SEA DISTANCE · FOR OFFICERS, MASTERS AND CHARTERERS
Shanghai to Houston by sea
The sea distance from Shanghai to Houston is 10,238 nautical miles via the Panama Canal, about 30 days at 14 knots. Without the Panama Canal it is 13,974 nm via the Suez Canal, 3,736 nm more. The straight line across the globe is only 6,577 nm, but ships cannot sail over land.
Days at sea
Time under way only: add port, canal and anchorage time to plan the ETA.
| Speed | Days at sea | Via the Suez Canal |
|---|---|---|
| 10 knots | 43 | 58 |
| 12 knots | 36 | 49 |
| 14 knots | 30 | 42 |
| 16 knots | 27 | 36 |
| 20 knots | 21 | 29 |
Canals and straits on the way
In the order the ship meets them: Tsugaru Strait → Panama Canal.
Zones on the route
Miles of this voyage inside each area, measured on the planned route.
| Area | Type | Miles inside |
|---|---|---|
| N. American ECA (Atlantic/Gulf) | Emission Control Area | 350 nm |
| N. American ECA (Pacific) | Emission Control Area | 117 nm |
| China DECA (coastal waters) | Emission Control Area | 64 nm |
| Wider Caribbean (MARPOL Annex V Special Area) | MARPOL Special Area | 1,349 nm |
Emission Control Areas: the ECA guide. Piracy and war-risk areas: the piracy map.
Questions about Shanghai to Houston
How far is Shanghai from Houston by sea?
10,238 nautical miles (18,962 km) via the Panama Canal, pilot station to pilot station, on real shipping lanes. The straight line across the globe is 6,577 nm, but a ship cannot sail over land, so the sea route is 56% longer.
How many days does a ship take from Shanghai to Houston?
About 36 days at 12 knots, 30 days at 14 knots or 21 days at 20 knots. That is time at sea only, with no port, canal or anchorage waiting.
How much longer is Shanghai to Houston without the Panama Canal?
13,974 nm via the Suez Canal, 3,736 nm more: about 11 extra days at 14 knots.
Which canals and straits are on the route from Shanghai to Houston?
In order: Tsugaru Strait and Panama Canal.
How many miles of the voyage are inside Emission Control Areas?
531 nm, in N. American ECA (Atlantic/Gulf), N. American ECA (Pacific) and China DECA (coastal waters). Inside an ECA the fuel must carry no more than 0.10% sulphur, unless the ship uses an approved alternative such as a scrubber.
Does the route from Shanghai to Houston pass through piracy or war-risk areas?
Not on this route as of the date on this page: it crosses no ITF/IBF warlike area, JWC listed area or piracy hotspot that NaviBoss draws.
Which NAVAREAs does the voyage pass through?
NAVAREA XI, NAVAREA XIII, NAVAREA XII and NAVAREA IV. Keep the in-force navigational warnings of each.
How this distance is worked out
NaviBoss routes on a network of professional shipping lanes that keeps right through traffic separation schemes. The distance runs from the pilot boarding place at Shanghai (Baoshan Anchorage pilot exchange (inbound)) to the one at Houston (Houston), the same figure the planner gives for the two ports. Distances are great-circle nautical miles along that network. Seasonal Arctic routes are left out.
The same voyage the other way, Houston to Shanghai, is the same distance.
More sea distances
- Rotterdam to Shanghai10,594 nm
- Hamburg to Shanghai10,873 nm
- Shanghai to Los Angeles5,741 nm
- Vancouver to Shanghai5,021 nm
- Shanghai to New York10,669 nm
- Cebu to Houston10,911 nm
- All sea distances
Plan it with your own ship
Open the planner, pick Shanghai and Houston, set your speed and departure: you get the ETA, every waypoint and the route file for your ECDIS. Free with an account.
Plan this voyage →About our guides
NaviBoss guides are written and checked by maritime industry experts, masters and deck officers. Each one is built from the same data the planner uses, dated, and rebuilt when that data changes. Spotted something wrong? Tell us on the feedback board.
A planning aid, not for navigation. Check official charts and publications, the latest notices and your company's instructions before you rely on any figure here.