key points:
- speed, distance, weight and size are factors to consider when determining the most economical way to ship boxes
- usps, fedex and ups provide reliable shipping services for your domestic and international shipments shipping
- to get the lowest shipping rates from various couriers, use a shipping rate calculator to compare rates based on package size, weight, destination, and shipping speed. delivery
In 2022, e-commerce delivery expectations are changing, and most online shoppers expect faster and more cost-effective (or free!) shipping options. That means high shipping costs can be a big turn off for potential buyers and could cost you a lot of business in the future.
Therefore, it is important to be able to determine the most economical way to ship a package to your buyers from different shipping zones within the us. uu. or abroad. Not only will this help you convert shipping-sensitive shoppers and stay ahead of the competition, it will also improve your bottom line and help you stay profitable.
so what’s the cheapest way to ship a package these days? While there is no single answer that fits all box sizes, this article will help you discover the factors that affect shipping rates and some ways you can negotiate shipping discounts with major couriers.
cheapest way to ship based on delivery speed
Different courier services provide different delivery times and different shipping costs. We will offer the best and cheapest way to ship a package for packages weighing less than 10 pounds. Be sure to check out easyship’s shipping rate calculator to see our shipping rate discounts up to 91% off.
the cheapest option for shipping in 2 or 3 days
usps priority mail is generally the cheapest option for 2-3 day shipping. fedex, ups, and other courier companies offer delivery services with similar delivery time expectations, but usps offers the lowest rates.
if you ship a package over 5 pounds, ups and fedex start offering competitive rates for the cheapest option for 2 or 3 day shipping.
let’s say you send a 4 pound package from new york to los angeles; We’ll calculate the rates so you can see how USPS Priority Mail is the best option in this case.
cheapest option for overnight shipping
ups and fedex are more reliable when looking for overnight shipping services. usps priority mail express may offer affordable rates for overnight delivery, but ups and fedex guarantee next day delivery or your money back.
let’s say you’re sending a 4 pound package from new york to los angeles again; We’ll calculate the rates so you can see which overnight delivery service is best.
the cheapest way to ship based on weight
The weight of your package greatly influences the cost of shipping. we will consider the most affordable shipping services based on the weight of your package.
the cheapest option for less than 1 pound
usps retail ground or usps first class package is the most economical option for shipping packages under 1 pound. for any media-related material, usps media mail is even cheaper.
the cheapest option for less than 5 pounds
usps retail ground or usps priority mail is the cheapest option for anything between 1 and 5 pounds.
cheapest option for £10
as we can see, ups ground® or fedex ground are the cheapest options for anything over 10 pounds. USPS is the cheapest option for packages that typically cost less than 7 pounds.
cheapest option over £50
ups ground® and fedex ground are the winners for the cheapest shipping option for a package weighing 50 pounds. USPS also imposes a 50 pound weight limit on packages, so anything over 50 pounds must ship with FedEx or UPS to avoid surcharges.
cheaper and faster shipping options – table overview
Now that we’ve looked at the different delivery factors that affect shipping rates, it’s time to look at the options side by side based on each of them.
4 Crucial Shipping Rate Factors to Consider
No single, universal shipping method is considered the gold standard for shipping a package cheaply. Keep in mind that depending on what you’re shipping, you also need to consider the weight and size of a package, how quickly you need your package to reach its destination, and your shipping area or country.
Here, we discuss the four crucial factors to consider when determining the most economical way to ship boxes:
1. Speed
How fast do you want your package to reach its destination? As instant gratification becomes the norm, fast shipping will play a big role. but keep in mind that the faster the delivery speed, the more you have to pay.
Do you want your package delivered overnight, next day, in two days, within three days, or are you willing to wait 7 days? Different courier companies offer various time-sensitive delivery options to meet your preferred delivery timeframe. but you will have to pay to play, so to speak. overnight delivery can cost five times more than ground delivery.
For 2-3 day shipping, USPS Priority Mail offers the most competitive rates for packages weighing 10 pounds or less. But UPS and FedEx offer more attractive rates when packages over £10 are shipped within the same delivery window.
For packages with a difficult two-day delivery window, UPS 2nd day and FedEx 2day are the best options because USPS does not offer guaranteed services within this window.
For overnight or overnight expedited delivery, UPS Next Day Air Saver and FedEx Standard Overnight offer competitive rates compared to USPS.
2. distance
First things first, consider which shipping zone your package is being shipped from. carriers divide us uu. in 8 shipping zones based on the distance your package must travel from the postal address or zip code. The further the shipping zone is from the destination address, the higher the shipping fee.
Domestic shipping vs. international shipping also comes into play when shipping packages to your customers in different locations. Unsurprisingly, international shipping has higher shipping rates than domestic shipping.
Having distribution centers in different parts of the United States can help your business mitigate shipping costs and shorten delivery time for your customers by ensuring your merchandise is stored closer to the final destination. With that in mind, easyship partners with 3PL suppliers and warehouses in cities around the world to help you shorten shipping distances and times.
