Cheap flights from San Francisco to Shanghai

San Francisco
SFO
Hongqiao
SHA

Flight deals from San Francisco to Shanghai

Below you can see the best deals on flights San Francisco — Shanghai for upcoming dates. Direct and connecting flights from various airlines — compare prices and choose the right ticket.

The lowest price for the next 2 months is on 1 September, from $404.

Top 10 cheap flights from San Francisco to Shanghai

PR
PR
$ 472

San Francisco — Shanghai

00:30—14:30
9 Aug 2026
23 h
1 stop
PR
PR
$ 472

San Francisco — Shanghai

00:30—14:30
10 Aug 2026
23 h
1 stop
PR
PR
$ 472

San Francisco — Shanghai

00:30—14:30
11 Aug 2026
23 h
1 stop
PR
PR
$ 472

San Francisco — Shanghai

00:30—14:30
12 Aug 2026
23 h
1 stop
PR
PR
$ 472

San Francisco — Shanghai

00:30—14:30
13 Aug 2026
23 h
1 stop
OZ
OZ
$ 533

San Francisco — Shanghai

23:20—10:05
10 Aug 2026
19 h 45 m
1 stop
YP
OZ
$ 546

San Francisco — Shanghai

17:00—11:45
14 Aug 2026
51 h 45 m
1 stop
NH
NH
NH
$ 555

San Francisco — Shanghai

13:56—00:45
12 Aug 2026
19 h 49 m
2 stops
NH
NH
NH
$ 555

San Francisco — Shanghai

12:05—00:45
12 Aug 2026
21 h 40 m
2 stops
UA
NH
NH
$ 555

San Francisco — Shanghai

13:56—12:15
12 Aug 2026
31 h 19 m
2 stops

Prices were found in the last 72 hours and may change — check the exact price when you continue.

When is the best time to book a flight from San Francisco to Shanghai?

The price of a flight from San Francisco to Shanghai changes depending on how far ahead you book. For the best chance of a lower fare, book around 29 days before departure, when the average ticket costs about $547. Fares also tend to climb as the departure date gets closer.

About the San Francisco — Shanghai flight

Looking for cheap flights from San Francisco to Shanghai? Compare fares from different airlines, check the flight schedule and travel time — and book your San Francisco — Shanghai ticket online at the best price.

The route has direct flights — around 20 flights per week, flights are operated by United Airlines, China Eastern, a nonstop flight takes about 12 h 55 min, the distance between the cities is around 9,900 km.

Planning your trip? You may find our Shanghai travel guide, how to get from the airport into town and Shanghai weather forecast useful. To catch a low fare, use the low-price calendar and the monthly price chart on this page.

Facts about this route

from $404Min. price
SeptemberCheapest
JunePeak season
YesDirect flights
9,900 kmDistance
12 h 55 minTravel time
2Airlines
20 / wkFlights

Flight schedule from San Francisco to Shanghai

The table shows direct flights from San Francisco to Shanghai on the selected date. The flight takes approximately 12 h 55 min. Regular flights are operated by United Airlines and China Eastern. Departures from San Francisco International Airport airports, arrivals at Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport.

For each flight, the following details are shown: departure time (local), arrival city and airport, flight number and airline, terminal or gate, and status. Click on a flight to open its details and go to ticket search. To view flights on a different day, change the date above the table.

Today
Any time
Last update: 08 Aug 2026

Flight ticket prices by day: San Francisco — Shanghai

Below is a calendar of the lowest flight ticket prices for San Francisco — Shanghai by day. Pick a convenient date and instantly see the fare. The cheapest flights on this route start from $404 in September, and the most expensive are around $647 in June. If your travel dates are flexible, the calendar will help you find the best price for your preferred period. To view round-trip fares, switch to the "Round trip" tab above the calendar, select your departure date — and the right-hand calendar will highlight the lowest prices for return flights on each day.

 
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Prices by month

Average one-way fares from San Francisco to Shanghai by month. Tickets are usually cheapest in September (around $412) and priciest in January (about $510) — use the table and chart below to pick the best time to fly.

MonthAverage priceLevelMonthAverage priceLevelMonthAverage priceLevel
Jan$510highMay$451mediumSep$412low
Feb$510highJun$510highOct$461medium
Mar$422lowJul$480mediumNov$422low
Apr$422lowAug$422lowDec$451medium

Some values are estimated based on seasonality.

When to fly

Weather in Shanghai: it is warmest in August (up to 32 °C on average) and coolest in January (around 9 °C). The driest month is December.

Tickets are usually cheapest in September and most expensive in June. Compare prices and weather by month in the charts below to pick the best time to fly.

