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SFO to SHA: distance & flight time
San Francisco (San Francisco International Airport) → Shanghai (Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport)
6,155 mi
9,905 km · 5,348 nm
12h 32m
estimated nonstop flight time
+15h
time difference · heading northwest
See live SFO→SHA fares Phone-only fares on this route — call free
Flight time details
6,155 miles nonstop takes roughly 12h 32m gate to gate, flying northwest. Add 45–90 minutes per connection if there's no nonstop service. Remember to factor the 15-hour time gain when reading arrival times on your ticket.
The two airports
- SFO — San Francisco International Airport · San Francisco, United States
- SHA — Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport · Shanghai, China
Distances are great-circle ("as the crow flies") — the same basis airlines use for frequent-flyer miles.
Alternate airports can cut this fare
Flying from or into a nearby airport is the #1 trick our agents use to beat online prices. Call and we'll compare every combination on one call.
Near SFO
- SQL · San Carlos Airport10 mi away
- HAF · Half Moon Bay Airport10 mi away
- OAK · Metropolitan Oakland International Airport11 mi away
- NGZ · Alameda Naval Air Station12 mi away
Near SHA
- PVG · Shanghai Pudong International Airport28 mi away
- SZV · Suzhou Guangfu Airport55 mi away
- WUX · Sunan Shuofang International Airport57 mi away
- HGH · Hangzhou Xiaoshan International Airport86 mi away
Frequently asked questions
How far is SFO from SHA?
The flight distance from San Francisco (SFO) to Shanghai (SHA) is 6,155 miles (9,905 km, 5,348 nautical miles), measured along the great-circle route airlines actually fly.
How long is the flight from SFO to SHA?
A nonstop flight takes about 12h 32m gate to gate. Actual time varies with winds, routing and season — eastbound transatlantic flights, for example, are usually faster than the return.
Are there nonstop flights from SFO to SHA?
Nonstop service on SFO–SHA depends on the season and the day of week. Run the fare search on this page with the nonstop filter applied to see current direct options; when there is no nonstop, a single connection through a carrier hub adds roughly 2–4 hours to the 12h 32m nonstop estimate.
What is the time difference between San Francisco and Shanghai?
Shanghai is 15 hours ahead of San Francisco.
What is the cheapest way to fly from SFO to SHA?
Compare live fares online, then call CheapoTrav — our agents have unpublished consolidator fares on SFO–SHA that never appear on search engines, with no booking fees.
Why are some SFO to SHA fares phone-only?
Consolidator contracts let us sell certain SFO–SHA tickets below the price airlines permit us to publish online, so those fares can only be quoted over the phone. Call the travel desk and an agent will check phone-only inventory for your dates.