Customers today expect fast and cost-effective (or free!) shipping options at checkout, so figuring out the most efficient and affordable ways to ship a package can take a lot of time and energy. To help make things easier, we’ve put together a simple guide to shipping costs, types, and carriers so you can compare rates and find the best deal for your business plan and shipping strategy.
The Cheapest Way to Ship a Package: A Beginner’s Guide
Shipping costs are very important because they influence whether a buyer buys your products or not. The e-commerce research group, The Baymard Institute, found that nearly half of all online shoppers abandon their carts due to additional costs (such as shipping costs and taxes). So keeping prices low will certainly benefit your business, but how do you ensure you always have the best shipping rates?
the cost of shipping depends on several factors; the weight and size of your package, how quickly it needs to be delivered and the distance. Before you can calculate shipping costs accurately, you’ll need to measure the dimensions of your package and find out its weight.
types of shipping options
There are several types of shipping methods to consider depending on your location and how quickly you can get a package to its destination.
- Flat Rate Shipping: The price of shipping is not related to the weight or size of the package. customers will pay the same flat rate for each order based on a selection of generic package sizes.
- free shipping: carrier covers shipping cost as part of total purchase.
- real-time carrier rates: This is when the exact shipping rates charged by carriers are automatically calculated at checkout, taking into account dimension, weight, and distance.
- shipping local: an item is packaged and delivered directly to the customer without using a shipping service.
- pickup: the customer picks up their package at a selected location.
- international shipping: it is used when shipping a package to another part of the world.
- same day delivery: the order arrives the same day the customer makes the purchase.
- next day delivery: the order arrives the day after the customer makes the purchase.
- expedited shipping: any delivery method that guarantees ce reach your destination faster than other regular deliveries. hods.
Because there is no single shipping strategy for all companies, any of these can be included as part of your shipping options at checkout. some (like flat rate and free shipping) are great because they help manage expectations and provide transparency, while others put speed before cost and ensure the package is delivered as quickly as possible.
how to choose the right supplier
within the usa uu. there are many carriers that offer different rates based on various requirements. shopify shipping in the usa uu. has exclusive savings agreements with the us. uu. Postal Service (USPS), UPS and DHL Express and many other providers can be integrated through Shopify’s myriad apps. shipping rates based on your requirements and location.
Shipping providers update their service charges each year, usually in January, based on inflation, taxes, and surcharges. It’s important to be aware of shipping rate changes to protect your results and avoid costly surprises.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of shipping calculators with eCommerce shipping rates for some of the largest and most popular shipping couriers so you can compare prices and options. If you’re a Shopify merchant and you reside in the United States or Canada, you can pay for USPS, UPS, DHL Express, Canada Post, and Sendle shipping options and receive pre-negotiated rates. see sample rates here.
- usps – shipping calculator
- canada post – shipping calculator
- uk royal mail – shipping calculator
- australia post – shipping calculator shipping
- ups – shipping calculator
- fedex – shipping calculator
- send – shipping calculator
Each carrier will offer different options based on distance, size, and weight, which will affect the price of each shipment. For this article, we will focus on the cheapest way to ship a package in general. however, the prices below are estimates. Alternatively, you can compare shipping prices and save up to 88% on all partner carriers through shopify shipping.
what is the cheapest way to send a small package?
A “small package” tends to constitute polythene envelopes, packets, or envelopes weighing less than 4.5 pounds. each operator will have their own guidelines on what is considered “small”. most carriers will offer basic guidelines for choosing. The list below highlights the most economical way to ship a small package domestically, based on a 6-inch-long, 3-inch-high, 1/4-inch-thick (6-inch) package. x 3 x 0.25). the package weighs up to 5 pounds.
what is the cheapest way to ship a large package?
What is considered a large package varies greatly from one courier to another. Below are the maximum package restrictions for each of the major shipping carriers:
- usps: packages must not weigh more than 70 pounds. in most cases, packages cannot exceed 108” in length and total girth.
- oops: packages can weigh up to 150 pounds. packages can be up to 165” in length and width combined.
- dhl express: do not accept shipments with more than a total weight of 3000 kg or any measurement greater than 300 cm.
- fedex: Packages are shipped up to 150 lbs. up to 108″ long and 165″ long plus girth.
- send: All standard-size packages must be less than 864 cubic inches, less than 20 pounds, and have a combined length and girth of 108″ or less, and sides cannot exceed 22″ to make them suitable for sendle .
