what do you want to learn?
great products, great problems, right? Large, heavy packages and oversized shipping may seem like a hassle, but there are many carriers that offer fast and easy shipping for even the largest, bulkiest items or peace of mind for a business owner.
By comparing the pros and cons of various carriers, you can find out which shipping solution is best for your business.
table of contents:
- 4 tips for shipping large and heavy items
- what to do before shipping large and heavy items
- what to consider when shipping heavy items
- the best ways to ship heavy and large items (+ best carriers compared)
- how do ecommerce stores ship heavy items?
- conclusion
- Frequently Asked Questions About Shipping Large Items
- Need help with fulfillment?
4 tips for shipping large and heavy items
Before shipping large and heavy items, you must first ensure that they are insured and packed in the correct packaging. Once that’s done, there are a few more things to consider before you send the package.
choose a carrier
First, you must choose a carrier to ship your large and heavy items. Choosing the right one is essential as they play an important role in customer satisfaction. Although potential issues in the shipping process may not be your fault, your customers will associate a horrible shipping experience with your brand, so choose the carrier you use carefully.
You need to make sure the carrier you want to use can ship larger and heavier packages; not everyone does. you should also consider your budget, time, and the carrier’s shipping processes.
take out insurance
lost or damaged items are the worst case scenario, but it’s one you’ll inevitably have to deal with. So how can you mitigate risk and reduce what you’ll have to pay for replacement product and shipping? Shipping insurance. It’s not that expensive compared to the benefits, and it’s worth it if you ship a high volume of products.
There is a lot to do in deciding who to send your heavy items to and how. size matters as much as weight: you could have two packages that weigh the same, but one is small and dense and the other is large and oddly shaped, and two different shipping companies are likely to work best.
what to consider when shipping heavy items
With that in mind, here are some factors to consider when shipping heavy items:
1. dimensional weight
This is a fairly new concept (ups and fedex started using dimensional weight in 2015, and usps adopted it in 2019), and it came about because shipping companies were losing money on large but extremely light items. the dimensional weight is a “theoretical” weight of your package.
Based on the volumetric space your package occupies, they will calculate how much it would weigh by applying their own minimum density number and then charge you whichever is more expensive (actual weight or dimensional weight).
This is very important to keep in mind if your packages weigh less than the dimensional weight, and you’ll want to get quotes from companies to find out the actual cost rather than do your own calculation based on actual weight
2. elements of fragility
Another shipping tip is that if your item is delicate and needs a little extra care, you can choose a carrier that takes pride in handling fragile shipments rather than focusing on faster transit times that could damage package shipping. .
3. packet source and destination
no matter how heavy your package is, carriers will use the package’s origin and destination to calculate which shipping zone you’re shipping to: the further away you are, the higher the zone, and the higher the zone , the higher the shipping cost.
4. carrier rules
Each carrier has its own rules, and the one you use will greatly influence your cost, depending on what you ship. Some carriers are friendlier than others when it comes to weight, size, and fragility; we will go into more detail about this in the next section.
5. type of service being used
Are you planning to offer international shipping? next day delivery? shipping in 2 days? overnight? each of these is important to consider when choosing a carrier.
calculate shipping costs for large or heavy items
The process of calculating shipping costs for large or heavy items is quite simple. all you need to do is measure the weight and dimensions of your package, then use the carrier’s calculator or check their pricing page to calculate your costs.
here are all the calculators and reference pages of the main operators:
- usps – price and postal rates reference page
- fedex – shipping rate calculator
- dhl – shipping quote estimation page
- oops: shipping quote estimate page
the best ways to ship heavy and large items (+ best carriers in comparison)
there are quite a few big name players in the game of heavy and oversized shipments. each offers at least one good option for certain types of packages, but not all are profitable shipping options. choosing the right one can be the difference between being red or black, so read on to see which ones offer the right combination for you.
however, while carriers/shippers serving smaller businesses and individual customers post their prices publicly (usps, ups, fedex), carriers serving larger businesses on a larger scale tend not to post their prices publicly (fedex , dhl freight).
If your product is large enough and in sufficient quantity, it will almost always be cheaper to use freight shipping than a package, so it’s always worth getting the price of freight shipping.
the cheapest way to ship heavy items
The cheapest way to ship heavy items is by consolidated freight, but it is important to compare usps, fedex and dhl based on the weight of your product and the type of product you are shipping. prices are summarized when provided, but if prices are not listed you will need to contact them directly for a quote.
oops
usps has several shipping services and usps mail types, even including an overnight shipping option.
priority mail: 1-3 days
Priority mail has a 70 pound weight limit for all sizes from a small envelope to a large box, but the largest size they offer is about 1 foot by 1 foot by 6 inches. prices range from $6.95 for the small envelope to $17.60 for the large box. is an excellent choice for small to medium sized items that are dense and heavy, and not in a rush to get to the customer, although it is worth noting that 1-3 days is still pretty good.
express priority mail: next day
Express Priority Mail is a great option if you need your package to reach its destination as quickly as possible. packages under 70 pounds ship starting at $22.50, but that’s the flat-rate shipping envelope price, so it only goes up from there. if your item is heavy and can fit in the flat rate envelope, this will be the most economical option for you. if it’s bigger, you might have better luck with another operator.
multimedia mail: 2-10 days
media mail is for a very small niche of usps customers. If you’re shipping any type of media (books, CDs, DVDs), you can do it for much cheaper than anywhere else using media mail. Don’t abuse the system, though, because if USPS inspects your package and finds that you’ve broken the rules (which they have a right to do), they’ll send your package back for postage due.
