If you’re learning how to start an eCommerce business or how to start a subscription box business, there’s no doubt you’ve stumbled upon the topic of shipping, maybe even the process of how to ship wine. While it’s crucial to employ DTC marketing strategies and read how to increase ecommerce sales, at the end of the day, customers only care about one thing: getting their order when it’s expected.
To achieve this, you need realistic expectations for shipping and handling costs. this is especially true when selling food online or alcohol online, which often means thousands of units are shipped per week.
It’s not enough to guess your expenses and expect it to be profitable. you need to write down all costs in your ecommerce business plan, which is a key part of successful inventory management and a high rate of sales.
No matter what type of product you ship, package costs will depend on size, weight, and destination. eCommerce shipping providers offer discounted rates for bulk shipping, usually once you reach a certain threshold of products shipped. this creates long-term cost savings once your business has reached a certain amount of revenue.
so, how much does it cost to send a package? Does that change if you’re interested in learning how to print shipping labels at home? There are multiple factors to consider, whether you’re selling coffee online or other high-demand products. Read on for helpful information on calculating shipping costs and the differences between carriers.
how much does it cost to send a package ups?
The cost of shipping a package via UPS will depend on several factors, such as the dimensions, weight, and final destination of the item.
ups offers multiple flat rate shipping options for eCommerce packaging of various sizes. These flat rates apply to package sizes from one square inch up to 1,728 square inches.
If there are products you sell online, such as t-shirts, books, or similar shaped and sized products, you can expect to pay $7-$12 for shipping. If you’re wondering about the costs associated with shipping large items or frozen foods, you can pay anywhere from $14 to $23 for shipping, or more.
To determine your final shipping cost, go to the UPS website and navigate to the shipping area. enter the basic information requested about the origin and destination of your package, and select the desired shipping service.
the website will display a shipping cost that corresponds to your current settings. you can review different shipping costs by changing the destination, shipping date and package size. Make sure you know how to measure a box for shipping so you don’t overpay.
how much does it cost to send a usps package?
The cost of shipping a package through USPS depends on the individual service chosen, whether the package is private or commercial, and the delivery time specified by USPS.
usps offers many shipping options that are suitable for many types of businesses, whether you’re selling cookies online or something else entirely. There are four main categories of shipping with USPS: Priority Mail, First Class Mail, Media Mail, and Retail Ground Mail.
Priority Mail Express is USPS’ primary service and offers a two-day 6 p.m. m. delivery local time. their business rates start at $22.75 per pack and have $100 of product insurance included. regular priority mail starts at $7.16 commercial, ships in one to three business days, and includes $50 product insurance.
First Class Parcel Post is another featured option provided by USPS, starting at $3.01 for commercial shipping. deliveries are handled in one to three days with optional insurance available.
media mail is used for items such as books, cds, dvds, tapes, and other audio media. commercial rates start at $1.76 per package and are delivered within two to eight business days.
Finally, there is a USPS retail area. this is a variable price shipping option starting at $7.70 per package. deliveries are made within two to eight days, and discounts are not available for bulk shipping. If you’re researching how to ship cookies or how to ship food, this is a great option to consider.
how much does it cost to send a package by fedex?
the cost of shipping a fedex package depends on the dimensions of the package, the shipping service, the speed of shipping and the destination of the item. fedex offers multiple packaging options and flat rate to meet various business needs.
If you’re sending a file or paper packages, flat-rate envelopes are as low as $8.90 per item. small boxes (enough room to fit a large book or several magazines) are about $10.
Medium to Large boxes range from $13 to $20 per item, with Extra Large boxes starting at $32.35. you can ship large items like signs, golf clubs, and canes for the same amount.
fedex also provides convenient cost reference grids that make it easy to estimate how much it will cost to ship your package. your final cost will vary depending on the shipping service and flat rate package you choose.
shipping costs by weight
The total cost paid to ship an item depends on the e-commerce shipping service you have selected, their fees, and any applicable taxes. however, it is helpful to have a reference point for common package weights.
