly — no shipping cost, no waiting, and no additional customs paperwork beyond your normal arrival declaration. This is the default worth defaulting to unless volume or bulk pushes you toward shipping instead.

When shipping is the better call

Once samples add up in weight or bulk across several booths, courier shipping often works out more practical than paying excess baggage fees or reorganising your luggage mid-trip. It also frees you from carrying fragile or awkward items through your remaining travel days.

Ask the exhibitor first

Many exhibitors experienced with international buyers already have an established courier relationship and can arrange shipping for you — worth asking directly rather than assuming you need to organise this yourself from an unfamiliar city.

Don’t skip the customs question

A shipment of samples is still an import once it reaches your home country, and the same general customs framework covered elsewhere in this guide can apply even at a small scale. Check your own country’s rules for sample-sized or low-value shipments rather than assuming an automatic pass through customs.

What’s next

Read how the sample request process works in the first place if you haven’t already, or check the customs framework before your shipment arrives home.

Frequently asked questions

Is it cheaper to carry samples home in my luggage or ship them?

For a small number of light samples, carrying them is usually simpler and cheaper. Once you're collecting samples across multiple booths or dealing with bulkier items, courier shipping often becomes more practical despite the added cost, especially if it saves you excess baggage fees.

Do sample shipments need to clear customs at home?

Yes, generally — a shipment of samples is still an import and can be subject to the same customs process as any other goods, even at a small scale. Check your own country's rules for sample or low-value shipments rather than assuming an automatic exemption.

Can exhibitors arrange shipping for samples on my behalf?

Many can, and it's worth asking directly — an exhibitor experienced with international buyers often has an established courier relationship, which can be more convenient than arranging your own shipment from an unfamiliar city.