It’s frustrating when it costs more ship a gift than buy a gift. I’m always searching for the cheapest way to mail packages.
The lines at the post office in my area are very long, but did you know that you can ship items directly from your house? There’s not much difference in the price of shipping a package from home vs waiting in line at the UPS store, post office or FedEx store.
You can save time and money shipping packages if you follow some of these tried and true tips.
If you are wondering how to ship packages the cheapest way possible, I’ve compiled my best tips below.
If you need to ship from home I always use Stamps.com to ship my packages. You can print postage at your home and the post office will pick it up from your front door. You can try it for free for four weeks!
Cheapest Ways to Mail Packages
Table of Contents
Free Shipping
It is possible to ship your packages for free! If you are fine with shopping online.
Almost every online retailer is offers free shipping at some price point. During the holidays, this price point usually drops and even the retailers that don’t offer free shipping normally will include it in their holiday promotions.
Amazon
Other stores such as Kohls, Land’s End, Gap, Old Navy, Barnes and Noble, offer free shipping if you spend over a certain dollar amount. I try to buy as much as possible from Amazon.com, but for other items I always go through Rakuten since they often have a coupon code as well as cash back on my purchases.
Cheapest Way to Ship Packages via the Post Office
Media Mail
The post office has several different options for shipping a package. The cheapest is almost always Media Mail, but you must be mailing media (intended for educational materials).
This includes items such as books, film, manuscripts, sound recordings, video tapes, and computer readable media- CDs, and DVDs (restrictions apply*). You can mail a 10 pound package for only $7.25 using Media Mail.
The problem with media mail is there is no guaranteed delivery date (delivers within 2-8 days). If you are in a hurry, this is not a great option.
*Note that video games regardless of how they are packaged and USB drives are not eligible for media mailing.
USPS Retail Ground
The cheapest way to mail non media via the USPS is Retail Ground. Remember to always check the price. Many times Retail Ground isn’t much cheaper than priority and it is much slower (2-8 business days). retail ground is calculated by weight and location.
If you aren’t in a hurry or need to mail an oversized package this is a good shipping option. You can mail a 10 pound box across the country (from Maryland to Washington State) for about $25. You can learn more on the Post Office website.
Priority Mail
The USPS has introduced Flat Rate Priority Mail boxes. Whatever you can jam in one of their boxes you can ship for one price. If you box weighs five or fifty pounds you pay the same price.
The flat rate priority mail boxes are free and are available at your local post office, or you can have them shipped to your door. Prices to ship priority mail in a flat rate box vary from $6.70 to $18.70 depending on box size.
If you choose to use your own packaging you can send it priority mail too. Prices are based on weight and location and start at about $6.
Priority mail is 2 to 3 day shipping, but it is not guaranteed.
What is nice about the priority mail option from the post office is that the box doesn’t have to keep its exact shape. So if you want to use a vacuum back to compress clothing and then stuff the box totally full (so it’s bulging) you can use this service.
The flat rate box is usually the cheapest way to ship clothing.
Priority Mail Express (Formerly Priority Mail)
If you are short on time but not on money, Priority Mail Express is your best option at the USPS. Express mail starts at $24 for an envelope and goes up from there. It is guaranteed overnight delivery to most locations and you get a refund if they don’t deliver it by the guaranteed day.
Unfortunately priority mail express is not one-day delivery for some rural addresses.
Other USPS Details
Insurance is not including when shipping via the USPS, unless you ship priority. You can purchase insurance for your packages, as well as other options such as delivery confirmation, tracking and more.
The post office will come pick up your packages as long as they are ready to be shipped. It is a free service as long as you are using an expedited service like Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, Global Express Guaranteed, or Merchandise Returns services.
There is also an on demand service which costs around $18 per pick-up, but allows you to schedule the window of pick up. You can find out more about mailing packages from your home on the pick-up options section of the USPS website.
How to Save on Shipping with UPS (and FedEx)
I love seeing that big brown truck pull up to my house, don’t you? The UPS has a shipping matrix that rivals most calculus textbooks, but the basic deal is, the heavier the package and the farther away it is going the more you pay.
The benefit of shipping via UPS (or FedEx) is that you know when the package is going to arrive, have access to tracking, and insurance is included in the price, up to $100 worth of coverage.
