{"id":1187,"date":"2023-03-06T06:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-06T06:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/blog\/shipping-heavy-items\/"},"modified":"2025-10-08T20:59:11","modified_gmt":"2025-10-08T20:59:11","slug":"shipping-heavy-items","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.shipbob.com\/au\/blog\/shipping-heavy-items\/","title":{"rendered":"Cheapest Way to Ship Heavy & Large Items: Couriers and Classes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Table of Contents<\/p>

** Minutes<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n

Best and cheapest ways to ship heavy and large items (+ top couriers compared)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4 tips for shipping large and heavy items<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

What to consider when shipping heavy items<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Calculate costs of shipping large or heavy items<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How to ship even heavier items over 70 pounds<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

How do ecommerce shops ship heavy items?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Need help with fulfilment?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shipping heavy items FAQs<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Big products, big problems \u2014 right? Heavy-weight large packages and oversized shipping<\/a> can seem like a pain and a half, but there are plenty of couriers that offer fast and easy shipping of even the biggest and bulkiest items or a business owner\u2019s peace of mind.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By comparing the pros and cons of various couriers, you can figure out which shipping solution is best for your business.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Best and cheapest ways to ship heavy and large items (+ top couriers compared)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There are quite a few big-name players in the heavy-weight and oversized shipping game. Each one offers at least one good option for certain types of packages, but not all are cost-effective shipping options. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Picking the right one can be the difference between being in the red or in the black, so read on to see which ones offer the right mix for you.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, while the couriers\/shippers who cater to smaller businesses and individual customers post their prices publicly (USPS, UPS, FedEx), couriers that work with larger businesses on a larger scale tend not to post their prices publicly (FedEx Freight, DHL). <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your product is big enough and high-quantity enough, it will almost always be cheaper to use freight shipping<\/a> than a parcel, so it\u2019s always worth it to get the price for freight shipments. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

USPS<\/strong>
Priority: 1-3 Days<\/td>		– Weight limit of 70 lbs
– Ideal for small- to medium-size boxes that are dense and heavy<\/td><\/tr>
USPS<\/strong>
Priority Mail Express: Overnight<\/td>		– Packages under 70 lbs start around $30.45
– For heavy items that fit in a flat-rate envelope<\/td><\/tr>
USPS<\/strong>
Media Mail: 2-10 Days<\/td>		– Books, CDs, DVDs<\/td><\/tr>
USPS<\/strong>
Ground: 2-8 Days<\/td>		– Weight limit of 70 lbs
– Cheaper than priority<\/td><\/tr>
FedEx<\/strong>
Ground: 1-7 Days<\/td>		– Weight limit of 150 lbs<\/td><\/tr>
FedEx<\/strong>
Freight (Priority or Economy)<\/td>		– Shipping heavy pallets<\/td><\/tr>
DHL<\/strong>
Freight (Air or Ocean)<\/td>		– Ideal for international or expedited shipping<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

USPS<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

USPS has several shipping services and USPS mail types<\/a>, even including an overnight shipping<\/a> option.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Priority Mail: 1-3 days<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Priority Mail<\/span><\/a>has a weight limit of 70 pounds for all sizes, from a small envelope to a large box, but the largest size they offer is about 1 foot by 1 foot by 6 inches. Prices range from $6.95 for the small envelope to $17.60 for the large box. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a great option for small to medium-sized items that are dense and heavy, and don\u2019t have a big rush to get to the customer \u2014 though it\u2019s worth noting that 1-3 days is still quite good.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Priority Mail Express: overnight<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Priority Mail Express<\/span><\/a> is a great option if you need to get your package to its destination as quickly as possible. Packages under 70 pounds ship starting at $22.5<\/span>0, but that\u2019s the price for the flat-rate shipping<\/a> envelope, so it only goes up from there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your item is heavy and can be squeezed into the flat-rate envelope, this will be the cheapest option for you. If it\u2019s bigger, you may have better luck with another courier.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Media Mail: 2-10 days<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Media Mail<\/a> is for a very small niche of USPS customers. If you\u2019re shipping any kind of media (books, CDs, DVDs), you can do it for far cheaper than you\u2019ll get anywhere else by using Media Mail. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, don\u2019t abuse the system, because if USPS inspects your package and finds that you\u2019ve broken the rules (which they have the right to do), they\u2019ll return the package to you for insufficient postage.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re shipping media that\u2019s a little heavy though, you\u2019re in luck, because you won\u2019t get a better rate anywhere else.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ground: 2-8 days<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

If your product is too large for a large flat rate box through Priority Mail, Retail Ground shipping is going to be for you. <\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The weight limit is still 70 pounds, but it\u2019s meant for products that are too big for the Priority Mail boxes. However, as you can see, the delivery time is a lot slower. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, prices are calculated by zone and weight \u2014 if you\u2019re going to Zone 4, for example, prices range from $8 to $67, depending on how much it weighs. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you\u2019re not in a hurry, it\u2019s worth plugging in your numbers to see if it\u2019s a good fit price-wise.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

FedEx<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

FedEx has a couple of heavy and oversize delivery services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ground: 1-7 days<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

If you were feeling left out by the USPS weight limit of 70 pounds, enter<\/span>FedEx<\/span><\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

They have a less predictable delivery time, but a more inclusive weight limit of 150 pounds, and size up to 108 inches in length, and 165 inches in length plus girth.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

If your packages are larger and\/or heavier than USPS allows for in its flat rate, FedEx Ground can be a great option.<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Freight: Priority or Economy<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

