The Least expensive Ways to Send a Package: 6 USPS Suggestions

If you end up always wondering, “what’s the least expensive technique to send a package,” that’s not surprising. Shipping costs are an expense for any business that’s hard to get around. And even worse: as your store grows, you’ll probably end up spending more and more on it!

Eventually, you come to two options: keep spending an arm and a leg on shipping, or work out a strategy for keeping shipping costs low.

Luckily, you don’t should be at the mercy of your carrier — if you already know learn how to ship smart! In this blog post, we’ll walk you thru some strategies for reducing shipping costs with one among our hottest carriers, USPS.

Read on to find the least expensive ways to ship a package that work, no matter what you sell.

What Is the Least expensive Method to Send a Package?

When it involves shipping items, the least expensive technique to send a package will depend upon a number of aspects, similar to package weight, size, delivery speed, and destination.

The USPS offers several cost-effective options for shipping packages. These services are reasonably priced and can prevent money in comparison with other carriers.

Plus, to reduce shipping costs, consider switching to lighter packaging materials, looking into flat-rate options, using free shipping supplies, and choosing unconventional decisions like choosing envelopes as an alternative of boxes. Let’s explore each option in detail to find the least expensive technique to send a package that works for you.

Use Lighter Packaging When Sending With First-Class Mail

The associated fee of shipping varies depending not only on the destination of the package but in addition on its weight. You may already know that. But did you already know that in some cases, carriers round-up on a package’s weight?

When on the lookout for the least expensive shipping method, sellers often select First-Class Mail via USPS for light-weight shipments. This selection has different price ranges for parcels of over 4 oz, 8oz, or 12 oz. The load is rounded up to the next biggest rank. So, if your parcel is 5 oz., it’ll be shipped for the price of 8 oz. parcel.

To save on shipping with First-Class Mail via USPS, use light packaging. For instance, poly mailers as an alternative of boxes:

Using the option for lightweight shipments could be the least expensive technique to send a small package. Yet, if you’re concerned about protecting fragile items, think about using cushioned shipping rolls as an alternative of light packaging like poly mailers. This ensures each protection for your products and keeps the packaging weight minimal.

This tip will assist you avoid wasting hard-earned cents on each shipment. The difference could seem not significant, but when you’re selling at a decent clip, it all adds up really quick. Don’t consider us? Calculate your monthly shipping costs. Now take 25 cents off each shipment and try it again.

Use Free Shipping Supplies

Once you ship with USPS, you’ll be able to replenish on free shipping supplies to get monetary savings on packaging.

Aside from boxes, envelopes, and pouches, you’ll be able to order other handy things similar to “Fragile” labels. Stick one to your parcel to increase the possibilities of getting it to a customer intact, thereby stopping refunds for broken items.

If you utilize your individual packaging materials, you’ll be able to order free labels to mark your packages. For instance, if you ship with Priority Mail, use a special label to help postal staff discover your package as urgent.

Use Regional Rate Boxes A and B for Heavy Items

This tip could be helpful if you’re on the lookout for the least expensive technique to send a heavy package.

If you must send a dense package a short distance, you’ll be able to save with the USPS Priority Mail Regional Rate. That way, the package’s rates are based on the distance traveled. Note: this method requires the use of USPS-branded packaging (boxes A and B).

Box A lets you ship a maximum of 15 kilos for domestic orders and a maximum of 10 kilos for international orders.

With Box B, you’ll be able to ship a maximum of 20 kilos for each domestic and international orders. Each boxes are available different sizes, so you may have several options to pick from.
This selection will be the least expensive technique to send a package that’s heavy but small. Consider dumbbells, for example. The heavier your package, the more you save.

Try this video for more tips about shipping with Regional Rate Boxes A and B:

Ship Boxes with Flat Rate Envelopes

A flat rate is a fixed rate of payment (as in, one which stays the same no matter what you’re shipping). It’s good for saving on costs as it is, and sometimes it will be the point-blank least expensive technique to ship a package, but we’ve got more tricks up our sleeves than simply that.

What if you wish an extra protection layer for your package but need to save on shipping? Here’s a hack for you: pack your product right into a box and put the box inside a flat rate envelope (try a padded one for much more protection!)

You should use your individual box or order a free one from USPS. Stumped? Check out a Small Flat Rate Box. It snugly matches most USPS flat rate envelopes:

Obviously, this tip won’t work for every product, but when your item matches right into a box and an envelope, you’ll be able to send it at a flat rate and avoid wasting money. As the saying goes: if it matches, it ships!

Use Padded Flat Rate Envelopes

USPS offers a lot of flat rate packages—from small envelopes to large boxes. However the Priority Mail Padded Flat Rate Envelope has really caught our attention. It’s lined with bubble padding and thick enough to protect your product, no matter what it is (well, reasonably speaking).

Which means you’ll be able to ship relatively large items with padded envelopes, as long as they fit. This might be a great option for things like clothes, books, or wood art pieces.

This video shows off how padded envelopes are flexible enough to fit greater products:

Buy Discounted Shipping Labels via Ecwid

Suggestions and tricks for saving on supplies and optimizing packaging are great. But what if you can actually pay less overall to ship than you do by stopping at your local post office?

If you run an Ecwid store, you’ll be able to buy discounted shipping labels right in your Ecwid admin. These offer the least expensive shipping rates — lower than retail rates at the post office!

Not only will printing your individual labels prevent on shipping costs, but they’ll also prevent time. Buy a label, print it, stick it on your package, and drop it off at your local post office; no have to wait in line. You’ll be able to even skip going to a post office (and add saving on gas to your list)—just request a home pickup, and a postal employee will grab your package on their regular route.

By the way, if you’re on the lookout for the least expensive technique to send a package internationally, discounted rates might be the solution you wish. International shipping costs are often the highest, but with Ecwid, international shipping becomes reasonably priced shipping, as you’ll be able to buy discounted labels for international shipments too.

Here’s learn how to buy discounted shipping labels with Ecwid.

Start Saving on Shipping

We hope the following pointers for low-cost shipping have been helpful so far — just remember: they might not work for every situation or location. We’re presenting you with a variety of options so you’ll be able to work out which of them work best for you.

If you’re on the lookout for more resources to optimize your shipping, the Ecwid Blog has loads of articles, videos, and podcasts on the topic. For instance:

Check them out and find the least expensive technique to send a package that works best for your online business.