Calculating shipping costs and choosing the cheapest shipping method can be confusing. Our guides to the cheapest way to ship anything make it easy to compare shipping costs and choose the right method for your cargo, whether you’re shipping common items like boxes or hard-to-transport items like antiques or art.
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1. How much does it cost to send clothes?
We have calculated shipping costs for three common shipping methods: USPS, Parcel Shipping, and Consolidated Freight.
i. usps shipping costs
ii. package shipping costs (for example, ups or fedex)
iii. consolidated freight
2. frequently asked questions
Get answers to frequently asked questions about shipping clothing.
Clothing is one of the easiest items to ship; In fact, shipping clothing is so simple that it’s easy to inadvertently pay for more than you need if you’ve never done it before and don’t know the best way to ship. these items.
People send clothes for various reasons:
- You’re moving and need to ship an entire wardrobe’s worth (or several wardrobes’ worth) of clothing to your new home, or maybe to college. in this case, you’ll typically be working with large quantities of clothing packaged in large boxes or several smaller boxes.
- Retailers ship clothing to buyers across the country, usually individual items or smaller shipments packed in envelopes or small boxes.
- retailers that ship large quantities of clothing to distribution centers or other locations in their network.
Clothing is easy to ship, but there are a few considerations to keep in mind when preparing your shipment to ensure it arrives safely and on time without incurring additional fees:
- How many items you ship: The number of items you ship will affect how they are packaged as well as shipping costs. if you are sending a single shirt or a small item of clothing, envelopes or padded envelopes are sufficient. if you’re shipping large amounts of clothing, you may need to ship one large box or several smaller boxes.
- what you’re shipping: simple items like your everyday items a wardrobe Day can be packed in boxes or envelopes, but unusual or elaborate garments, such as wedding dresses and other items with delicate embellishments, should always be shipped in boxes. You may want to pack high-end hanging items or clothing in a wardrobe box, but keep in mind that wardrobe boxes will be considered an oversized package by carriers like UPS or FedEx and can be very expensive to ship using these methods. If you’re shipping a closet box, consolidated freight is one of the cheapest ways to ship clothes.
- Packaging Method: Since most clothes don’t have sharp edges and it is not fragile, normally you don’t have to worry about breakage in transit. however, clothes can still get wet, so it is recommended to seal garments in plastic bags to prevent unwanted moisture damage. otherwise, choose an appropriately sized box or envelope so as not to risk overfilling it and causing it to burst at the seams during transit.
- packaging materials: the boxes are ideal for bulk shipments going to the same destination, plain tyvek envelopes are ideal for small, individual pieces, and bubble envelopes are best for items with delicate components like buttons. Regardless of the material you use, always use plenty of high-quality packing tape and avoid using excessive padding to keep shipping costs as low as possible.
- package weight: some clothing items are heavier than others (jeans, for example), and your boxes may turn out to be heavier than you expected, so use smaller boxes whenever possible to avoid exceeding weight limits or incurring in unexpectedly high shipping costs. For heavy packages, flat rate shipping is one of the cheapest ways to ship clothing because the weight of your package won’t count toward shipping costs (as long as it’s below the flat rate weight limit of your package). your shipping provider).
- Unpacking experience: Unpacking is an especially important consideration for businesses that ship clothing to customers: a neat and attractive presentation can go a long way. measure to create loyal customers. always carefully fold items and pack them in plastic bags before placing them in their packing material to keep them clean and create a more pleasant experience.
- delicate items: wedding dresses, leather, fur, silk, cashmere, chiffon and lace are best shipped folded in boxes or hung in a closet box. These items also require special care when packing them: make sure they are well sealed so moths and other insects can’t sneak in and feast on your delicate items. a sachet of cedar can also help deter bugs as well as musty odors.
how much does it cost to send clothes?
The cheapest way to ship clothing depends on the number of items you need to ship, as well as the speed and distance of travel. For individual items, USPS is the cheapest option. Flat rate shipping is the most cost-effective for small boxes or packages, but if you ship wardrobe boxes, an entire wardrobe as part of a household move, or ship large boxes of clothing to other locations in your network, consolidated freight is often the most costly. cheapest way to send boxes of clothes.
Compare the cost of shipping clothing using some of the most common methods:
- usps
- parcel shipping (such as fedex or ups)
- consolidated freight
oops
The United States Postal Service offers several options for mailing clothing, including:
- first class mail for packages up to 13 ounces
- priority mail flat rate shipping
- variable pricing for expedited shipments
If you’re mailing a single garment weighing 13 ounces or less, First Class Mail will be your cheapest option, starting at $3.80.
For packages over 13 ounces, priority mail flat rate shipping is the most economical way to ship boxes of clothing. Priority Mail flat rate shipments will be delivered in 1-3 business days, and you must use USPS package to qualify. the cost of your shipment depends on the size of your box; the weight of the package does not take into account shipping costs (as long as it does not exceed the maximum limit of 70 lbs), nor the distance or speed of travel.
Three box sizes are available:
usps also offers variable prices for apparel shipping. These rates depend on the size and weight of the shipment, as well as the distance traveled, and are typically higher than the flat rate shipping rate for Priority Mail. multiple speeds are available, including overnight shipping, making variable pricing a good option for expedited shipping or overnight delivery.
package delivery (ups or fedex)
Most major package carriers, including UPS or FedEx, offer fixed-rate and variable-price options. Both shipping methods can be used to ship boxes of clothing.
Whether you use a flat rate or a variable price will depend on the number of boxes of clothing you ship and how quickly you need them to arrive. flat rate shipping is usually much cheaper, but with less flexible delivery times. That’s because there are no surcharges for residential deliveries, and the weight of your package doesn’t matter as long as it’s under the weight limit set by the shipper. if you need overnight or fast delivery, variable pricing will be your best option.
ups and fedex offer flat rate shipping. here’s how they compare:
Shipping cost estimates are calculated using individual carriers’ online cost estimating tools. Details, exact prices and shipping times are not guaranteed.
Variable pricing is also available, with shipping charges depending on the size and weight of the boxes, as well as the speed and distance of travel. additional surcharges may apply for residential deliveries.
consolidated cargo (tsi)
fixed and variable rate pricing is also available through established carriers like tsi.
With our easy flat rate box and shipping service, simply tell us how many boxes you need (up to a maximum of 15) and we’ll send them to your door to pack. We’ll come back when you’re ready for us to pick them up and ship them anywhere in the continental United States for a flat rate per box, regardless of how far your boxes travel. flat rate boxes measure 18″ x 14″ x 12″ and must weigh less than 40 lbs. when packed.
The cost of shipping your boxes using tsi’s flat rate shipping depends on how many boxes you have to ship. prices start at $570 for 5 boxes, up to a maximum of 15 boxes.
Variable pricing is also available for shipments over 15 boxes that qualify for LTL shipments. The cost of shipping boxes of clothing via LTL depends on the weight of what is being shipped and the distance of the trip; the size of the box does not take into account shipping costs.
with ltl shipping, you won’t pay per box; the cost of your shipment will depend on the total combined weight of your boxes. ltl shipments are priced at a minimum weight of 120 lbs. Here’s what you can expect to pay for 3 large boxes weighing 50lbs each, for a combined total of 150lbs.
learn more about ltl freight.
Note: Shipping cost estimates are calculated using individual carriers’ online cost estimating tools. Details, exact prices and shipping times are not guaranteed.
