Nigeria’s economy is ready for online shopping, as indicated by its B2C index value of 53.2 points in 2019. This index value is the fourth-highest in Africa.
A growing appetite for ecommerce amongst Nigerians is also the reason why US-based merchants are looking to sell more across Africa.
Food, personal care, fashion, and beauty are some of the top sectors that are gaining traction in Nigeria’s ecommerce market.
Whether you’re US-based merchant or Nigeria-based customer, this guide will help you choose the best options to ship goods from the US to Nigeria.
Read on for information on international shipping options and more.
Cost & delivery speeds for shipping to Nigeria from the US
Every shipping courier has its own set of options for international shipping.
Some will be cheaper but take longer to deliver the parcel, while others offer expedited delivery. And still, others offer flat shipping rates for orders of certain dimensions, no matter what the weight.
Note: These are general options for consumers shipping orders. To know what ShipBob offers when shipping to other countries like Nigeria, please request a quote here.
ShipBob’s exact rates for customers will vary as we charge an all-in ‘total fulfilment cost’ that includes picking, packing, and shipping, among other factors.
| Service | Price* | Delivery Time | |
| USPS | First Class Package International | $24.50 | 15 business days |
| USPS | Priority Mail Express International | $78.65 | 3-5 business days |
| USPS | Priority Mail International | $59.20 | 6-10 business days |
| UPS | Worldwide Saver | $218.02 | 3-4 business days |
| UPS | Worldwide Expedited | $157.19 | 3-5 business days |
| FedEx | International Priority | $218.18 | 1-3 business days |
| FedEx | International Economy | $155.64 | 3-4 business days |
| DHL | Express Worldwide | $132.81 | 3-4 business days |
*Only USPS offers flat rates to ship from the US to Nigeria. All other prices were calculated using the respective courier’s pricing calculators for a 2 lbs package in November 2021. Exact prices are subject to change.
How to choose a shipping courier
To ensure your shipments to Nigeria are safely and reliably transported to customers, it is best to consider legacy brands like USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL.
Get to know which of these couriers best fit your company’s needs with this comprehensive pro-con list:
| Couriers | Pros | Cons |
| USPS |
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| FedEx |
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| UPS |
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| DHL |
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Shipping to Nigeria from the US with USPS
USPS is one of the most affordable couriers for shipping parcels to Nigeria. This 50-year-old brand, headquartered in Washington D.C, is a governmental agency that is known for its significant presence across the US.
When to use USPS to ship from the US to Nigeria
Shipping to Nigeria can be an expensive proposition. To keep shipping costs low, it is best to choose USPS. This courier’s flat rate shipping service is especially cost-saving for merchants who wish to courier heavy orders to this African country.
Shipping to Nigeria from the US with UPS
UPSvis one of the world’s largest shipping couriers. Founded in 1907, this Atlanta-based Fortune 500 company delivers to 220 countries, including Nigeria.
When to use UPS to ship from the US to Nigeria
UPS is one of the most reliable shipping services that conveniently transport orders to your customers in Nigeria. Even though it is expensive, the courier offers great customer care service and free last-mile tracking.
Shipping to Nigeria from the US with FedEx
FedEx Corporation is an American parcel company, founded in 1971. It offers worry-free and on-time international shipping services to over 220 countries from the US.
When to use FedEx to ship from the US to Nigeria
Are you considering choosing FedEx to ship your orders from the US to Nigeria? It is a great option for it offers access to customer care support and accurate shipment tracking. On the flip side, it levies surcharges above and beyond the base shipping charges.
Shipping to Nigeria from the US with DHL
DHL International GmbH, headquartered in Germany, is a division of Deutsche Post. Hence, it has a legacy of delivering goods to over 220 nations, in a time-sensitive and reliable manner.
When to use DHL to ship from the US to Nigeria
If you wish to grow your business to Nigerian markets, then choose DHL’s international shipping services. Granted the courier is quite as expensive as compared to competitors. But, at the same time, it is incredibly reliable and offers shipment insurance and door-to-door parcel delivery services.
Duties & taxes when shipping to Nigeria from the US
For any item over $10 that is imported into Nigeria, you will need to pay VAT of 5%.