3. weight
The weight of your package is a crucial factor to consider when finding the most economical way to ship boxes. the weight or lightness of your package will affect the shipping rate.
usps offers the most competitive rates when shipping light packages under 1 pound or 16 oz, using usps first class mail or usps media mail when shipping physical media.
usps priority mail offers a cost-effective option when shipping items between 1 and 10 pounds, while fedex and ups ground/home delivery offer the lowest rates for heavy packages within the united states.
4. size
The size of a package has a lot to do with how much space it takes up in the back of a track based on its dimensions. The larger the package, the higher the shipping cost. Different couriers offer various options to help you optimize your package size for shipping.
one of those options is to use flat rate packages with usps. While this isn’t always guaranteed to be the cheapest way to ship a box, it will help keep shipping costs stable. First Class Mail envelopes, Flat Rate Envelopes, and USPS Priority Mail offer the lowest rates for small packages.
another option is to use cubic prices. cubic pricing is a special usps service that offers lower shipping rates when small and heavy items weighing less than 20 pounds are shipped with usps priority mail.
Here’s how to calculate the cubic feet of your package:
Dimensional pricing is also used to determine the cost of shipping your package. If your package is too large for its weight, the dimensional weight will be used to determine the shipping rate. The higher the dimensional weight, the higher the shipping fee, since the package will take up more space on planes and other cargo vehicles.
Dimensional weight is calculated by dividing the dimension of your package by a divisor. the larger the divider, the cheaper the shipping rate.
usps has the largest dimensional weight divider, offering the most economical way to ship a package based on its dimensional weight.
additional factors to consider
There are also other additional factors you need to consider besides cost. An inexpensive option that doesn’t offer excellent tracking services, insurance, or commitment to delivery times can have a number of drawbacks that outweigh the attractive price.
here are some additional factors to consider:
- Insurance: Insurance provides security for your goods in transit. In addition, it helps mitigate any risk related to lost or damaged packages. While researching the cheapest way to ship boxes, it’s smart to check if the carrier with the most competitive rates offers insurance for your packages. while it may cost extra, it might make sense to opt for a carrier with a higher shipping rate that includes insurance coverage, a cheaper option that doesn’t and requires a separate insurance purchase.
- Tracking: Tracking helps you optimize your buyers’ shipping experience and builds trust by providing package visibility throughout its journey. The cheapest way to ship a package may include irregular tracking services, so you may need to weigh your options carefully to make sure you select an option with excellent tracking services.
- handling: handling fees sometimes apply depending on the delicacy of your shipment. When choosing the cheapest way to ship boxes, you should always check to see if you’ll have to pay separate handling fees.
- Residential and fuel surcharges: often cheap shipping plans they have hidden costs, such as last-mile delivery fees, such as fuel or residential surcharges. when choosing shipping, be sure to check these additional charges.
- delivery guarantee: you should check if the cheapest shipping option commits to its delivery times so that it does not annoy your customers. after all, it’s always about serving your customers
when shipping discounts apply
Getting shipping discounts from courier companies can be a game changer for your e-commerce business as they can help you lower your shipping cost per package. carriers will discount their rates based on the volume of packages you ship. the more you buy, the better your rates.
Another great way to get discounted shipping rates is to access major carriers through a 3PL company like easyship. You will always get better rates when you use the services of a third-party courier compared to trying to negotiate directly with the courier companies.
3pl companies tend to get huge shipping discounts due to the large number of packages they send to these couriers. then they pass the benefits on to their members by offering them discounted rates. it’s a win-win.
find the cheapest way to send a package with easyship
easyship is the leading transport and logistics company working with a network of more than 250 couriers around the world. this has put us in a position to negotiate some of the best shipping discounts with the major couriers and we can help you reduce your shipping costs by up to 91%.
some of our main discounts include the following:
- save up to 65% on usps first class package
- save up to 89% on usps priority mail usps
- save up to 50% on ups® ground
- save up to 76% on ups worldwide saver®
- save up to 91% on dhl e-commerce
In addition, we offer other shipping tools to optimize your shipping experience and delight your shoppers, including:
- Shipping rate calculator: You can use our shipping rate calculator to compare shipping rates from different carriers.
- comparison tool : With our courier comparison tool, you can compare the different shipping services offered by each courier company, allowing you to choose the most economical shipping method based on factors other than cost alone.
- Insurance: To help keep your packages safe in transit, easyship offers insurance up to $5000
- Tracking: From custom branded tracking emails to automated message alerts, easyship helps you keep the package visible to your buyers throughout the delivery process.
Sign up for a free easyship account today!
If you are looking for cheaper shipping options, please refer to the following guides:
- top 10 ecommerce markets you should be targeting
- what is the cheapest way to send a package to the uk?
- what is the cheapest way to ship large items?