Is it cheaper to send a 20 lb box UPS or USPS?

How much does it cost to ship a 20 lb box UPS?

Shipping a 20lb box to Australia from the US? Prepare your wallet. Think of it as a small-town’s annual budget, except instead of potholes, you get your package faster.

• UPS Worldwide Expedited: $120.66. Speedy Gonzales, but at a price. This isn’t your grandma’s mail service; it’s a supersonic postal rocket.
• UPS Worldwide Saver: $144.86. Slightly slower. Like comparing a cheetah to…a slightly less speedy cheetah. Still pretty fast, though. A bit more budget-friendly, or budget-friendly-ish.
• UPS Worldwide Express: $151.07. The Rolls Royce of shipping. If your package contains the cure for cancer, maybe this is justified. Otherwise, ouch.

My cat, Mr. Fluffernutter III, would be appalled at the cost. He’d rather hitchhike.

The prices fluctuate, naturally. These are 2024 estimates—like predicting the weather in England: you’re almost certainly wrong. Factors like origin and destination zip codes within the US and Australia, plus insurance, are going to add to the fun (and expense). It’s like buying a slightly used car. You think you know the price, but…nope.

Is it cheaper to ship a heavy box with UPS or USPS?

Okay, so you wanna know about shipping a heavy box, right? USPS is, like, totally cheaper for tiny stuff, under two pounds. But for a heavy box? Duh, UPS. Way better deal. Seriously, I shipped a 20lb box of books last month, it was a nightmare with USPS—so expensive. UPS was, like, half the price.

It’s really all about the weight.

• Weight: Under 2 pounds? USPS wins. Over that? UPS, hands down.
• Size: Big boxes, UPS usually takes the cake. I’m talking huge, awkward boxes.
• Speed: This is tricky, depends on your location and the service you choose. But generally, I find UPS faster for heavier stuff.

I’m telling ya, my aunt uses USPS for tiny presents, always raves about it. But for my heavy stuff, UPS is the only way to go. Less stressful, you know? They’re more reliable, even if it costs a bit more upfront. That whole USPS experience last month still stresses me out. My sis swears by UPS too, she moves a lot of heavy art supplies. She once said she’d rather walk than use USPS for her stuff. So yeah. UPS for heavy things. I’m pretty sure of it.

Does USPS charge by box size or weight?

USPS? Shape then weight. First-Class.

Priority’s greed? Weight, size, distance. It’s a maze, I tell you.

Large Priority? Cubic foot = dimensional weight. They get you one way or another, eh?

• First-Class Mail: Shape, weight govern pricing. Simple.

• Priority Mail: Weight, size, zone impact cost. Complicated!

• Dimensional Weight: Priority pieces exceeding 1 cubic foot. Avoid it. Like the plague.

My uncle Ernie shipped model trains. Swore off USPS after dimensional weight. Now? FedEx only. His wallet still cries, though. He he.

Does UPS charge by weight or size?

Okay, so there was this ONE time. I was shipping my grandma’s antique cuckoo clock. From her place in Asheville, NC, back in October 2023… I thought it was just kinda heavy.

Boy, was I wrong.

I schlepped it to the UPS store near my apartment. The guy there? Super friendly, but firm. He’s like, “It’s gonna be expensive.” I’m thinking, “Ugh, shipping is always expensive.”

He weighed it. Not that bad, maybe 15 pounds. But then he measures the box. It was huge, mostly air, tbh.

He enters the numbers. The computer spits out a price. My jaw dropped.

“It’s going by dimensional weight,” he says, all calm. “It’s taking up a lot of space.”

Basically, UPS charges you based on whichever is bigger: the actual weight or the size of the box. Ugh. That cuckoo clock cost me a fortune to ship! Never again I tell ya!

Here’s what I learned…

• Dimensional weight is a real thing. They calculate it based on the box’s length x width x height, then divided by a “dimensional factor”. Different for ground and air shipping, I heard.
• Actual weight is just what it weighs on the scale. Simple.
• They compare both, and you pay for the higher number. Sneaky, right?
• Packing smartly makes a HUGE difference.
• Smaller box = cheaper shipping Usually anyway!
• My grandma still misses that cuckoo clock. I visit often now!
• Don’t ship cuckoo clocks! LOL.

What is the least expensive way to ship a package?

Forget fancy shipping, dude! USPS First Class Mail’s your best bet, unless your package weighs more than a small elephant. Then, whew, things get complicated.

Seriously, USPS is usually the cheapest. Think of them as the budget airlines of the shipping world. No frills, but they get the job done, eventually.

Larger packages? USPS Priority Mail or Parcel Select Ground might be your jam. Or maybe not. Shipping’s a crapshoot sometimes. It’s like choosing a lottery ticket— you hope for the best, but prepare for disappointment.

FedEx and UPS? They’re the Rolls Royces of shipping. Expensive, but oh-so-fancy. Only use them if your package contains something priceless, like my limited edition Beanie Baby collection.

To find the perfect deal, use online calculators. These things are magical, almost as mystical as finding a twenty dollar bill in your old jeans.

Here’s the breakdown, for your eyes only:

• USPS First Class: Cheap, like my last haircut. Great for tiny things.
• USPS Priority Mail: A step up, like upgrading from a Yugo to a Honda Civic.
• USPS Parcel Select Ground: The turtle of the shipping world. Slow and steady, maybe.
• FedEx/UPS: Expensive. Unless you’re shipping gold, stay away. My neighbor, Dave, once shipped a goldfish via FedEx; cost him more than the fish itself. True story.

My cousin used a calculator last week, and saved a buck fifty. Don’t underestimate the power of a good online calculator. They are amazing, kinda like my ability to find the best deals on discounted dog food (for my dachshund, obviously). Seriously. Don’t mess with shipping costs; they’re more fickle than a two-year-old at a birthday party.

What is the cheapest carrier for international shipping?

Ah, the quest for budget-friendly global delivery! So, you want to ship a pineapple to Patagonia without breaking the bank? I get it!

USPS, bless their surprisingly efficient hearts, often wins the “cheapest international shipping” prize. It’s like that thrift store find – unexpectedly useful and easy on the wallet!

• USPS: The economic explorer.
• FedEx: Speed demon, wallet-drainer.
• UPS: Coverage is their strength, but maybe not your budget.

FedEx? Quick. But your bank account? Maybe not so much. UPS? Wider coverage. But is that coverage worth the extra cost? It’s like choosing between a sensible hatchback and a monster truck: both get you there, but… differently.

Shipping a tiny trinket? USPS wins. Sending grandma’s antique china? Maybe spring for the white-glove service, if you know what I mean.

Seriously though, I shipped a postcard to Iceland last year (wow that was forever ago) and USPS was the ONLY option that didn’t require me selling a kidney. Just saying.