Shipping to Singapore From the US

What do you want to learn?

Request a Quote

Singapore is a lively market where consumers are digitally savvy and willing to support international online brands.

The physical and digital infrastructure is also robust, which makes it a more conducive environment for international ecommerce.  

No wonder cross-border ecommerce makes up 35% of Singapore’s ecommerce market. 


This guide provides information on how to ship a package from the US to Singapore, plus tips on how ecommerce brands can better plan international shipping logistics with ShipBob.

Cost & delivery speeds for shipping to Singapore from the US

20% of overseas online shopping done within Singapore are from US-based brands.

For your business to stay competitive and deliver a great customer experience, it’s important to implement a shipping strategy that makes international shipping less complex and more affordable.

Below are some of the popular global shipping options offered by the top four carriers. Please note that we calculated the following rates using each carrier’s pricing calculators for a consistent example of a 2 lbs package in December 2021. Exact prices are subject to change.

Note: These are general options for consumers shipping orders. To know what ShipBob offers when shipping to other countries like Singapore, please request a quote here.

ShipBob’s exact rates for customers will vary as we charge an all-in ‘total fulfillment cost’ that includes picking, packing, and shipping, among other factors. 

ServicePrice*Delivery Time
USPSFirst Class International$24.239-17 business days
USPSPriority Mail International$56.763-5 business days
USPSPriority Mail Express International*$74.663-5 business days
UPSWorldwide Expedited$40.222-3 business days
UPSUPS Worldwide Saver$44.453-4 business days
DHLWorldwide Express$40.652-3 business days 
DHLParcel Direct$31.1612-19 business days 

*USPS prices here reflect flat rate box shipping prices. But be aware of changes in SLAs due to COVID-19. USPS has temporarily suspended the guarantee on Priority Mail Express International for some countries, including Singapore. Refer to USPS’s international service alerts for updates. 

How to choose a shipping carrier

International logistics is a complex affair. This is why you need to choose the right carrier that will offer easy parcel pickup, low rates, insurance, customs support, and track the shipment’s movement. 

When evaluating the top 4 carriers to ship your business orders, here are their merits and demerits to be aware of:

Carriers

Pros

Cons

USPS
  • Go-to carrier for affordable shipping
  • Perfect for sending heavy packages thanks to its flat-rate service
  • Has convenient nationwide drop-off points 
  • Offers non-stop parcel delivery on all days of the week
  • Delivery timelines are not always adhered to
  • Not ideal for fragile items as parcels tend to be carelessly handled during transit 
  • Inaccurate last-mile tracking
FedEx
  • Enables real-time tracking of shipments
  • Merchants can speak with FedEx customer care agents for free
  • Enables fast customs clearance
  • Ships on all days, including Saturday and Sunday
  • Pick-up service is available only on a paid basis 
  • Fewer drop-off locations across the US as compared to UPS and USPS
UPS
  • Offers free customs clearance support and efficient last-mile tracking
  • Large physical footprint in the US makes it convenient to drop-off parcels
  • High shipping fees, especially for large parcels 
  • Pick-up service is chargeable
  • Surcharges and other extra fees charged
DHL
  • Great for overseas shipping since DHL has a strong international focus 
  • Offers environment-friendly shipping
  • Insurers international shipments 
  • No pickup fees
  • Offers door-to-door service and optional customs brokerage
  • DHL has limited drop-off locations in the US
  • High shipping costs and surcharges

Shipping to Singapore from the US with USPS

USPS started its operations in 1971 and is known for its extensive presence in the US. It ships to 180+ countries and is the preferred carrier when it comes to affordable order fulfillment.

When to use USPS to ship from the US to Singapore

If you tend to ship a lot of heavy goods, then USPS’s flat-rate services offer great value for money. On the other hand, you end up facing delivery delays from time to time. 

Shipping to Singapore from the US with UPS

UPS delivers parcels to 200+ countries. Founded in 1907, it is the world’s largest package delivery company. Thus, you can safely rely on UPS to ship your orders, on time and securely.

When to use UPS to ship from the US to Singapore

If your orders are time-sensitive, UPS has a wide range of expedited shipping options to meet the need. And its tracking solution ensures that you have visibility of your order’s status in real time. But remember that UPS charges extra for pick-up and Saturday deliveries.

Shipping to Singapore from the US with FedEx

FedEx offers delivery to 220+ countries and territories. They make customs paperwork a real breeze and also offer access to customer service centers across the world for quick resolution of your complaints or concerns.

When to use FedEx to ship from the US to Singapore

Always know your order status at any point in time with FedEx’s real-time order tracking capabilities. And that’s not all, the carrier safeguards your business from parcel loss or damage by insuring international shipments. 