Below is an example of what 20 pound package shipped from Maryland to Florida would cost using the different UPS options.
- Next Day Air = $159.40
- 2 Day Air = $75.59
- 3 Day Select = $52.17
- Ground = $23.51
To compare, that same box shipped via the post office with 2 day priority mail is $43 at the post office. You can save even more with the priority mail flat rate large box. It costs $18.90 and gets there about the same time as UPS Ground.
Use the online tools to find the best deal when shipping heavy packages.
While UPS’s shipping matrix is complicated, it is actually very easy to calculate the cost of postage. Visit their website and use the shipping calculator to find out exactly how much it will cost to mail your package.
UPS will also pick packages up at your door if you schedule a pick-up.
FedEx is similar to UPS and you can find out their shipping rates on the FedEx website. You can also use FedEx Flat Rate (similar to the USPS) which can save on shipping over UPS and USPS priority mail depending on the package.
Cheapest way to mail a package
The bottom line, it all depends on what you are shipping.
If you are sending a large, heavy item, such as a television or grill, buy it on Amazon Prime and get free shipping. It’s even worth signing up for the free trial and canceling your prime membership after 30 days if you need to send large bulky items over the holidays.
The USPS Priority Mail flat rate boxes are great for shipping heavier small items like clothes, toys, kitchenware, and any metal items. If your items are light consider using your own packaging and using Retail Ground or first class mail if the item is under 15 ounces.
UPS or FedEx is usually the best option for shipping heavier items and provides superior tracking and delivery guarantees. With the new FedEx Flat Rate shipping method you might save more shipping with FedEx.
Whatever you chose remember to read the shipping guidelines before you ship that nail polish or perfume. There are many items that you cannot ship and you don’t want to waste the time or money shipping a prohibited item that will be returned.
Save on shipping boxes and packaging
- Remember to save boxes from Amazon and reuse them to ship your own packages.
- The Post Office, UPS, and FedEx all offer free boxes for their flat rate shipping.
- Don’t buy tape if you are shipping USPS Priority Mail flat rate box. They have tape at the post office and most boxes are self sealing.
- Reuse newspaper, bubble wrap, and packing peanuts to avoid having to purchase padding.
- Use the smallest box/ envelope possible. It’s almost always cheaper to ship using an envelope, so if the item fits, use the smallest package possible.
How to get $5 in free postage!
Stamps.com is the easiest most convenient way for everyone to manage your mailing needs. It can almost completely eliminate trips to the Post Office!
- Print USPS-approved postage right from your PC.
- Use Stamps.com postage to send letters, packages, and even Priority Mail.
- Stamps.com offer a 4-week no-risk trial for all new customers.
- Get $5 in free postage when you sign up!
Check out all the details for Stamps.com here!
Also, check out 5 Free Shipping Options for the Holidays to avoid paying for shipping altogether!
Lawanna says
I do a LOT of shipping throughout the year…
I’m often at my local UPS Store and I can’t count the number of people who are surprised by how much it costs for UPS to box up your shipment. One lady was sending some homemade clothes to a granddaughter. The packaging costs more than the shipping because she needed a box the size of a wreath. If you don’t have a box, go buy one at a place like Lowe’s, Home Depot, Staples, Office Depot, etc. You’ll save a ton of money buying a box and packaging it yourself.
Another tip….if you go to http://www.usps.com you can buy and print out postage for those Priority mail boxes. You get a discount and free tracking. Then pack up the box and deliver it to the post office counter. And use the free Priority boxes. They are so worth it. You may have to ask for boxes at the counter.
TheHappyHousewife says
Great tips Lawanna! I always seem to have shipping boxes since we move so often, I never thought about having to buy one!
Toni
Carrie says
You mentioned Ebates – did you see that today they are offering FREE SHIPPING at over 200 stores (only today – 12/17/10) plus the usual cash back? I’m trying not to be tempted since my shopping is done for this year… 🙂
TheHappyHousewife says
Yes, it is really a great deal, if you haven’t finished your Christmas shopping!
JM says
If you use UPS through PayPal, this is almost always the cheapest option. I send several boxes east to west coast per year, and the regular UPS and Parcel Post rate is about $12, but via UPS through PayPal is a little under $9.
