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How to Ship Internationally Cheap?

Post by: SourceVietnam

Written by Ethan Minh

Reading Time: 10 minutes

February 21, 2025

With international shipping demand up 70% in a decade, finding cost-effective solutions is essential. This guide explores factors influencing shipping costs, such as package weight, distance, and carriers, and provides practical tips to optimize packaging, negotiate rates, and choose the right shipping method for budget-friendly global deliveries.

how-to-ship-internationally-cheap

The need for international shipping has grown by 70% in the last ten years, so the issue of how to ship internationally cheap is extremely important. The factors of distance, weight, package size, and shipping company are the reasons why companies need to focus on calculating shipping prices to get the best result. Are you interested in them? The article below will show you the cheapest way to ship internationally, easily accessing the global market.

Key factors that affect international shipping costs

International freight requires many complex issues and procedures, including international shipping rates. Let’s take a look at the factors that affect these costs.

  • Package weight and dimensions: There are two methods to calculate the cost of package transportation: weight and dimensions (for some goods with special shapes or bulky). Therefore, businesses need to pay attention to optimizing the size of the package to ensure safe transportation and save significant costs.
  • Destination country: The destination country is an important factor in determining transportation costs. Besides, enterprises also need to consider the import policies, regulations, tariffs, and trade agreements jointly signed by the two countries. You need to be smart enough to have strategies that make it the cheapest way to ship internationally.
  • Shipping method: Shipping units can customize delivery speed options (economy shipping, standard shipping, and expedited shipping). The prices of different packages depend on the value of the insurance order, shipping time, etc. You can choose a suitable one that fits your budget shipping services.
Best way to ship internationally with shipping methods
  • Carrier: There are many major carriers in the world, such as FedEx, DHL, UPS, and USPS. Each carrier will have different policies, service capabilities and quotes
  • Comparison of international shipping rates: When choosing a carrier, you need to consider factors such as package size, weight, and destination country. The shipping carriers (FedEx, DHL, UPS, USPS) will have its advantages and disadvantages corresponding to the above factors. You can refer to the shipping cost comparison below with international shipping rates from top carriers.
Factor
FedEx
DHL
UPS
USPS
Cost
Higher (express services)
High (reliable)
Slightly high (larger packages)
Lowest price (small package)
Delivery time
Fast
Fast
Fast
Much slower
Optimized destination
North America and Asia
significant worldwide presence, particularly in Europe
North America and Europe
Primarily for North America, limited international
Weight/Size
High limits, suitable for large packages
High limits, good for large packages
High limits, suitable for large packages
Lower limits for larger packages

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Tips to cut costs for shipping large packages in the cheapest ways

This section discusses in detail two methods of limited cost and saving packaging to reduce cost.

Tips for shipping larger packages on a budget

  • Size and weight limits: Carefully study the shipping policies of the carriers to understand the regulations on the size and weight limits of goods and the accompanying prices. When the budget is limited, businesses can choose which packages to send to which carrier to get the best price.
  • Best carriers for bulk shipments: To find the cheapest way to transport large packaging internationally, you need to determine two parameters: the quantity shipped and the average standard size of these orders. Then, propose to companies a competitive price for long-term cooperation in bulk shipments (freight forwarders, specialized shipping companies).
The cheapest way to ship internationally with bulk shipments

Cost-effective packaging tips

  • Optimize box size: Try to use the right-sized boxes for goods to minimize costs (if price by size)
  • Lightweight filling materials: Some goods need to be covered to avoid damage, businesses need to find lightweight filling materials to reduce the overall weight of the package.
  • Disassemble furniture (if possible): If bulky and multi-component goods do not affect the product’s functionality, businesses should disassemble the components. This reduces the package volume, thereby reducing the package weight, and the price will decrease accordingly.

Shipping large items abroad? Get the best rates

Read more >>>>What Does FOB Mean for Shipping and Freight Responsibility?

Delivery speed and how to have the cheapest way to ship international packages

Enterprises should consider the urgency of the order and choose a delivery method with a suitable delivery speed to avoid unnecessary expenses. Here are the cheapest international shipping methods based on speed.

Breakdown of how shipping speed affects cost

  • Economy shipping: This is the lowest cost option. However, the shipping time is quite long.
  • Standard shipping: This is the basic method, ensuring the order is shipped at a reasonable cost and on average delivery time.
  • Expedited shipping: This is the fastest way to get your order delivered, but the service will also be the most expensive.

Suggest the best balance

To balance cost and delivery time, you need to classify the urgency of the goods. Economy shipping for orders does not require time. For normal orders within a fixed cost, standard shipping is suitable.

Delivery speed and how to ship a package internationally without breaking the bank

Read more >>>> What Is Wholesale Shipping and How It Works?

Choose the best way to ship internationally: Cost-effective methods

Let’s discuss cost-effective ways of international transportation. What is the best way to ship internationally?

Factors to consider

  • Shipment size and weight: Depending on the normal goods, or bulky goods, decide on the shipping method. You can choose the shipping company that has the optimal policy for each type of item (depending on the size and weight of the goods).
  • Destination: Things to consider: How far is the destination country from the shipping destination? Are there any tariff preferences or restrictions at the destination? Which carrier offers you the best price?
  • Budget: Budget is the most important factor in deciding which carrier to choose. When your budget is limited, consider improving your service to compensate for the long wait times.