If you’re sending media that’s a bit heavy, you’re in luck, because you won’t get a better rate anywhere else.
land: 2-8 days
If your product is too big for a large flat rate box via priority mail, retail ground shipping will be just what you need. the weight limit is still 70 pounds, but it’s intended for products that are too large for priority mail boxes. however, as you can see, the delivery time is much slower.
in addition, prices are calculated by zone and weight; if you go to zone 4, for example, prices range from $8 to $67, depending on how much you weigh. if you’re not in a hurry, it’s worth entering your numbers to see if it’s a good option in terms of price.
fedex
fedex has a couple of large and heavy delivery services.
land: 1-7 days
if you feel excluded by the usps weight limit of 70 pounds, enter fedex. they have a less predictable delivery time, but a more inclusive weight limit of 150 pounds and sizing up to 108 inches long and 165 inches long plus girth. If your packages are larger and/or heavier than the USPS flat rate allows, FedEx Ground may be a great option.
freight: priority or economy
fedex freight prices vary too much by region and size to provide a good range, but if you’re shipping heavy package pallets, this is the place to start. priority is faster delivery than economy, of course, and both are calculated by the total weight and size of your pallet.
once you are shipping a large number of packages and/or a fairly heavy weight in general, this can become a much cheaper option than shipping the packages individually.
dhl
dhl’s heavy shipping options are great for international shipping and even include expedited shipping.
air freight
dhl owns, co-owns or is associated with several different airlines around the world. offers an air cargo service where your cargo is added to multiple flights that are scheduled along major routes, and offers door-to-door delivery (in addition to airport-to-door or door-to-airport).
Like all other carriers, it offers options on how quickly you need your cargo delivered, from expedited air freight (1-2 days) to air economy (5-7 days), and even offers options for freight special, temperature-controlled environments, and international shipments on a defined day.
sea freight
Very similar to its airfreight option, DHL offers an ocean freight service that transports cargo overseas on various ocean carriers. they offer full container (fcl) and less than container (lcl), and a similar variety of special options, such as temperature-controlled areas and even liquid transportation.
The bottom line is that freight options are for when your cargo is too heavy, large, or bulky to get a good price by shipping as a package. It makes more sense to ship it by pallet or container, because you will get a better price and service.
how to ship even heavier items over 70lbs
In the previous section, we talked about how you can ship items that weigh less than 70 pounds. But what happens when you need to ship items that weigh more than 70 pounds? there are a few options you can consider.
go up
if you want to ship items that weigh more than 70 lbs, but less than 150 lbs, ups requires that the package meet their guidelines and have a “heavy package” sticker with the package weight on the box.
ups freight is your best option if your package weighs more than 150 pounds. ups freight comes with its own prices and regulations that you should be aware of if you decide to opt for the service.
fedex
To ship items that weigh more than 70 pounds but less than 150 pounds, you can use fedex ground. Heavy items require a security label which you can obtain directly from FedEx.
To ship items that weigh more than 150 pounds, you can use the fedex shipping service, which we discussed in the previous section.
how do ecommerce stores ship heavy items?
As you can imagine, shipping heavy items is a bit different for eCommerce stores. Trying to handle inventory storage, tracking, and shipping of heavy inventory can be too much for many eCommerce stores that are trying to scale, so they may choose to use a third-party retail fulfillment company instead. .
There are even third-party logistics companies that specialize in heavy items. it can be a great help in scaling, shipping faster, and even lowering your overall shipping costs. When you have another company handling your inventory, take advantage of multiple fulfillment centers, and negotiate cheaper rates with carriers, you can pass those benefits on to your customer.
conclusion
Shipping heavy items will always be more complicated than shipping small, lightweight items. Accounting for all the different variables and fees that add up, from weight limits to dimensional weight, can be tricky, but we hope this article will guide you.
Shipping costs can kill your profits, whether you’re a small business or multiple chains. Shipping rates fluctuate and could easily affect your bottom line if you don’t keep an eye on them, so it’s always worth doing your research and seeing which carrier will be right for your business.
Frequently asked questions about shipping large items
Here are the answers to the top questions about submitting large articles.
what is the cheapest way to ship large items?
The cheapest way to ship heavy items is by using consolidated freight. however, it is important that you compare carriers based on what you are shipping and its weight.
do ups ship big?
yes, ups sends large packages, but up to a limit. the packages they send must weigh up to 150 pounds and be up to 165 inches in width and length.
does usps have a size limit?
they have a size limit. the package you wish to ship must weigh less than 70 pounds and, in most cases, be less than 108 inches in length and total circumference.
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