CALCURATES BLOG
What is The Best Way to Ship Clothes
Nikolay Pasholok
Product Owner, Calcurates
Table of contents
How Does Shipping Clothes Internationally Work
With international shipping, clothes are easy to handle: There are no shipping restrictions on shipping clothes. Also, lower package weight allows for better rates, which makes this category one of the most profitable in shipping. Because of that, being able to ship custom clothes quickly is the most popular starting point for a new e-commerce business.
How to Package Clothes for Shipping
The cheapest option is to ship small items like T-shirts in soft packaging. More delicate items or formal wear should be put in hard boxes as they require a much gentler attitude. Use additional cushioning if the item has any particular decorative elements. If you are packaging multiple items, use vacuum sealing that will make the package compact and smaller. Check both flat rates, and table rates to ship clothes.
Inspect volume discounts for cheaper shipping options for smaller packages your carrier may offer.
Inspect volume discounts for cheaper shipping options for smaller packages your carrier may offer.
- Avoid too much cushioning to prevent higher rates
- Use cheaper poly mailers for everyday items like T-shirts, pants, and sock
- When sending several items, pack them together
- Weigh your package in between every item you are adding to it (to spot when you're hitting the weight limit exactly
- Sloppy folds make for a larger volume, so it is better to keep them tight
- Make sure you're using the smallest package
- Check the flat-rate prices. They might be lower than standard rates
Let's check if Calcurates meets your shipping needs!
Turn on cost-effective shipping
How to Ship Clothes With USPS?
Shipping clothes with USPS is the most affordable option. USPS offers
lightweight rates for shipping clothes, low shipping costs, and good quality service. The best way to ship clothes is with USPS.
On the downside, USPS is known for having faulty tracking, unpredictable time frames, and limitations when it comes to international deliveries.
lightweight rates for shipping clothes, low shipping costs, and good quality service. The best way to ship clothes is with USPS.
On the downside, USPS is known for having faulty tracking, unpredictable time frames, and limitations when it comes to international deliveries.
How to ship a t-shirt with USPS? Which shipping options does USPS offer for shipping t-shirts?
While the cheapest option is First-Class Package Service Retail ($5 for a 5 oz. T-shirt sent from New York City to Los Angeles), the process takes up to six days. Priority Mail Express 1-Day appears to be the fastest way, but it costs $26.35 for a flat-rate envelope.
- Flat-rate envelopes
- Priority Mail, First-Class Package Service Retail, and UPS Ground Retail with owner's packaging
- Flat-rate boxes
While the cheapest option is First-Class Package Service Retail ($5 for a 5 oz. T-shirt sent from New York City to Los Angeles), the process takes up to six days. Priority Mail Express 1-Day appears to be the fastest way, but it costs $26.35 for a flat-rate envelope.
How to Ship Clothes With UPS?
When using UPS for shipping clothes, weight is less important than the dimensions of the package. Rates go up if the parcel has a non-standard shape or is too thick for a certain category of services (e.g., envelopes).
UPS offers various discounts for small businesses. However, shipping clothes with UPS domestically is expensive.
UPS offers various discounts for small businesses. However, shipping clothes with UPS domestically is expensive.
How to Ship Clothes With FedEx?
FedEx has similar delivery options as UPS. Shipping clothes with FedEx is best by flat-rate envelopes or flat-rate boxes or using your packaging materials and getting a shipping rate calculated by volume.
The perk of shipping clothes with FedEx is their 7-Day Home Delivery, which allows you to send orders under 150 lbs to one of 7,700 addresses throughout the entire week.
The perk of shipping clothes with FedEx is their 7-Day Home Delivery, which allows you to send orders under 150 lbs to one of 7,700 addresses throughout the entire week.
What Is the Best Carrier to Ship Clothes With?
USPS is the cheapest option to ship clothes with. Moreover, USPS has a vast network of offices in the US. USPS doesn't offer exact-day deliveries, so it isn't great for urgent deliveries.
UPS is an excellent option for shipping clothes internationally, thanks to the largest network around the world and low international shipping rates.
FedEx provides a flawless tracking system and fast shipping clothes service for domestic shipping. FedEx has, however, the most expensive international shipping.
It is hard to choose the best carrier for shipping clothes between FedEx, UPS vs USPS. Each has its pros and cons, the overall best option for shipping clothes varies depending on the order volume, required delivery speed, and destination.
UPS is an excellent option for shipping clothes internationally, thanks to the largest network around the world and low international shipping rates.
FedEx provides a flawless tracking system and fast shipping clothes service for domestic shipping. FedEx has, however, the most expensive international shipping.
It is hard to choose the best carrier for shipping clothes between FedEx, UPS vs USPS. Each has its pros and cons, the overall best option for shipping clothes varies depending on the order volume, required delivery speed, and destination.
USPS is the cheapest option, UPS has the largest international coverage, and FedEx provides flawless tracking!
How Much Does it Cost to Ship a Shirt
a single shirt of 5 oz
Here is a table showing how much it costs to ship a shirt with an average weight of 5 oz (0.3125 lbs) from New York to Los Angeles. The cheapest way to ship a shirt is with USPS which is also the quickest delivery time.
What Are the Best Packaging Materials for Shipping Clothes
- Encapsulated-Air Plastic SheetingBubble-wrap is not only famous for the popping sounds. It's one of the best packaging materials for cushioning lighter items. This material is also used in Tyvek envelopes for clothes, providing waterproofing and damage protection.
- Polyethylene Foam SheetingThin layers of this foam are usually applied as additional cushioning.
- Kraft PaperCrumpled kraft paper is an outstanding cushioning and packing material for shipping clothes and shoes. It's far more eco-friendly than plastic alternatives and favored by many customers. Often, crumpled kraft paper is used as filling for shoes to keep them from creasing.
- Paper CushioningA packing material that is similar to kraft paper
- Polyethylene Foam (PE)The soft foam is applied for packing and shipping clothes that have additional decorative elements. Items packed with this material are usually shipped in a hard box to maximize the cushioning effect. Its alternative, Expanded Polystyrene Foam, is not recommended for shipping clothes as it may shatter onto the item and make it less presentable.
- Polyurethane Foam (PU)An alternative to PE with comparable qualities
- Corrugated BoardThis packing material is an ideal filling for shoeboxes and boxes with bulky and heavy clothing items. It is used to form partitions, liners, and cushioning
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