Some e-commerce shipping companies offer flat or discounted rates for items such as media products that weigh less than a specified amount. The reason for this is that many books, DVDs, and other media items come in predictable sizes, which simplifies the job of a shipping company. this is worth investigating if it applies to your business.
For simplicity, the average shipping costs below assume packages are shipped within the local, zone 1, and zone 2 regions. Here are typical costs for packages ranging from one pound to seven pounds:
how much does it cost to ship a 1 pound package?
A package weighing up to and including a pound costs $5.04 on the low end to $13.22 on the high end to ship. Your final cost will depend on the shipping service you have selected. and if not your product weighs less than a full pound.
how much does it cost to send a 2 pound package?
Shipping a package weighing up to two pounds costs about $7.02 on the low end to $13.55 on the high end. Your cost per unit shipped may be less depending on discounts from bulk shipping you can take advantage of.
how much does it cost to send a 3 pound package?
The cost of shipping packages weighing three pounds averages from $7.61 to $13.78, depending on the carrier you use. Keeping shipping costs down is easy enough with three pounds or less.
how much does it cost to send a 5 pound package?
Shipping a five-pound package costs between $7.81 and $14.32, depending on the destination and carrier you choose. Depending on the nature of your business, if you can keep most of shipping in five pounds or less can save you a lot of money in the long run.
how much does it cost to send a 6 pound package?
Shipping a six-pound package costs between $8.06 and $14.90 and up. Some carriers impose larger price increases after packages reach the five or six pound limit.
how much does it cost to send a 7 pound package?
A seven-pound package costs between $8.33 and $15.20, depending on the carrier and the product’s final destination. In many cases, you can get a flat-rate shipping rate for merchandise of up to 10 pounds, which can translate into greater savings in the long run.
Shipping costs are known to vary widely depending on the destination of the package, current market rates, the weight of an item, and seasonal demand. Use the numbers above as benchmarks for your eCommerce business, but remember to allow some wiggle room in your budget. this allows you to maintain reliable response times during unexpected events, keeping your fill rate high.
Before sending any package, please be sure to verify that all of the following information is correct:
- package origin
- package destination
- package dimensions
- shipping date (sometimes pick-up date)
- package weight
- shipping service
- any necessary add-ons (product insurance, faster delivery, etc.)
If you can’t verify this information yourself every time, there is eCommerce software that can do it for you. You may already have a warehouse management system that produces shipping labels and warehouse labels and you simply need to activate it.
frequently asked questions about how much it costs to send a package?
Getting your package shipping costs right can seem like a never-ending battle. The good news is that with the right tools and knowledge, it can be easier than ever before. Check out these frequently asked questions and our answers:
how much is usps shipping per pound?
usps packages are about $2.74 if they are less than a pound; if a pound or more, most packages start at $7. USPS rates for packages weighing more than a pound typically increase by 10 to 25 cents for every pound added. USPS shipping costs per pound ultimately vary based on package dimensions, weight, and shipping destination.
The heavier the weight of a package, the lower the cost per pound. In other words, the heavier your package, the cheaper the shipping per pound. You can use the USPS online shipping calculator to determine the final price of your package.
does usps charge by weight or size?
both. packages weighing one pound or more are subject to different rates than those weighing less than one pound. additionally, if your package measures more than 108 inches but not more than 130 inches in length and girth combined, you will be subject to oversize fees.
is it cheaper to mail usps or ups?
usps is cheaper if you ship small and light items, but ups offers better rates if you ship medium or heavy items. Small items like CDs, cookies, and socks work well for the USPS First Class option. Medium or heavy items like ceramics, electronics, and appliances will be cheaper to ship via UPS.
when it comes to shipping, it’s all in the delivery
Shipping is an area of any eCommerce business that takes time to establish, but pays notable dividends. Over two-thirds of shoppers consider shipping speeds to be a deciding factor in their purchases, so you can’t afford poor service.
If you need help perfecting your customer service strategies, check out our shipping policy template, read about what a rma means, and see why every package you ship needs a waybill. You should also have a shipping label printer and warehouse management process flow, so your products get to customers on time.