Chinese New Year 2027 falls on Saturday, February 6, 2027. Factories in China start slowing down in mid-to-late January, and output usually stays below normal until early March. To get custom packaging shipped before the shutdown, plan to approve samples by mid-November 2026 and confirm your bulk order by early December 2026. Anything confirmed later risks shipping after the holiday, which means arriving in March or April.
This guide is written by PackPro (packpropkg.com), a custom packaging factory in Dongguan, Guangdong, which is one of the regions most affected by the Chinese New Year migration. Our 2027 shutdown dates will be confirmed directly to customers once China’s official holiday schedule is announced (usually around November). For dates in other years, see this Chinese New Year calendar.
Signs you’re at risk of a CNY delay
- You have a Valentine’s Day, spring, or Q1 product launch
- Your artwork isn’t final yet
- You haven’t approved a sample
- You plan to ship by sea to the US, EU or Australia
- Your current stock runs out between February and March
Why the shutdown is longer than the holiday
The official public holiday is about a week, expected around February 5–12, 2027. The real disruption is much longer:
| Phase | Approx. timing | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Pre-holiday rush | December – mid January | Factories fully booked, material suppliers close early, freight rates rise |
| Wind-down | Mid-to-late January | Workers travel home and output drops |
| Holiday | ~February 5–12, 2027 | Factories closed |
| Ramp-up | Mid February – early March | Not all workers return, so new staff are trained and output is slower |
Note that Vietnam celebrates Tet on the same date, so Vietnam production is also affected.
Packaging order deadlines for CNY 2027
Working backwards from a cargo-ready date of about January 20, 2027:
| Milestone | Recommended deadline |
|---|---|
| Send RFQ with full spec | Now – end of October 2026 |
| Final artwork and dielines approved | Early November 2026 |
| Physical sample approved | Mid November 2026 |
| Bulk order confirmed and deposit paid | Early December 2026 |
| Production complete and inspected | Early-to-mid January 2027 |
| Cargo handed to forwarder | By ~January 20, 2027 |
Exact dates vary by box type, quantity and finishes. See our production timeline guide, and confirm with your factory in writing.
Add sea freight time
| Destination | Typical door-to-door by sea | Arrival if cargo-ready Jan 20 |
|---|---|---|
| US West Coast | ~3–5 weeks | Mid-to-late February |
| US East Coast | ~5–7 weeks | Late February – early March |
| UK / EU | ~5–7 weeks | Late February – early March |
| Australia | ~3–5 weeks | Mid-to-late February |
Transit times are estimates and can stretch around CNY when ports are congested.
Missed the deadline? Your options
- Split the order. Produce a smaller urgent batch before CNY and the rest after.
- Air freight the urgent batch. Collapsible boxes ship flat with roughly 70% less volume, which makes air freight far more affordable than it is for pre-assembled boxes.
- Simplify the spec. Fewer finishes and a standard size shorten production.
- Book first-in-line after CNY. Confirm your order before the holiday so production starts immediately on return.
How to plan with PackPro
- Our confirmed 2027 shutdown and restart dates sent to all active customers
- Production slots reserved in order of confirmed POs
- Pre-shipment video inspection completed before the holiday
- Collapsible box options for affordable air freight if timelines are tight
- FOB or DDP shipping arranged before the freight rush
Need boxes before Chinese New Year?
Send your box spec, quantity and the date you need them by. We’ll tell you straight away whether a pre-CNY shipment is realistic.
FAQ
When is Chinese New Year 2027?
Chinese New Year 2027 is on Saturday, February 6, 2027. The public holiday is expected to run roughly February 5–12, with the official schedule usually announced around November.
When should I order packaging before Chinese New Year 2027?
Approve samples by mid-November 2026 and confirm the bulk order by early December 2026, so production finishes and cargo is handed over by around January 20, 2027.
How long do Chinese factories close for Chinese New Year?
The official holiday is about a week, but output usually drops from mid-to-late January and doesn’t fully recover until early March because workers travel home and some don’t return.
What if I miss the Chinese New Year packaging deadline?
Split the order into a smaller urgent batch, air freight it (collapsible boxes make this affordable), simplify the spec, or confirm your order before the holiday so production starts as soon as factories reopen.