SH says
JM
What size of boxes do you ship? I have had to ship items to fit in a priority large flat rate box or larger and the cost is $14+.
Andrew Mooers says
Thank you for the helpful information! Have a son heading back to CO to work at a ski area, raft a river after that and shipping. The cheapest way and now I know way way more than I did because of your cub reporting! Thank you!
Ruthie Winter says
My husband and I received 3 Taylor Swift posters and had them matted and framed for our granddaughter, the largest being 25 X 19. To send them UPS from Green Bay, WI to Orlando, packing $23.00, “postage” $68.00. The posters we’re free, the matting expensive, to send them now…too expensive. We’ll need to wait to see her or hopefully find another avenue. Sad! 🙁
Kim says
This is why it’s better to buy family small gifts like a top or earrings. Framing costs & postage are ridiculous. Btw, you can buy frames at yard sales/thrift stores for next to nothing and frame posters yourself. Saw one large one for $4 recently! Besides, Taylor won’t be popular in a few yrs!!
merrill says
for the quality of service you get the post office is sure a rip off the tracking is really slow and usually get the package long before the tracking starts working
John C says
Shipping things via UPS gets more economical if you are shipping a regular sized package, around say a 15’x15′. Especially true if you intend on shipping 40-60 pounds worth of stuff, it is worth stuffing a box just to take advantage of the shipping, in this case they are billing more on weight rather than dimensional weight. which at longer lengths it gets pricier, so its somewhat encouraged to pack as much in one shipment as possible.
Nancy says
I’m confused. Lawanna first said to use your own box to save money, then in the next paragraph she said to use the free Priority shipping boxes. Which is it? I need to send something fast.
Toni Anderson says
Nancy, it depends on which shipping method you are using. Using your own box was in reference to using UPS. The priority shipping boxes are for the postal service.
Maddie says
Cheapest way to send a childerns book to sydney australia from michigan??
Media mail??
Riley says
Thanks for the post it was very informative. I have been trying to figure how to ship a few things for cheap. A few of your links are broken and I had to search for the new versions of the pages on USPS’s website.
Toni Anderson says
Thank you, Riley! We just updated the post with all new links and pricing! 🙂
Cindy says
Just wondering, but if I were to ship a 5×10 bubble mailer weighing about 0.4 oz and I put the correct number of stamps, could I ship it using standard mail? (like just putting it in the mail box)
Toni Anderson says
Yes, as long as it fits in the mailbox that should work.
Christen says
I checked prices on all and good old USPS regular mail was by far the cheapest. I had a VERY large box filled with toys. 37lbs! It was 29.28 and I added insurance so I could track it. It will get there on the 21st. Sent from Indy to Boston. If I’d done 2 day it would have been 158.00! Not! The toys weren’t even that much! This was a great place to research quickly. Thank you!
CINDY says
WHAT WOULD BE THE CHEAPEST WAY TO MAIL A NEW XBOX FROM WA. STATE TO A MILITARY GUY AT FT. JACKSON, S.C.
Pat says
I have two (2) pounds of sponge candy I want to send Louisville, Kentucky, coming from buffalo ny. What is the best and cheapest way to send it?
Vinny says
You can use a price shopping tool like Secureship (http://secureship.ca). They’ll get you the shipping prices with UPS, Canada Post, FedEx, … you can even ship through them and take advantage of their volume discounts (save 30% over going direct to the carrier). They don’t seem to have USPS
Cassie says
I use a online cash back website to help save money. So I wait to order from stores until I know I will hit the free shipping mark. I plan to do the same thing with my holiday shopping! It just seems like shipping prices are getting higher and higher each time I go to the post office!
Lois Titherington says
I WONDER WHAT WOULD BE THE LEAST EXPENSIVE WAY TO MAIL A LARGE TEDDY BEAR FROM mASSACHUSETTS TO CALIFORNIA… HE DOESN’T WEIGH MUCHBUT IS AS BIG AS A 6 MONTH BABY.
Heart says
Last time I checked, for heavier items, box it yourself & ship “Greyhound”. they will except 60lbs or less. Just another option… 😉 <3
fgbowen says
I sold a Teddy Bear on eBay. It is about a foot long or more. It is plush, and light-weight.
