What's the Cheapest Way to Ship Internationally? | Easyship Blog (2024)

Key Points:

• Flat Export is the cheapest way to mail a package internationally for most destinations
• UPS®, DHL, and USPS, plus other major couriers all offer international shipping
• With Easyship you can save up to 91% off discounted shipping rates on 250+ couriers, including international shipping

If you do a Google search, you’ll see the cheapest international shipping in 2022 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 2023

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

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.

When 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 5-pound 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, Flat Export is the cheapest example option when shipping from the US to London, while UPS Worldwide Expedited is the best value. UPS Worldwide Saver and Express may be faster, but you’ll spend more money on this courier services.

When shipping from the US to Canada

Below are the example rates for shipping a 5-pound package for shipping a package from New York to Ontario, Canada.

Takeaway: UPS Standard is the cheapest and best value option for shipping a 5-pound package from New York to Ontario. With excellent tracking and 2 working day delivery. The fastest option is UPS Worldwide Saver®, with a single working day delivery.

When shipping from the US to Italy

Below are the example rates for shipping a 5-pound package for shipping a package from New York to Rome, Italy.

Takeaway: Flat Export is the cheapest and best value option when shipping a 5-pound package from New York to Rome, Italy. While UPS Worldwide Saver is the fastest, delivery in one working day and offering excellent tracking for $54.44.

When shipping from the US to Germany

Below are the example rates for shipping a 5-pound package for shipping a package from New York to Berlin, Germany.

Takeaway: Again, Flat Export is the cheapest option for shipping 5-pound package from New York to Berlin.

When shipping from the US to India

Below are the example rates for shipping a 5-pound package for shipping a package from New York to New Delhi, India.

Takeaway: For shipping to New Delhi, Flat Export and Shypmax are the cheapest two options, while UPS Worldwide Saver is the fastest with 5 business days delivery.

When shipping from the US to Australia

Below are the rates for shipping a 5-pound package for shipping a package from New York to Australia.

Takeaway: Flat Export and Asendia are the cheapest options for shipping to Melbourne for a 5-pound package. While UPS Worldwide Saver is the fastest and best value option available.

When shipping from the US to the Philippines

Below are the example rates for shipping a 5-pound package for shipping a package from New York to Manila, Philippines.

Takeaway: Again, USPS Priority Mail International is the cheapest shipping option when shipping from the US to the Philippines.

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:

• USPS Priority Mail International
• FedEx International Priority
• FedEx International Economy

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.

Check out some of our favorite profit boosting discounts today:

• Save up to 89% on USPS Priority Mail
• Save up to 50% on UPS® Ground
• Save up to 76% on UPS Worldwide Saver®
• Save up to 85% on USPS Ground Advantage
• Save up to 91% on DHL eCommerce
• Save up to 65% on USPS First Class Package

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 Rate Calculator: Effortlessly compare rates from over 550+ courier solutions, ensuring you always choose the most cost-effective shipping option

If you found this article informative, you may enjoy the following:

• 10 Most Popular International Shipping Services
• 5 Steps to Get the Cheapest International Shipping Rates
• The Countries with the Toughest Shipping Restrictions