International Shipping
What's the Cheapest Way to Ship Internationally in 2024?
What are the cheapest international shipping services? Use this data-driven blog to find the most affordable cross-border shipping companies.
If you do a Google search, you’ll see the cheapest international shipping in 2024 is available through the US Postal Service (USPS). However, what's less obvious is that this only applies if you plan to ship domestically within the US.
So where can you find the cheapest international shipping from the US to other countries? You can use our free-to-use shipping calculator for real-time rates from top international couriers as a shortcut. Read below to learn how to pick the cheapest international shipping company every time, plus a trade secret on getting the best rates.
Comparing International Shipping Rates For 2024
How much is international shipping? To find cheap international shipping rates, we compared USPS shipping rates with those from leading express couriers, including:
- FedEx
- UPS
- USPS
It’s also important to keep in mind the costs involved when calculating the cost of shipping, such as the following:
- Package weight
- Package dimensions
- Courier service
- Delivery destination
We also compared the cheapest USPS rates to one another. In this section, we’ll compare the cheapest shipping rates from shipping from various locations across the world, so you can understand the cheapest shipping rates.
We will use the following dimensions and plug this into the Easyship Shipping Rate Calculator to compare pre-negotiated rates from 550+ courier services worldwide to find the cheapest way to ship to a wide range of destinations:
- Weight of package: 2lb
- Box Dimensions: 10in x 10in x 2in
- Contents for customs forms: Accessory(no-battery)
Shipping from the US to the UK
International shipping costs from the US (or any country) depend largely on the delivery destination and the weight of the package. We'll compare example shipping rates for shipping a 2LB box from the US to countries across the world.
So you can see which courier is the cheapest, fastest and best value, we'll start by comparing Easyship rates from New York, US to the UK. Detailed below:
Takeaway: As we can see, FedEx® International Connect Plus is the cheapest and best value example option when shipping from the US to London. FedEx International Priority® may be fastest, but you’ll spend more money on this courier services.
Shipping from the US to Canada
Below are the example rates for shipping a 2-pound package for shipping a package from New York to Toronto, Canada.
Takeaway: Flat Export is the cheapest option, while UPS® Standard is the best value for shipping a 2LB package from New York to Toronto. With excellent tracking and 2 working day delivery. The fastest option is UPS Worldwide Express®, with a single working day delivery.
Shipping from the US to Italy
Below are the example rates for shipping a 2LB package for shipping a package from New York to Rome, Italy.
Takeaway: FedEx® International Connect Plus is the cheapest and best value option when shipping a 2LB package from New York to Rome, Italy. While UPS Worldwide Saver® is the fastest, delivery in 2 working days and offering excellent tracking for $40.76
Shipping from the US to Germany
Below are the example rates for shipping a 2LB package for shipping a package from New York to Berlin, Germany.
Takeaway: In this example, FedEx® International Connect Plus is the fastest and best value option. While, FedEx International Priority® is the fastest with a 1-2 wording days delivery time and excellent tracking.
Shipping From the US to India
Below are the example rates for shipping a 2LB package for shipping a package from New York to New Delhi, India.
Takeaway: For shipping to New Delhi, Flat Export is the cheapest option, while FedEx® International Connect Plus is the fastest and best value with 5 business days delivery.
Shipping From the US to Australia
Below are the rates for shipping a 2LB package for shipping a package from New York to Australia.
Takeaway: At just $16.40 Australia Post Global - ePacket is the cheapest option for shipping to Australia for a 2LB package. While FedEx® International Connect Plus is the best value and UPS Worldwide Saver® is the fastest with excellent tracking and delivery within 3 working days.
Shipping From the US to the Philippines
Below are the example rates for shipping a 2LB package for shipping a package from New York to Manila, Philippines.
Takeaway: Again, Flat Export is the cheapest shipping option when shipping from the US to the Philippines.While FedEx® International Connect Plus is the best value and UPS Worldwide Saver® is the fastest at similar rates to the above example, Australia.
Comparing USPS Flat Rates for International Shipping
Priority Mail International – Flat Rate service is one of the cheapest ways to mail a package internationally. For example, sending a small box to Hong Kong from Connecticut can be priced at $36.45 with a maximum weight of 4 lbs.
Compare this example rate to express couriers like FedEx or UPS, as seen in the chart below. With express couriers, the same shipment costs $113 and up!
