Sea distance from Los Angeles to Shanghai
The sea route from Los Angeles (United States) to Shanghai (China) is about 5,888 nautical miles, which is 10,904 km or 6,775 statute miles. That is about 5% longer than the direct great-circle line, because the practical route follows coastlines and shipping lanes.
Voyage time by boat speed
Time underway is distance divided by speed. These are continuous-passage figures with no stops or weather margin.
| Boat and speed | Time underway |
|---|---|
| Sailboat, conservative (5 kn) | 49d 2h |
| Sailboat, average (6 kn) | 40d 21h |
| Displacement trawler (8 kn) | 30d 16h |
| Fast trawler (10 kn) | 24d 13h |
| Planing motor yacht (15 kn) | 16d 9h |
| Fast motor yacht (20 kn) | 12d 6h |
Planning estimate, not navigation
This distance is computed over the open Eurostat shipping-lane network. It is a realistic passage length for planning, but your sailed distance will differ with weather routing, currents, draft, and the exact berths you leave from and arrive at. Always verify against official charts.
Plan this passage properly
Open Los Angeles to Shanghai in the Marine OS route planner: it suggests the sea route, then you drag waypoints, set your speed and fuel burn, and check weather and tides along the way.
Open this route in the plannerFrequently asked questions
How far is Shanghai from Los Angeles by sea?
About 5,888 nautical miles (10,904 km / 6,775 statute miles) along the practical sea route. The straight-line distance is shorter, but boats follow coastlines, channels, and traffic lanes.
How long does it take to sail from Los Angeles to Shanghai?
At a typical sailing average of 6 knots it is about 40d 21h underway. A 10-knot trawler needs about 24d 13h, and a 20-knot motor yacht about 12d 6h. Add margin for weather, currents, and stops.
How is this distance calculated?
It is computed over the open Eurostat global shipping-lane network, the same kind of network freight routing tools use. It is a realistic planning estimate, not a navigation product: your sailed distance will vary with weather routing, draft, and the exact harbors you use.
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