When it comes to shipping shoes, many services like FedEx, USPS, UPS, and DHL come to our minds. But which one is the cheapest yet provides a reliable service – how do you know that?
Here in this article, I’m going to answer that question and help you find an inexpensive cargo service to ship shoes inside and outside the country.
So, let’s move ahead and know the best way of shoe shipment!
What is the Cheapest Way to Ship Shoes?
USPS’s priority mail express is the most affordable way to ship shoes in lightweight packaging. Currently, the shipping fee varies inside the country from $4 to $72, depending on the speed, distance and size. It also ensures trustworthy services to over 190 countries, and you have to pay a maximum of $150 to ship overseas.
Apart from US Postal service, FedEx, UPS and DHL are some other popular shipping services that cost less.
Read ahead & know more about these services:
USPS: US Postal Service (USPS) is by far the cheapest shipping option for shoes. It offers 4 types of service – ground retail, flat rate priority mail, priority mail express, and first-class mail with volume-oriented packaging.
Opt for USPS priority mail service if your first priority is the lowest charge instead of quick delivery. It is a reliable site for affordable shipment within and outside of the US.
FedEx: To send a parcel containing a t-shirt or a coffee mug, the FedEx shipping charge is a minimum of $11.10. And for one pair of shoes you have to use the large box which costs at least $24.20, isn’t it too expensive?
Additionally, FedEx had a record of huge dependence on the US market. But many people were dissatisfied with the service speed of this worldwide servicing company.
As a result, the greatest online marketing platform, Amazon banned FedEx from supplying products to its consumers.
UPS: Though UPS is cheap for lightweight shipments, it demands lots of extra charges for heavier parcels. Moreover, many people find the tons of paperwork by UPS a hassle.
Similar to FedEx, UPS provides 2 types of service: Flat rate & Variable rate with dimension-oriented packaging.
For parcels weighing more than 10 pounds, UPS & FedEx can be more costly.
DHL: It has a good reputation for global shipment. But there are reasons to avoid DHL. Though its delivery pace is praiseworthy, its rate is expensive and adds surcharges.
However, considering all of these issues, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is a cheaper and more reliable way to ship shoes than others.
Here is the comparison chart of the shipping cost of the different platforms:
| Service | Type | Price (in USD) | Delivery Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| USPS | Priority Mail Express International | ~$47 | 3-5 business days |
| USPS | Priority Mail International | ~$33 | 6-10 business days |
| UPS | Worldwide Expedited | ~$72 | 2-5 business days |
| UPS | Worldwide Saver | ~$63 | 6-10 business days |
| FedEx | International Priority | ~$71 | 3-5 business days |
| FedEx | International Economy | ~$64 | 6-10 business days |
| DHL | International Express | ~$65 | 3-6 business days |
The prices above denote a 2 kg package in January 2020 from the US to Australia.
Follow our guide on how to remove security tags from shoes.
How Much Does it Cost to Ship Shoes?
The minimum charge to ship shoes is only 4 US dollars. This can reach more than $200 depending on some factors.
Let’s have a look at the points that determine shoe shipping cost:
Quantity & Weight: These two are related to each other. The weight of your parcel depends on the number of pairs you want to ship. And, simply, you have to pay more for heavier packages. Use good quality yet lightweight shoe boxes to reduce the cost.
Shipping Distance: Sending a parcel from the USA to Canada will cost you more money than sending a parcel from Los Angeles to Dallas. That means you have to pay more in case of international shipping.
Shipping Speed & Service: Nowadays, we all do more or less online shopping. We know that fast delivery, including tracking options and good service demands more money.
Taxes: The three factors described above control the amount of tax. The less weight, amount, distance, speed and service is, the less penny you have to spend.
Proper packing of shoes can reduce the cost of shipping. Check out “How To Ship Shoes in the Original Box & Without A Box?” to know more about packaging.
How Much Does It Cost to Ship Shoes via USPS?
USPS offers other options such as Retail Ground, Priority Mail Variable Rate and First Class Mail and Flat Rate, but considering the cost, speed, and other factors, Priority Mail flat rate shipping is preferable by most people.
Let’s have a look at the chart to get an idea about it’s cost:
Service Charge & Duration from Los Angeles to Miami for a 10in x 5in x 5in package weighing 5lbs
| Service Name | Charge | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| USPS Priority Mail Express 2-Day | $71.35 | 2 days |
| USPS Priority Mail 2-Day | $26.70 | 4 days |
| USPS Retail Ground | $23.90 | 8 days |
| Easyship USPS Priority Mail | $9.56 | 2 days |
| Easyship USPS Parcel Select | $20.66 | 7 days |
| Easyship USPS Priority Mail Express | $60.35 | 2 days |
Service Charge & Duration from Los Angeles to Hong Kong for 10in x 5in x 5in package weighing 5lbs
| Service | Charge | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| USPS Priority Mail Express International | $88.55 | 3-5 days |
| USPS Priority Mail International | $71.25 | 6-10 days |
| Easyship USPS Priority Mail Express International | $79.17 | 3-5 days |
| Easyship USPS Priority Mail International | $67.69 | 6-10 days |
From the charts, you can clearly see that USPS Priority Mail is cheaper than the other services. The Easyship USPS Priority Mail demands only $9.56 to send a parcel of 5 lbs from Los Angeles to Miami.
Check out our separate post to know can you wear training shoes casually.
How To Ship Shoes With USPS?
Now, you know that shipment via USPS is the cheapest. But if you are unfamiliar with its shipping procedure, then this section will be helpful enough for you.
The USPS allows the shipment of shoes with a simpler process. As I shipped shoes and other accessories numerous times in my lifetime through this service, I’m quite experienced with it. Now, let’s know how easy the task of shipping shoes with USPS is.
Follow these steps to ship shoes via USPS:
- Connect with the USPS through their official website.
- Sign Up for free & Press on the ‘Click & Ship’ service.
- Insert all your information and other essentials.
- Click on the ‘request to a package pickup’ if you prefer that the delivery man will collect your parcel from home.
- Submit the form when you are done filling in all the information.
- After a specific time, you will get an email that contains all necessary information regarding the shipment, including pickup time, address, charge etc.
If your postal office is nearby, just go there and perform all the tasks manually. You can submit or receive your parcel and collect the free USPS box from there.
You will receive USPS Priority Mail Shoe Boxes of 14.375’’(L) x 7.5’’(W) x 5.125’’(H) when shipping via this service. Just request the box by following the process below:
Click on Shipping supplies →choose quantity→add to cart→check out now.
Though the box comes free of cost, its quality is not degraded. It offers enough space to store any type of shoes, whether sneakers, slip-on or boots.
Read more on how to clean white mesh shoes.
Ending Note
If you are a regular footwear dealer, shipping shoes in the cheapest way can help you a lot.
As USPS is the most budget-friendly option in shoe shipping, go for this postal service without any hesitation. It’s cheap, simple and reliable.
For any further queries, comment below!