You are also liable to pay customs duty. This tariff varies based on the category of products being imported. Here are a few examples:
| Customs tax | Description |
| 35% | Dry food and supplements |
| 20% | Fashion |
| 20% | Health and beauty |
| 20% | Watches |
There is no official De Minimis customs duty threshold for the merchandise imported into Nigeria.
Nigeria customs information
All dutiable shipments will need a formal customs clearance in Nigeria. This means you need to present the required documents and pay customs duty based on the value of goods imported.
Also, any freight valued over $1,000 will require a Clean Report of Inspection (CRI).
Click here to visit Nigeria’s customs website and know more about their services, protocols, and rules.
Prohibited items when shipping to Nigeria
So that your shipments are not confiscated or delayed at the port, you must always be aware of the prohibited and restricted items, as outlined by Nigeria’s customs authorities.
For one, if you wish to import medicines, you need a special license for it. And, for another, you need a certificate of disinfection when shipping used clothing to Nigeria.
Also, here is a list of all the items that must never be shipped into the country:
Items you can’t ship to Nigeria from the US |
| Weapons |
| All kinds of hardware |
| Lottery circulars and ads |
| Perishable biological substances |
Be sure to check with the official Nigeria customs website before sending your goods, as the list of restricted and banned items tends to evolve with time.
What ecommerce businesses need to know about shipping to Nigeria
Is Nigeria a new market that your ecommerce business is hoping to tap into?
If yes, here are some of the most important things to be mindful of when expanding your footprint to this African nation:
1. Enable voice-activated ordering
A growing number of Nigerians are searching for and placing orders online by describing the products verbally. To make the most of this trend, you need to add voice commerce functionality to your mobile apps and website.
2. Offer multiple payment modes
The most preferred means of payment in Nigeria for online shopping is cash on delivery (COD). But, with the growing penetration of fintech, the trust in online payment is also growing. This is why your online portals need to offer COD and online payment options.
Ship internationally with ShipBob
Scaling your business can be overwhelming. To scale, you’ll have to manage everything from warehousing to shipping. As an online brand, this leaves you very little time to focus on more strategic tasks.
That’s why many fast-growing brands outsource fulfilment to a 3PL like ShipBob.
ShipBob is an international 3PL with a growing fulfilment centre network powered by premium, centralised technology that provides consistency, visibility, and transparency across our entire network.
When selling internationally, ShipBob can help you establish a shipping strategy, expand operations across international distribution centres, and provide the best international and domestic shipping rates — all while spending less on time on day-to-day logistics operations.
“I’ve also been fortunate to ship orders to customers from around the world. The process of shipping internationally to optimise costs has been easy. There’s no difference on my website for international shipping except adding tariff codes on products.
Otherwise ShipBob handles everything for me. Best of all, the price that ShipBob charges to ship internationally is less than it costs for me to print a USPS label myself.”
Anastasia Allison, founder of Kula Cloth
Ready to start shipping to Nigeria from the US? Get started with ShipBob.
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Shipping to Nigeria FAQs
Below are answers to the most common questions about shipping to Nigeria from the US.
What’s the cheapest way to ship to Nigeria from the US?
USPS’ Priority Mail International is one of the cheapest ways to ship from the US to Nigeria. While it is a more affordable option, the shipment will take 6 to 10 days to reach the destination.
What’s the cheapest way to ship large packages to Nigeria from the US?
USPS is the best way to affordably ship large and heavy packages to any country, including Nigeria. Choose its flat rate box shipping that costs between $40.15 to $111.35.
What’s the fastest way to ship a package to Nigeria from the US?
FedEx International Priority and USPS GXG Envelopes ensure that your shipments from the US reach Nigeria within 1 to 3 days.
Do I have to pay customs duties and fees when shipping to Nigeria from the US?
Merchandize imported into Nigeria attracts a 5% tax. Additionally, you need to pay customs duty that varies based on the category of goods.
What’s the easiest way to ship something to Nigeria from the US?
UPS and FedEx offer some of the most convenient and reliable means of shipping from the US to Nigeria. Since both couriers have a strong US presence, drop-offs of parcels is quite easy.