FedEx Freight<\/span><\/a>prices vary too much by zone and size to give a good range, but if you\u2019re shipping pallets of heavy packages, this is the spot where you want to start.<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Priority is for quicker delivery than economy, of course, and both are calculated by the overall weight and size of your pallet. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you get into a large amount of packages shipped and\/or quite a heavy weight overall, this can become a much cheaper option than shipping the packages individually.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

DHL<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

DHL\u2019s heavy shipping options are great for international shipping<\/a> and even include expedited shipping<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Air freight<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

DHL owns, co-owns, or partners with several different airlines around the world. It offers an<\/span>air freight<\/span><\/a>service in which your freight gets added to various flights that are scheduled along major routes, and it offers door-to-door delivery (plus airport-to-door, or door-to-airport).<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Like all other couriers, it offers options for how fast you need your freight delivered, from Urgent Air Freight (1-2 days) to Air Economy (5-7 days), and it even offers options for special cargo, temperature-controlled environments, and day-definite international shipments. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ocean freight<\/h4>\n\n\n\n

Very similar to its air freight option, DHL offers an<\/span>ocean freight<\/span><\/a>service that carries freight overseas on various ocean couriers. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

They offer Full Container (FCL) and Less Than Container (LCL), and a similar variety of special options, like temperature-controlled areas and even transportation of liquids. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The bottom line is that freight options are for when your cargo is too heavy, big, or bulky to get a good price shipping it parcel.<\/strong> It makes more sense to ship it by pallet or container, because you\u2019ll get a better price and service. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4 tips for shipping large and heavy items<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Before you ship large and heavy items, you first need to ensure they\u2019re secured and packed in the right packaging. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once that\u2019s done, there are a few more things you need to consider before you send out the package. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Use heavy-duty packaging<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

First, you will need to plan ahead and provide your item(s) with the packaging it deserves. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For heavy items, try not to use used packaging that is more susceptible to breaking. Also, consider boxes that are stapled, not glued, at the seams. This can go a long way in preserving your packages on their way through the supply chain.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Choose a courier<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Next, you need to pick a courier to ship your large and heavy items. Choosing the right one is essential, as they play a massive role in customer satisfaction. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even though potential problems in the shipping process may not be your fault, your customers will associate an awful shipping experience with your brand, so you need to pick the courier you’ll use carefully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You need to ensure that the courier you want to use can ship larger and heavier packages \u2014 not all of them do. You should also consider your budget, timing, and the courier’s shipping processes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Get insurance<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Lost or damaged items is a worst-case scenario, but it is one you will inevitably have to deal with. So, how can you mitigate the risk, as well as lower what you\u2019ll have to pay for the replacement product and shipping?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Shipping insurance<\/a>. It\u2019s not that expensive when compared to the benefits, and it\u2019s well worth it if you\u2019re shipping a high volume of products.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There\u2019s a lot that goes into deciding who to ship your heavy items with, and how. Size matters just as much as weight \u2014 you could have two packages that weigh the same, but one is small and dense and the other is large and awkwardly shaped, and you\u2019ll likely have two different shipping companies come up as the best result.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Split up your shipments<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Especially for larger and heavier shipments, sometimes. it makes sense to split shipments<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Of course, it’s always best to ship in bulk, but when the shipment gets too large, it could end up costing you more in both labour and costs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Splitting a shipment might also be your only option. For example, if you’re shipping a pallet via DHL freight and it weighs more than the weight limit of 1000kg (~2,200 lbs), then you’ll have to split the pallet into two shipments.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What to consider when shipping heavy items<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

With that in mind, here are some factors to consider when shipping heavy items:<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

1.  Dimensional weight<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

This is a fairly new concept (UPS and FedEx started using dimensional weight in 2015, and USPS adopted it in 2019), and it occurred because shipping companies were losing money on large but extremely light items. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Dimensional weight<\/a> is a \u201ctheoretical\u201d weight of your package. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Based on how much volumetric space your package occupies, they will calculate how much it would weigh by applying their own minimum density number, and then charge you for whichever is more expensive (the actual weight or dimensional weight). <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is extremely important to keep in mind if your packages weigh less than the dimensional weight, and you\u2019ll want to get quotes from companies to find out the actual cost instead of doing your own calculation based on the actual weigh<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

2. Fragile items<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Another shipping tip is that if your item is delicate and needs a little extra care, you may want to choose a courier that prides itself on handling fragile shipments<\/a> rather than focusing on faster transit times that might harm parcel shipping.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

3. Origin and destination of the package<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

No matter how heavy your package is, couriers will use the origin and destination of the package to calculate which<\/span>shipping zone<\/span><\/a> you\u2019re shipping to \u2014 the further away it is, the higher the zone, and the higher the zone, the higher the cost of shipping.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n

4. Courier\u2019s rules<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Each courier has its own rules, and the one you use will heavily influence your cost, based on what you\u2019re shipping. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some couriers are more friendly than others when it comes to weight, size, and fragility \u2014 we\u2019ll go more into detail about that in the next section.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

5. Type of service being used<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Are you planning on offering international shipping? Next day delivery?<\/span> Overnight? <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Each of these is important to consider when choosing a courier.<\/span> Shipping couriers each have their own speciality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For instance, USPS offers the best rates for shipping ground across the contiguous US. If you’re shipping a somewhat heavy item (under 70 lbs) domestically, USPS is a great option. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

But if you’re shipping overseas, consider either FedEx for one-off international shipping, or DHL for bulk, international shipments <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Calculate costs of shipping large or heavy items<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The process of calculating costs for shipping large or heavy items is quite simple. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

All you need to do is measure the weight and dimensions of your package, then use the courier\u2019s calculator or reference their pricing page to calculate your costs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are all the calculators and reference pages from major couriers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n