Best Way to Ship Clothing
With the increasing trend of online shopping, especially in 2024, managing shipping costs effectively is crucial for maintaining profitability in any business dealing with clothing. To help you navigate this essential aspect, we present this article on shipping clothing in the cheapest ways possible.
What's the cheapest way to ship clothes? The cost of shipping will depend on several factors, from your shipping destination, weight and dimensions of your parcel, and special packaging to how quickly you need your shipment to arrive. Let’s start with the weight options.
Shipping Clothing Under One Pound
Often we want to deliver a single item with a small weight, without limiting our customers to large orders that they may not be ready for. At the same time, we don't want to overpay for shipping single-item orders. That's why we've picked the cheapest way to ship items weighing up to one pound.
For clothing items, such as t-shirts, that weigh less than a pound, USPS Ground Advantage seems the most economical option for domestic shipping. This service is well known for being affordable and reliable at the same time. Their delivery time is typically between 2 to 5 days, which is fairly quick for standard shipping. And USPS Ground Advantage also offers tracking, which ensures that both the sender and the recipient can monitor the shipment’s progress.
To maximize savings when shipping items less than one pound, you should try to take advantage of the full 15.999-ounce allowance provided by this service. If you are shipping a single T-shirt, it is still beneficial to ensure that the total package weight remains just under 16 ounces. Additionally, using lightweight packaging materials can further help in keeping the package within the permissible weight limit, thus avoiding any additional costs.
Shipping Clothing Over One Pound
When it comes to shipping clothing that exceeds 1 lbs, you need to consider several factors, such as dimensional weight, especially when you consolidate multiple items to ship together. Carriers such as UPS, DHL and FedEx apply dimensional weight pricing. That means that the shipping cost is calculated based on the volume of the package rather than its actual weight. This can result in higher costs for bulky items even if they are not particularly heavy.
Of course, weight also affects shipping costs, but sometimes the weight has to almost double for shipping costs to go up, while changing the size of a box by a couple of inches will already increase its cost significantly.
For shipments where the weight exceeds one pound but you still can manage the package size, USPS Priority Mail often provides cheaper options compared to UPS or FedEx.
Priority Mail is particularly advantageous for packages that do not exceed one cubic foot in volume. Keep in mind that USPS provides special packaging options for their customers. Ordering free packaging supplies directly from USPS can further reduce costs by eliminating the need to purchase packaging materials.
Cheapest Way to Ship Clothes Internationally
International shipping rates can vary significantly due to many factors. USPS First-Class Mail International Package typically has low rates for packages under 4.4 lbs. Qwintry Global provides further reduced rates for this service.
For instance, shipping a package from the US to Canada of 4 lbs will cost $36 and take from 7 to 21 days.
How to Package Clothes for Shipping
Shipping clothes is not the hardest task, but we have provided some special guidelines and tips to make it the best way possible.
Boxes provide extra support for items such as coats, denim, and other heavy materials. They are generally shipped in boxes to avoid damage.
For instance, if you need to ship a wedding dress, the key steps in preparing and packing the dress are:
- Get a suitable box: Find a box that fits the dress perfectly without damaging any details.
- Fold the dress: Fold the dress's arms and place tissue paper between layers, especially if there are embellishments.
- Handle the train: Fold the sides of the train towards the center and roll it up carefully.
- Bag the dress: Place the dress in a clear plastic garment bag.
- Box the dress: Put the bagged dress in the box, ensuring it fits snugly.
- Add padding: Use bubble wrap for additional padding, if needed.
- Secure the box: Seal the box with tape and label it clearly as 'Wedding Dress.'
- Consider shipping options: Use express shipping options for quicker delivery and track your shipment for peace of mind.
Flat Rate Shipping Options
Flat rate shipping is a good option for reducing costs, especially when dealing with heavier packages or shipments over long distances. USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate offers a single price regardless of the weight or distance. That makes it ideal for shipping heavier items or for international shipping.
For instance, if you’re shipping a pair of men's jeans that weigh about 1 pound 6 ounces across a distance of 1400 to 1800 miles, using Priority Mail with commercial rates might cost around $12.30.
However, opting for a Priority Mail Flat Rate Padded Envelope can reduce this cost to $9.65, resulting in savings of $2.65 per shipment. Although the initial savings might appear small, they can accumulate significantly over time, enhancing overall cost-efficiency for your eCommerce business.
It is crucial to analyze the specific needs of each shipment to determine whether flat rate or standard priority mail offers the best value. For shorter distances, where the shipment falls within lower weight zones, the cost differences can vary. For example, shipping the same pair of jeans within a 51 to 150-mile range using Priority Mail might cost $8.90, while the Flat Rate Padded Envelope might cost $9.65, leading to a slight increase in cost.
Regional Rate vs. Flat Rate
For shipments weighing up to 15 pounds, regional rate boxes can be a more cost-effective option compared to flat rate services, particularly for shorter distances. Regional rate boxes base their pricing primarily on the distance the package needs to travel, which can result in significant savings for shorter deliveries.
For instance, if you are shipping multiple items within a short distance, such as within a Zone 2 range (51 to 150 miles), using a regional rate box might be more economical than opting for a flat rate box. This method takes advantage of the shorter distance to reduce shipping costs while still accommodating heavier packages.
Clothing Donation Solutions
You may find yourself in a situation where your clothing storage is overflowing and you can’t sell these items. Or you wish to contribute to charitable causes. In such cases, services like Give Back Box offer a convenient and sustainable solution. Give Back Box allows businesses and individuals to donate clothing and other items using prepaid shipping labels, which can be dropped off at UPS, USPS, and FedEx locations.
This service not only supports charitable organizations but also promotes sustainability by encouraging the reuse of shipping materials. For example, if you have a surplus of clothing that cannot be sold, you can pack these items in used shipping boxes, apply the Give Back Box prepaid label, and select a charity to receive the donation. This will not only help people in need but also align with environmentally friendly practices.
In conclusion, effectively managing the shipping costs for clothing involves understanding the various services available and choosing the right method based on the specific requirements of each shipment. Whether you are shipping lightweight single items or heavier packages, exploring options like USPS First-Class Package Service, Priority Mail, and flat rate or regional rate boxes can help in optimizing costs. Additionally, using services like Give Back Box supports both charitable causes and sustainability initiatives. Stay informed and adapt to the best shipping practices, so your eCommerce business can maintain a competitive edge and ensure profitability in online retail.
Use Qwintry Global for the cheapest way to ship clothes!