What is the best (cheapest) way to send it?
Jenny says
The cheapest way is to find a box (I save then when I receive something) or stop in any store or office and see if they have one they are throwing out. Standard post usps is the cheapest way but I just tell them to send it whatever is cheapest. Priority might be a day quicker but you’ll pay double the price because it’s priority but who cares about one day? This is how I ship almost all my eBay items unless priority is only a few cents more. Sometimes standard can be as quick as priority, it depends a lot where it’s coming from/going to.
Carina says
Hello, I am moving with my family to Brazil in three months. It is hard to let go of so much of what we built here, including items that we are still paying such as LCD TV, etc. We are not taking furniture but we are a family of three and a dog. I am so confused and frustrated with how much will cost us to ship our stuff. Could anyone give me an input on what would be the best way to ship boxes to Brazil? The best option so far is super expensive; using a fright company service, it will cost $500 (including insurance) per wardrobe box, plus the box cost of $11.95 each. Thank you
James says
A great way to send items is via a courier reseller, they get discounted shipping rates as they send so many packages in the US and around the world so you can book with them and enjoy their lower costs. I have sent several items from the US using Parcel Monkey and they have been great and give you a choice of services to choose from parcelmonkey.com
Susan Martin says
It costs me $2.45 to send a tiny pair of earrings in a padded envelope from Michigan to Florida via USPS–I truly need to cut this cost…but how??
Brianna says
I wanna send a package to Cuba, where could i find the cheapest way to send it? I went on priority mail and it was 93.00 to send a 6 pound box.
Ellie says
Am sending cookies from FL to NYC, what is the cheapest way to go? Thanks for all your info.
Rusty Nail And Paint says
Hi there!! My sister and I own a store on Etsy and we ship signs daily. We have found a little secret that no one seems to be aware of. If you go onto USPS website to “order stamps and supplies” and then go to “free shipping supplies” and order the Regional Rate A or Regional Rate B boxes…they will deliver them to your front door. You have to order a package of 10 or 25…but they are GREAT for shipping things that have some weight to them. We have found that the Regional Rate A (there are two…one that is 11 x 13×2.5 and the other that is 10 x 7x 4.75) is the least expensive way to ship our signs. It depends on your location in the U.S. and what region you are shipping to…but generally it is between $6 and $10 to ship this box….and it’s the same price no matter if it’s a pound or 15 lbs (15 lbs max weight for this box). If we have a larger sign to ship….we will use the Regional Rate B box (approx. 14 x 15 x 3 <– that's the one we use….or the other regional rate B box is 12 x 10 x 5) This one is also by region and not by weight…it's a little higher than the A box but is bigger. I can't remember right off how much…but it's not much…like $12 or$14. In that box you can ship anything up to 20 lbs for the same cost. It's really worth having a few of these boxes in your closet for when you need to ship something heavy. Oh..and it's priority mail also so you get a tracking # and insurance for free. 🙂 Hope this helps!!
Scott Scharling says
Susan Martin – Did you ever get an answer to this? I am shipping similar items and need to know. Small light weight but don’t want them to break.
eve says
How current is this information? Great information but i want to be aure I am armed when I go to UPS with my huge and heavy box.
NORMAN BRSK says
Mailed a package at UPS office and paid $40. Went on line and checked the pricing, UPS was $43, USPS was $34.
There may be a difference because of side benefits which I have not compared.
ERICA MAHONEY says
When I mail from the etsy app UPS gives me the option of small flat rate box, medium flat rate box, and large flat rate box, but it doesn’t say what the measurement requirements are so I’ve no idea which to pick. I just sold a 15″ driftwood wreath and I’m about to refund him the money because trying to figure out how to mail it is giving me an anxiety attack. Also etsy basically forced us to use free shipping on orders over $35 so the box and shipping is out of my pocket. It hardly even seems worth it. Everything I ship is in envelopes, I am mentally challenged when it comes to mailing boxes. I can’t even be happy about this sale!
Bette Howton says
Is this information current? With the virus all around I don’t want to go to the post office or UPS now. Thank you
epr says
I just want to mail a little hello and a piece of candy to 400 people. The post office says it is $3.80 per envelope. That is crazy. There must be a less expensive way?