The caveat here is that using a small box to ship goods may not work all the time. According to the experienced folks at My Wife Quit Her Job, a small USPS box with dimensions of 8 11/16" x 5 7/16" x 1 3/4" can't hold much more than 2 lbs. So you're likely running two pounds over the weight limit! It's more realistic to expect to use the medium flat rate box to ship most items.
Priority Mail International – Flat Rate is the cheapest international shipping option, especially if you don’t have a business account with express couriers.
Comparing USPS rates for a medium box
Let's start from the assumption that we need to ship anything over 2 lbs. in a medium box. Now the question is: is the cheapest option from USPS a Flat Rate Box or Priority Mail International?
For a medium Flat Rate box, the maximum weight is 20 lbs. and the dimensions are 14" x 12" x 3 1/2". The price is $77.50.
After studying the pricing charts, I found the breakeven point for using the Priority Mail International medium box, in this case, is 8 lbs. So, if the weight of the package is between 8-20 pounds, the Medium Flat Rate Box is still the cheapest international shipping option from USPS.
Now let’s compare example USPS rates for our medium box with express couriers, seen below.
Rates for medium 8lb. package from Connecticut to Hong Kong
At $77.50 and $82.15, both USPS options are far cheaper than UPS and FedEx.
But… using USPS means you get what you pay for.
When you consider USPS’ not-so-stellar record of delivery times (they do not guarantee), paired with spotty tracking service, you may want to explore other ways to get the cheapest shipping overseas. This is especially true if you're running a business with customers who expect timely deliveries.
Comparing USPS Rates with Easyship
Alternatively, shipping with Easyship saves you high-volume discounts for all domestic and international shipments. We'll compare the rates from major couriers to our highly-discounted rates.
Biz rates for a 8-pound package from Connecticut to Hong Kong
*Rates are calculated from the Easyship Shipping Rate Calculator
Easyship Offers the Cheapest International Shipping Rates
Remember how express couriers are expensive if you don't have a business account with special negotiated rates? Easyship offers the cheapest international rates with discounts up to 91% off. We’ll calculate the example rates for shipping to the destination countries above, so you can see the cheapest rates we offer.
Our Shipping Rates Calculator makes the international shipping process seamless for calculating rates. As seen below, all you need to do is fill out your package information, and you’re on your way to frictionless shipping.
To conclude, the cheapest international shipping services are:
Typically, it's Flat Export or USPS because they offer international shipping rates far cheaper than UPS or DHL.
- Using UPS and DHL to ship internationally without a business account can be really costly, with rates almost being 3x higher than USPS
- With Easyship, you get direct access to over 550+ courier solutions. You even save 91% on express courier rates when shipping internationally
- Getting a shipping quote on Easyship’s platform may surprise you. You're likely to find a regional courier that ends up being the cheapest international shipping choice
If you want to learn more about international options and get your shipping label AWB, we suggest you start here. Or jump right into the free shipping rate calculator to find your cheapest rates on international shipping.
To learn more about each courier service used in the comparisons, check out the following links:
Also, if you're interested in more affordable international shipping rates, consider checking out our hybrid solutions. One of these is Flat Export Rate which is a great budget option for international shipments, and only has two zones, one for Canada, one for the rest of the world which really allows merchants to simplify their shipping estimations.
Easyship is the leading international shipping and logistics company, operating with a vast network of over 250 couriers spanning the globe. Our extensive reach empowers us to negotiate exceptional shipping discounts with top-tier couriers, resulting in remarkable savings of up to 91% on your shipping expenses.
At Easyship, we're dedicated to simplifying international shipping, helping you grow your online store and create a delivery experience customers love. Find exclusive discounts and create a delivery experience customers love with these market leading tools:
- Insurance: Peace of mind is crucial when shipping. We offer insurance coverage of up to $10000, ensuring your valuable packages are protected during transit
- Tracking: From custom-branded tracking emails to automatic message alerts, Easyship helps you maintain package visibility with your buyers throughout the delivery process
- Shipping API: With its developer-friendly design, Easyship’s API enables you to seamlessly incorporate powerful shipping and logistics capabilities into your existing infrastructure
- Shipping Rate Calculator: Effortlessly compare rates from over 550+ courier solutions, ensuring you always choose the most cost-effective shipping option
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