Temperature · Shanghai

Dry and wet days · Shanghai

Wind speed and direction · Shanghai

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How to get the best deal on a San Francisco — Shanghai ticket

  • Book ahead: fares for San Francisco — Shanghai are usually lower 3–8 weeks before departure than at the last minute.
  • Play with your dates — Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday departures are often cheaper than Friday and Sunday.
  • The cheapest month to fly to Shanghai is usually September — plan your trip around it if your dates are flexible.
  • Compare direct and connecting flights: nonstop is faster, while a connection is sometimes noticeably cheaper.
  • Watch the low-price calendar and the monthly price trend on this page — they make it easier to catch a good date.
  • Travelling light? Pick a cabin-baggage-only fare — tickets without checked luggage are noticeably cheaper.
  • Get to the airport in good time — about 2–3 hours before an international departure and roughly an hour before a domestic one.

Airlines

Flights on the San Francisco — Shanghai route are operated by 2 airlines; United Airlines runs the most flights (around 70% of all flights). Compare carriers, flight shares and schedules below.

  • United AirlinesUA
    5x/week
    WebsiteFleet: 956165M pax/year
    • Direct flight SFO → PVG5x/week
      Duration
      12h 55m
      Days
      MTWTFSS
    70.0%Open →
  • China EasternMU
    2x/week
    WebsiteFleet: 803116M pax/year
    • Direct flight SFO → PVG2x/week
      Duration
      14h
      Days
      MTWTFSS
    30.0%Open →

Cities and airports on the San Francisco — Shanghai route

Flights San Francisco — Shanghai depart from San Francisco International Airport and arrive at Shanghai Pudong International Airport and Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport. Below are pages for the cities, countries, and airports on the route: airlines, schedules, and travel guides.

Departure

San Francisco

SFO
United States
About the cityHow to get thereWeatherAll about the country United States
Arrival

Shanghai

SHA
China
About the cityHow to get thereWeatherAll about the country China
Departure airports
Arrival airports

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Frequently asked questions about the San Francisco — Shanghai flight

How long is the flight from San Francisco to Shanghai?

A nonstop San Francisco — Shanghai flight takes about 12 h 55 min — the distance between the cities is around 9,900 km.

How far is it from San Francisco to Shanghai?

The distance from San Francisco to Shanghai is about 9,900 km, which a nonstop flight covers in around 12 h 55 min.

Are there direct flights from San Francisco to Shanghai?

Yes, there are nonstop flights San Francisco — Shanghai — around 20 flights per week.

Which airlines fly from San Francisco to Shanghai?

Airlines operating San Francisco — Shanghai include United Airlines, China Eastern. See the full list with schedules in the "Airlines" section on this page.

Which airports do San Francisco — Shanghai flights use?

Flights from San Francisco depart from San Francisco International Airport, and arrive at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport. If a city has more than one airport, check which one your ticket uses before you travel.

How much is a ticket from San Francisco to Shanghai?

The price of a San Francisco — Shanghai ticket depends on your travel date, season and demand: it is usually cheapest to fly in September, and most expensive in June. Tickets typically cost between $404 and $647. Check the current lowest fare and low-price calendar on this page.

When is the best time to book flights San Francisco — Shanghai?

Flights San Francisco — Shanghai are usually cheaper when booked in advance — a few weeks before departure and away from peak dates; the most budget-friendly month to fly is September. Compare prices by month in the price trend chart on this page.

How can I find the cheapest flights from San Francisco to Shanghai?

To catch a low fare San Francisco — Shanghai, book a few weeks in advance, keep your dates flexible, and compare airlines and connecting options. The low-price calendar and monthly price chart on this page show the cheapest days and months at a glance: the most budget-friendly month to fly is usually September.

How early should I arrive at the airport?

For international flights, plan to be at the airport about 2–3 hours before departure, and around an hour before a domestic flight. Allow extra time during busy travel seasons and at large hubs, where check-in and security lines can be longer.

Where else you can fly from San Francisco

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Los AngelesNew York CitySeattleSan DiegoSanta AnaLas VegasBurbankBostonVancouverPhoenixPortlandLondonDenverPalm SpringsHonoluluDallasChicagoSalt Lake CityAustinAtlantaWashington, D.C.HoustonKahuluiTaipeiMinneapolisTorontoDetroitOrlandoTokyoSpokaneParisBoiseKapaaSan Jose del CaboPuerto VallartaRedmondSeoulFrankfurt am MainCalgaryMexico City

Where else you can fly from Shanghai

See all
BeijingChengduGuangzhouShenzhenHong KongSeoulTokyoKunmingXianOsakaQingdaoChongqingTaipeiBangkokShenyangDalianXiamenHarbinWuhanSingaporeChangshaChangchunSanyaGuiyangUrumqiHaikouTianjinZhuhaiMacauZhengzhouShantouTaiyuanJeju CityNanningKuala LumpurFuzhouYantaiLanzhouGuilinHo Chi Minh City

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