Postal services vs. Private couriers

Postal service vs. private Courier: Which is right for your purpose? Here are the reasons:

  • Postal services (e.g., USPS)
    • Pros: Global coverage, even in remote areas, low prices for small packages.
    • Cons: Slow delivery due to processing of large quantities of small orders, tracking not optimal
  • Private courier companies (e.g., FedEx, DHL, UPS)
    • Pros: Faster delivery, higher loss insurance due to private companies, and modern tracking systems.
    • Cons: High cost, additional costs.
How to ship internationally cheap with some famous carrier

Cheapest ways to ship internationally for reference

There are many ways to solve the problem of how to ship internationally cheap, depending on the initiative of the business and the support of the shipping unit. Refer to the above methods to have a customized quote for yourself.

  • Economy shipping: Economy shipping is the cheapest way to ship internationally. International shipments are mostly large shipments and the shipping time has been adjusted or calculated in advance for the time of receipt. It usually takes longer than the other methods and is also considered one of the best e-commerce shipping solutions because they are usually small packages with low value.
  • Consolidating packages: Consolidating packages is the cheapest way to ship a package internationally. At this time, the total cost is divided among several packages, reducing the cost of each package many times. Its only advantage is the best way to ship internationally, but it also means that you have to arrange the same date for all the small packages in this shipment.
  • Using a freight forwarder: A better way to solve how to send a package internationally cheap is by using the services of a Freight forwarder. It acts an intermediary to find international shipping units that suit the needs of customers, including international courier services. They group their customers (businesses) with similar needs to send at the same time. Therefore, the cost is cheaper than sending individually, especially for larger shipments, because procedures are also handled.
  • Negotiating with carriers: When you commit to a carrier for a long-term contract or a big contract with bulk shipments, you can negotiate for better quotes. This is also one of the cheapest ways to ship large packages internationally.

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the-cheapest-way-to-ship-internationally-for-businesses-negotiate-with-a-carrier
The cheapest way to ship internationally for businesses- negotiate with a carrier

The cheapest way to ship internationally for businesses- negotiate with a carrier
  • Optimizing packaging: Businesses proactively cut costs by using durable, lightweight packaging materials to ensure that goods are kept at the right size. Find tips to reduce the bulkiness of packages, ensure they avoid impact, and avoid unnecessary packaging, thereby significantly reducing costs.

International shipping for E-commerce

E-commerce is mainly B2C customers. So how much does international shipping cost for e-commerce to ensure cost and profit? Here are some economical shipping methods for e-commerce to reduce costs.

  • Choosing the right carrier: Based on the order value and risk commitment, companies should choose a carrier committed to all or one of the factors to ensure customer satisfaction, such as cost, delivery time, tracking, or insurance.
  • Offering multiple shipping options: for each different package, divide it into identical group shipments. Then choose separate carriers to meet the needs of each shipment (economy, standard, expedited), send them simultaneously.
  • Communicating shipping costs clearly: It is necessary to agree on costs from the beginning to avoid additional costs due to cancellation or return.

The above are e-commerce shipping solutions, which aim to help you find the cheapest way to ship internationally for businesses.

E-commerce shipping solutions

Tips for reducing international shipping costs

Here are the tips on how to ship a package internationally without breaking the bank to save money on international shipping: Expert tips and tricks.

  • Compare shipping rates: Compare prices online or get quotes from different carriers
  • Optimize package size and weight: Cost-effective with the right-sized package and lightweight materials.
  • Consider delivery speed: If do not need an urgent pick-up, please choose economy shipping as it is the cheapest option (longest waiting time), and salvage the cheapest international shipping methods based on speed.
  • Use appropriate packaging: Use lightweight boxes, and protective filling or other shipping packaging tips to reduce cargo weight.
  • Insure valuable items For high-value orders, choose shipping insurance to avoid greater losses in the event of delivery failures.
  • Track your shipments: The cheapest way to send international packages with tracking is to choose a carrier. This ensures the reporting of order status to customers
  • Be aware of customs fees: Carefully check the customs fees in the destination country to avoid losses caused by not calculating order costs, one of the solutions solve how to ship internationally cheap
Reducing costs fits with budget shipping services

Conclusion

Effectively utilize price comparison strategies to select packaging with appropriate delivery speed and negotiable discounts. By combining them, companies can effectively reduce costs and optimize welding processes. How to ship internationally cheap? And find out the cheapest way to send international packages with tracking for reports customers. Visit SourceVietnam.com for more information and useful tips for your business. Just need to ship smarter, not harder: find the best international shipping solution!

FAQs about ship internationally

What is the cheapest way to ship internationally?

The cheapest ways to ship internationally are economy shipping, consolidating packages, using freight forwarders, negotiating carriers, and optimizing packaging.

How can I reduce the cost of shipping a package internationally?

Learn how to ship a package internationally without breaking the bank by comparing the rates, optimizing the size and weight, and considering the delivery speed,…

What are the best international shipping services for small businesses?

The best international shipping services for small businesses are choosing the right carriers as long as they fit the criteria (price, time, insurance,…) It is the cheapest way to ship internationally for businesses

How can I estimate international shipping costs?

Estimating international shipping costs by using quotes and calculating: How much does international shipping cost for e-commerce (which contains other expenses like customs fees,…)

How long does it take to ship packages internationally on a budget?

To ship packages internationally on a budget is choosing the cheapest international shipping methods based on speed

4.8/5.0 (31 vote)
Ethan Minh

Content Strategist

Before taking on the position of Content Strategist at MediaStep, Ethan Minh graduated with honors from New York University and accumulated more than 8 years of experience working at multinational companies, corporations, and marketing agencies such as Omnicom Group and The Interpublic Group of Companies (IPG). He has developed content across all platforms to implement promotional strategies for businesses.

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