The following listing is for a standard heavy package (up to 35 lbs.) and 12 ¼ inches x 12 ¼ inches x 6 inches.
provider
service
time
prices start at:
usp
priority mail – large box flat rate
1-3 business days
$19.20 commercial basis
oops
flat rate shipping – increase the simple rate
1 to 5 business days
$19.60
dhl express
chicago to nyc using the dhl express calculator
1-3 business days
$146.53
fedex
fedex single rate
1-3 business days
$24.20
send
shipping standard
1-3 business days
$19.50
what is the cheapest way to send packages internationally?
Many couriers calculate their international shipping costs based on global import zones. Shipping to Canada will always have the cheapest international shipping rates, increasing the farther a package needs to travel. That said, the price of international shipping will vary drastically depending on the country you live in and the country you ship your package to.
provider
service
time
prices start at:
usp
international flat rate express mail
6 – 10 business days
from $28.13
oops
ups express savings
1 – 3 business days
$26 (zone 1) – $72.50 (zone 7)
dhlexpress
dhl express worldwide
end of first business day
$77.46 (us to europe, up to 10kg)
fedex
fedex global one rate economy
2-5 business days
from $35.36 (zone a, up to 0.5kg)
send
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best rates for delivery in 2-3 days
- For light packages, usps first class has the lowest shipping prices, starting at $4.50 for 2-5 day delivery.
- For larger packages, usps priority mail is also the most affordable, with prices starting at $8.70 for 1-3 day delivery.
- first class only covers packages up to 13 oz. usps flat rate boxes are the best value for money, as you can ship items up to 70 pounds for a relatively low flat rate.
- If you’re shipping freight to Canada, FedEx also offers a flat-rate box similar to USPS flat-rate boxes. FedEx small boxes start at $12.05, with extra-large packages going up to $39.10 for three-day delivery.
better rates for overnight delivery
Overnight delivery is your best friend when you don’t have time on your side and need to ship your products as quickly and safely as possible. All major couriers offer overnight delivery options, but usps remains the cheapest, with regular prices starting at $26.95.
ups next day air saver also offers a competitive next day rate, delivering by the end of the next day at prices starting at $29.66. standard fedex overnight starts at $31.22 for overnight delivery if location is within 150 miles.
save on shipping costs with shopify shipping
shopify providers can now lower their shipping costs with shopify shipping, making it faster and easier to fulfill orders. You can manage products, customers, inventory, and shipping all from your Shopify admin in one place. you can buy shipping labels, print multiple labels at once, and quickly get bulk orders. merchants can save up to 88% on shipping costs in the us. uu. and ship products worldwide with confidence.
Shopify shipping gives you pre-negotiated discounts on USPS, UPS, and DHL express rates, making it easy to offer free or flat-rate shipping to customers at checkout. You can also easily reach international customers with automatically generated customs forms and international shipping discounts.
While usps has the cheapest service overall, it has struggled over the past two years to keep up with demand. As a result, other shipping companies are offering an alternative service that might be more reliable, so it might be worth spending a little more money to secure.
tips to keep shipping costs low
Although negotiating rates and researching courier services will help you create a successful shipping strategy, there are some tips and tricks small businesses can use to help keep shipping rates low and prevent them from becoming a charging for your success.
- Use the right size packaging: You don’t want to send air everywhere, so reduce the size and weight of your packages by choosing boxes that fit your merchandise well.
- Be economical with materials: Cardboard is heavy, so replace it with a polythene envelope or other lightweight packaging when possible. Other lightweight options include air cushions, packing paper, bubble wrap, foam inserts, Versa Pak and Excelsior wadding rolls.
- Use flat rate shipping whenever possible: Flat rate shipping will almost always be the best value for money, especially for domestic deliveries. flat rate shipping means you can predict prices more accurately. no matter what type of package you have or what dimensions or weight it has, the price will always be the same.
- we offer local delivery and collection. By far the cheapest delivery option is local delivery, or even better, collection. For small businesses, a local delivery service is a great way to connect with nearby customers, drive sales, and provide a great customer experience.
To begin with, finding the cheapest way to ship a package can be a matter of trial and error, especially as you get used to all the options, delivery methods, couriers, and where most of your sales come from. however, once you have a solid shipping strategy and shipping costs that work for both you and your customers, you’ll start spending less time fulfilling orders and more time growing your business.
discover cheaper shipping with shopify