Shipping to Singapore from the US with DHL

Having the capability to ship to over 220 nations and territories is what makes DHL one of the top carriers of the world. Founded in 1969, DHL has a razor focus on sustainability that is ideal for businesses that wish to reduce the environmental impact of their operations.

When to use DHL to ship from the US to Singapore

No courier pickup fees, 24/7 international support, and the ability to reduce carbon emissions are all great reasons to choose DHL for global fulfillment. At the same time, be mindful of the fact that you may have to pay extra shipping charges or surcharges and that the carriers dedicated to their US presence.

Duties & taxes when shipping to Singapore from the US

Singapore’s tax-free threshold is SGD 400, any imported goods valued above this will attract GST and/or duty. You need to pay both a Goods and Services Tax (GST) and customs duty only on intoxicating liquors, tobacco products, motor vehicles, and petroleum products.

All other products are non-dutiable. But, the GST is levied at 7% of the CIF (cost, insurance, and freight) value.

Singapore customs information

When importing goods into Singapore, you need to ensure that the shipments are adhering to the Customs Act, the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Act, and the Regulation of Imports and Exports Act.

This means that, before shipping orders to the Lion City, your business must obtain a customs permit.

To know more about Singapore’s customs department, here is a link to their website.

Prohibited items when shipping to Singapore

No matter which country you are shipping orders to, it’s important to know the local import procedures and declaration requirements. You also need to know if your shipment falls under their customs list of prohibited or controlled goods for import.

These rules ring true even when shipping goods into Singapore.

On that note, here are some of the goods that are banned from being imported into this Southeast Asian country:

Items you can’t ship to Singapore from the US

Drugs
Weapons
Chewing gum
Fireworks
Telephone voice changing equipment
Obscene content
Hookah products

What ecommerce businesses need to know about shipping to Singapore

When selling and shipping to Singapore, you need to tailor your market entry strategy to meet the needs of the local population.

Some of the key country-specific insights to keep in mind are:

1. Adopt a mobile-first strategy

The ecommerce industry is driven by 75% of Singaporeans aged 18 to 29 who shop using their mobile devices. So, ensure that your business’ mobile app is optimized and localized to attract this demographic.

2. Leverage live streaming sales

Across South-East Asia, products are being sold via live streaming using social media influencers within the business’ app. This sort of evolved sales tactics can help capture the imagination and wallet share of Singaporean customers.

3. Offer multiple payments modes

65% of ecommerce transactions in Singapore happen via credit and debit cards. And the use of digital wallets, such as PayPal, Apple Pay, Samsung Pay, Visa Checkout, and Masterpass, is only growing thanks to high smartphone usage. So, ensure that your ecommerce apps accommodate these different payment modes.


 

Outsource shipping to an international 3PL like ShipBob

Selling internationally can be challenging, time-consuming, and costly.

But with ShipBob, you’re given everything you need to serve customers across the globe while saving time on logistics. 

We not only take care of picking, packing, and shipping your orders to Singapore, we also offer upfront fulfillment costs that include customs, duties, and additional taxes.

By partnering with ShipBob, you eliminate the need to manage retail fulfillment, logistics operations, and hire labor.

Working with ShipBob can actually turn logistics and warehousing into a revenue driver because you can increase sales and offer the shipping options, transit times, and delivery speeds that customers want.

The best part about partnering with ShipBob is you get time back to focus on more strategic initiatives, such as customer service and marketing.

“I’ve also been fortunate to ship orders to customers from around the world. The process of shipping internationally to optimize 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 Singapore from the US? Get started with ShipBob. 

Request a quote

Enter your details below and we’ll be in touch to learn more about your business.

Request Fulfillment Pricing

A fulfillment expert will get back to you shortly. Privacy Policy

Shipping to Singapore FAQs

Here are some frequently asked questions people have when shipping packages from the United States to Singapore. 

What’s the cheapest way to ship to Singapore from the US?

FedEx Intl Connect and FedEx Economy offer some of the cheapest means of shipping from the US to Singapore.

What’s the cheapest way to ship large packages to Singapore from the US?

For large and heavy packages, you should choose USPS’ flat-rate services for some of the lowest rates in the market.

What’s the fastest way to ship a package to Singapore from the US?

With DHL Express, FedEx Priority, UPS Worldwide Saver, and USPS GXG Envelopes you can ensure that parcels are delivered to Singapore within 1 to 3 working days.

Do I have to pay customs duties and fees when shipping to Singapore from the US?

A 7% tax must be paid on all goods, of more than $400 in value, entering Singapore’s borders. Customs duty is also applicable on the likes of intoxicating liquors, tobacco products, motor vehicles, and petroleum products.

What’s the easiest way to ship something to Singapore from the US?

UPS and USPS offer access to a wide network of drop-off centers across the USA. Meanwhile, choose FedEx or DHL for better customer support and parcel tracking facilities.