Short answer: Shipping is priced on the package's billable weight, which is the higher of its actual weight and its size-based (dimensional) weight, rounded up to the next pound. Remote-area fees, carrier surcharges and add-ons can add to that. Combining packages, asking about a smaller box and checking what you've selected at checkout are the best ways to lower it.
1. Dimensional weight
Couriers bill the higher of two weights:
- Actual weight: what the package weighs on a scale.
- Dimensional weight: a weight calculated from the box's length, width and height.
A small, light item in a big box is billed by the box, not the item. That's why a light pillow or a pair of shoes in the store's oversized carton can cost more than you'd expect.
2. Rounding up
We round weight up to the next whole pound for every courier except APC. A 2.3 lb package is billed as 3 lb. The rounding always goes up, never down.
3. Remote-area fees
Couriers charge extra to deliver to some remote or rural addresses. The fee varies by courier and is typically $40–$50. You'll see whether your address is in a remote area when you add it to your account, and you can also use the "Check remote area" button in our shipping calculator.
4. Carrier risk and demand surcharges
Carriers such as DHL, UPS and FedEx add surcharges for some destinations, for example areas they class as elevated-risk or high-demand. The carrier sets these amounts and changes them often. If one applies to your shipment, it's shown at checkout before you pay.
5. Add-ons you selected
Extras you choose at checkout, such as extra protection, invoice removal or faster handling, are added to your total. For the full list and prices, see "Packing add-ons: extra protection, invoice removal and faster handling".
Consolidation also has a per-package fee on the Free and Premium plans. See "Consolidating packages: how to request it, how long it takes and what it costs".
How to lower your shipping cost
- Combine packages. One box usually costs less than several separate shipments. If one item is very bulky, though, combining can raise the dimensional weight, and our team may recommend shipping it separately.
- Ask about a smaller box. If a store packed a small item in a large box, contact our support team before you ship and ask whether it can be repacked to reduce the size.
- Compare couriers and services. Prices differ between couriers and between DDP and DDU options. Check each option shown at checkout.
- Check your add-ons. Remove any extras you don't need.
- Check the weight you entered. If you're using the calculator, a typo in the weight or dimensions can change the quote a lot.
Common questions
Shouldn't 2.3 lb round down to 2 lb? No. We always round up to the next whole pound, for every courier except APC.
My item is tiny, so why is the quote so high? It's probably the box. Couriers bill by size when the dimensional weight is higher than the actual weight. Contact support to ask about a smaller box.
Is the remote-area fee something I can remove? No. The courier charges it to deliver to that address. You can check it before you ship.
Why is there a surcharge for my country? Some carriers add risk or demand surcharges for certain destinations. The amount is set by the carrier and shown at checkout.
Still need help?
Our support team is available on weekdays from 09:00 to 17:00 ET at [email protected].