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 freight, 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 ship shoes?
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 shoes.
unless you’re in the nba, shoes are usually small and light and, with the exception of a few designer pieces, not too fragile. this makes them one of the easiest items to ship, especially for retailers who already have them neatly packed in their original box.
People send shoes for various reasons:
- people who are moving and need to send their shoe collection to a new home, or maybe to college. in this case, you’ll typically be working with large quantities of shoes packed in large boxes or several smaller boxes.
- people who sell shoes online and ship them to a buyer, a friend, or a loved one in another state or across the country.
- retailers that ship shoes to buyers across the country, usually single items or smaller shipments packaged in small envelopes or boxes.
- retailers that they ship large quantities of shoes to distribution centers or other locations in their network.
Clothes are easy to ship, but there are a few special considerations to keep in mind when shipping shoes:
- Weight: Most shipping companies base the cost of their shipment on how much it weighs, with less consideration given to the size of the package. Heavier shoes like boots or work shoes are likely to cost more to ship than a lightweight running shoe or summer sandal.
- quantity: how many pairs of shoes you ship will affect how you pack them and therefore how you ship them. If you’re moving an entire wardrobe’s worth of shoes, including heavy winter footwear and light summer shoes, you may want to pack them all into a larger box. if you are a retailer shipping a single pair of shoes to a customer, it is usually easier to ship them in their original box.
- shoe type: if only shipping a single pair and You are not a retailer, many shoes can be shipped in a simple bubble envelope. high heels, larger shoes, heavy shoes, or shoes with unusual shapes are best packaged and shipped in boxes.
- shoe value: for especially valuable shoes such as designer shoes, collector’s shoes, or vintage shoes, you should use a sturdy box with enough padding. You can also purchase additional insurance to cover the value of your shipment in the event of damage.
The cheapest way to ship shoes 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 shipping method for small boxes or individual pairs of shoes, but if you’re shipping multiple larger boxes as part of a domestic move or to other locations in your company’s network, consolidated freight is typically the more economical. way to send shoe boxes.
Compare shoe shipping rates using some of the most common methods:
- usps
- parcel shipping (such as fedex or ups)
- consolidated freight
oops
usps offers three options for shipping shoes:
- first class mail
- priority mail flat rate shipping
- priority mail variable rate shipping
first class mail is ideal for packages up to 13 ounces that can be packed in a bubble envelope, such as a single pair of shoes. prices start at $3.80.
For packages over 13 oz, priority mail flat rate shipping is one of the cheapest ways to ship shoe boxes. Delivery takes 1-3 business days and must use USPS packaging to qualify. with flat rate shipping, the cost of your shipment depends on the size of the box, with a maximum weight of 70 lbs. medium or large boxes fit a single shoebox, multiple shoeboxes, or multiple pairs of loose shoes.
You can also ship shoes in a special priority mail shoe box. This packaging was designed to meet the shipping needs of shoe and apparel retailers and direct-to-customer businesses: simply slip a boxed pair of shoes into the priority mail shoe box, then seal, label and ship. Priority mail shoe boxes are available in packs of 10 to 15 boxes. each box measures 7 ⅜” x 5 ¼” x 14 ⅞” and can hold sizes from a women’s size 5 to a men’s size 13.
With variable rate shipping by First Class Mail, the cost of your shipment depends on the size and weight of the shipment, as well as the distance traveled. Variable rate shipping typically costs more than flat rate shipping, but you can use your own packaging and multiple shipping speeds are available, including overnight shipping.
14″ x 12″ x 8″ 20lbs (approx. 5 pairs)
package delivery (ups or fedex)
Package carriers, such as fedex and ups, offer fixed rates and variable prices. Both shipping methods are suitable for shipping shoes depending on how quickly you need them to arrive and the number of boxes you ship.
Flat rate shipping is usually much cheaper, but delivery times are less flexible. there are no surcharges for residential deliveries, and the weight of the package doesn’t matter as long as it weighs less than 50 pounds. There are three box sizes available to ship shoes:
11 ½” x 2 ⅜” x 13 ¼” 8 ¾” x 4 ⅜” x 11 ¼”
12 ⅜” x 3″ x 17 ½” 8 ¾” x 7 ¾” x 11 ¼”
11 ⅞” x 10 ¾” x 11″ 15 ¾” x 14 ⅛” x 6″
This is how UPS and FedEx flat rate shipping services compare:
with fedex or ups variable rate, the cost of your shipment will depend on the size and weight of the box, as well as the speed and distance of the trip. additional charges may apply for residential deliveries.
increases: $16.42-$124.76
fedex: $13.69-$126.43
Increases: $20.07-$138.57
fedex: $19.06-$145.34
increases: $14.42-$120.99
fedex: $13.69-$126.43
Increases: $20.07-$138.57
fedex: $19.06-$145.34
Increases: $31.50-$218.43
fedex: $28.02-$223.96
raises: $52.91-$241.39
fedex: $50.26-$249.62
Increases: $29.50-$214.66
fedex: $28.02-$223.96
raises: $52.91-$241.39
fedex: $50.26-$249.62
18″ x 14″ x 12″ 40 lbs. (approx. 10 pairs)
raises: $56.16-$327.76
fedex: $51.45-$339.39
raises: $93.90-$384.48
fedex: $89.20-$380.50
increases: 54.16-$323.99
fedex: $51.45-$339.39
raises: $93.90-$384.48
fedex: $89.20-$380.50
*shipping cost estimates are calculated using individual carriers’ online cost estimating tools. Details, exact prices and shipping times are not guaranteed.
consolidated cargo
consolidated freight providers like tsi also offer fixed rates and variable prices.
with tsi flat rate shipping, simply tell us how many boxes you need and we’ll ship them to your door to pack, then come back for pickup and ship anywhere in the us. uu. continental for a flat rate per box. Flat-rate shipping is ideal for those who ship shoes as part of a larger move and have boxes of other items to ship, such as clothing, bedding, and other household items. boxes measure 18″ x 14″ x 12″ and must weigh less than 40 lbs. when packed.
the cost of tsi flat rate box shipping depends on the level of service you choose:
Variable shipping is available for shipments over 15 boxes. the cost of your shipment will depend on the weight of what is being sent and the distance of the trip; box size does not take into account shipping costs. with variable price, you do not pay per box. instead, the cost of your shipment depends on the total combined weight of all your boxes. breakbulk shipping, which is the service used to transport household items like shoes, starts with a minimum billable weight of 120 pounds. that means a single box that weighs 50 pounds will be priced as if it weighed 120 pounds.
Here’s what you can expect to pay for 3 large boxes weighing 50 lbs. each, for a combined total of 150 lbs.
Note: Shipping cost estimates are calculated using individual carriers’ online cost estimating tools. Details, exact prices and shipping times are not guaranteed.
