The Cheapest Way To Ship Small Packages: Costs, Tips & More
Shipping rates significantly influence customers’ decisions to drop out during checkout. If they see a higher shipping cost, they will be hesitant to proceed with the order and may opt for another online store instead.
Customers like to purchase products with free shipping, or they expect the cheapest shipping rate to get their favorite products as soon as possible. There are many factors that depend on calculating shipping costs. As we know, different shipping carriers provide their services at different rates. Getting the cheapest shipping rate of a carrier doesn’t mean that you need to choose the longest delivery time.
There are certain factors you need to consider to ship your products at the minimum cost within the right time frame. So, in this article, let us analyze some tips to access the cheapest way to ship small packages with major shipping carriers.
Factors to be considered to Ship Small Packages
Measure the weight and dimensions of packages
Since the weight and dimensions of small items will be comparatively less, you may only have to pay the minimum shipping cost. While shipping small items, try to choose the right package, like a flat envelope or an optimal shipping box, for your products. This will reduce the shipping cost as the total volume obtained by your package will be much less in the shipping vehicle.
If you choose big boxes to ship small packages, you would require you to pay unnecessary additional charges.
In order to choose the right package for shipping your items, measure the dimensions of your items accurately and pick the right box to ship small packages.
When it comes to measuring the weight of your small items, we usually take the pound or ounce as units of measure. In logistics, it is often called Deadweight.
Calculating the shipping cost
After measuring the weight and dimensions of packages, enter these into a shipping calculator tool to get the available shipping services and weights. If you are shipping products with specific shipping carriers, they will consider their own formula for calculating shipping costs.
Printing shipping labels and shipping the packages
The next step is to print the shipping label, which is required to be posted on the package to provide the address and other information to the delivery partner to deliver the packages to the right location. After that, you can proceed with the shipment.
Let us have a quick look at the key points that need to be considered to calculate the shipping rates for choosing the cheapest possible one. They are:
- Distance between sender and receiver: Depending on the distance between the source and destination addresses, the shipping rates will vary. If it is a domestic shipment, you can use ground shipping itself. If it is international, you may need to send the packages through flights and ships. Hence, the shipping rates will be different and they will increase with distance.
- Delivery time: If you need to deliver the products as soon as possible, you may be required to choose an overnight or same-day delivery option from carriers. This will be higher in cost compared to the services, which would take 7 – 10 days!
- Weight and dimensions of the package: As per the weight and volume of the packages, the shipping cost will change. If it occupies more space in the shipping vehicle, you need to pay more. So, choose an optimum package size based on the weight and dimensions of the items.
- Total number of packages: If you need to ship multiple packages, you need to pay more to the carriers. So, try to ship products using a minimum number of packages if possible.
- Specific countries and locations: If you ship to specific countries, you need to pay some additional duties or charges. Also, there will be additional charges for shipping products to remote locations. These are the key factors used to determine the available shipping rates.
It is important to balance the shipping rates and delivery days to provide the best service to your customers. If you ship free of cost or with the minimum cost, it may take so many days to reach the customers. Hence, let us check some of the reasonable shipping rates of popular shipping carriers and how they depend upon the key factors we discussed above.
Some cheapest options to Ship Small Packages
Let us check a few services of 4 popular shipping carriers that are ideal for shipping small packages. They are FedEx, UPS, USPS, and DHL.
USPS
As you know, USPS provides the cheapest domestic and international shipping services compared to the other 3 shipping carriers.
Shipping documents or products that are flat, thin, and which are weighing under 13 ounces can be sent using USPS First Class Mail. But this service does not come with a tracking option.
Another choice is USPS Priority Mail, which comes with a tracking and insurance option. You can send products that weigh more than 1 pound using this option.
DHL
DHL Express 12 is an ideal option to ship products overseas within 1 – 2 business days. This option is comparatively cheap, yet a faster shipping service by DHL.
DHL eCommerce is an economic solution that helps to send small items overseas at the cheapest cost. But, this is not an ideal solution for shipping urgent items as it will take around 10 – 16 days.
FedEx
FedEx Overnight can be used to ship small packages across the US overnight. But it cannot be considered the cheapest solution compared to other services. But, if you consider the overnight delivery of this option, this is a reasonable solution.
If you are not concerned about the delivery time, you can choose FedEx SmartPost, which allows you to send small packages that weigh less than 10 pounds. But you are required to have a contract with FedEx to use this affordable service.
UPS
UPS SurePost is an affordable option to ship products that weigh less than 10 lbs. But, this service also requires a contract with UPS, and the delivery time is relatively longer.
Well, these are some shipping services you can use to ship small packages at affordable costs.
But the cost will vary depending on the source and destination, and the weight and dimensions of the packages. In order to accurately calculate the shipping cost, you can use an advanced shipping calculator tool.
Use the ReachShip shipping calculator to find the cheapest cost to ship small packages
ReachShip shipping calculator is a simple yet robust platform to calculate the shipping cost and delivery days based on the source and destination addresses, and the weight and dimensions of the packages. This tool helps to find the shipping rates of DHL, UPS, USPS, MyPost Business, and FedEx shipping carriers as per your requirements.
Based on the data you have entered, it will list all available shipping services from which you can choose the most affordable one by checking the cost and delivery days. You can also use the Sort option in this tool to pick the cheapest cost quickly. Also, you will be able to convert the prices into a specific currency as per your requirements.
Let us check an example of shipping a package that weighs 4 lbs and with a volume of 5*5*5 inches.
Visit the ReachShip shipping calculator page.
STEP 1: Add in the ‘From Address’ and ‘Delivery Address’ along with the ‘Package Details’. Since this is a small package, we will add in dimensions as 5*5*5 inches and 4 lbs. Click on ‘Calculate Rates’.
STEP 2: You will get a list of shipping methods that are available along with the rates and estimated delivery time and also highlighting the cheapest and fastest options.
Conclusion
It is important to use a shipping calculator to check the cheapest way to ship packages. Even though there are dedicated shipping calculators for major shipping carriers, you can check the rates of multiple shipping carriers with ReachShip in a couple of clicks!
FAQs
1. Can I ship small packages internationally at a low cost?
Yes. You can ship small packages internationally at affordable rates using USPS First-Class Package International or consolidators like EasyShip and Shippo, which provide discounted global shipping options.
2. What packaging materials should I use to ship small packages safely?
Use sturdy boxes or padded mailers, bubble wrap for fragile items, and strong tape to seal them securely. Proper packaging ensures your small packages reach safely and avoid damage during transit.
3. How long does it take to ship small packages domestically?
When you ship small packages domestically, delivery usually takes 2–5 business days with economy or ground services, and 1–3 days with priority or express options.
4. Can I ship small packages without a shipping account?
Yes, you can ship small packages without a carrier account. USPS allows label purchases at the post office or online, while UPS and FedEx let you print labels directly from their websites.
5. Can I ship fragile items as small packages?
Yes, you can ship fragile items as small packages by using bubble wrap, packing peanuts, or padded mailers. Clearly label the package as fragile to reduce the risk of damage.
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