There is an increase in the popularity of international shipping to Australia due to Economic growth, E-commerce expansion, Infrastructure investments, Globalization, and technological progressions.
However, shipping to Australia is challenging because there are no road transportation options available; shipping must occur by air or sea. Shipment weight and dimensions, fuel costs, delivery time, etc. all affect how much is needed to ship a shipment.
This article will give a brief overview of How much it will cost approximately for you to ship a package to Australia from the US.
Factors Influencing Shipping Costs
- Package Weight and Dimensions
Heavier and Bigger packages will have higher shipping costs as it will increase the transportation charges.
- Shipping Method
Different Shipping Methods have different costs, Standard or Economy services charge less than express or expedited shipping.
- Delivery Speed
Options for faster delivery cost additional fees.
- Fuel Surcharges
Fuel surcharges are levied by certain carriers to cover variations in fuel prices and transportation expenses.
- Package Contents
Certain goods will be liable to special handling charges or restrictions which will impact the overall shipping cost.
- Shipping Distance
There will be an increase in shipping costs if there is a greater distance between the origin and destination.
Cost Estimation and Comparison
Shipping carriers provide cost estimators so that you can check and compare the prices between different shipping companies and make informed decisions.
UPS
UPS provides you with a Shipping Cost Calculator using which you can easily estimate the price of your shipment just by following two easy steps.
To proceed, you must first provide the data for the destination country, city, and postal code—in this example, Australia—as well as the origin country, which is the US.
You can estimate the shipping cost after entering the information about the number of items and the kind of package in the following step.
USPS
To determine the cost of shipping, USPS offers you its retail postal price calculator. It will ask you for information about the item you are sending, its value, the day and time of delivery, the destination country (Australia), and what you are sending. After that, you can choose the package type you are shipping.
FedEx
FedEx offers a shipping cost calculator that you can use to estimate the cost of shipping. You must enter the destination country (Australia), the country of origin (the US) and their Zip codes, the number of packages you are shipping, the packaging type, the weight and dimensions of each package, and the shipping date.
DHL
You may estimate your shipping costs with DHL‘s shipping calculator by simply entering the origin (US) and destination (Australia) information, including the city and postcode.
Additional Costs and Considerations
Customs Duties and Taxes
When you are shipping from the US to Australia customs duties and taxes will be applied. Australia has a Goods and Services Tax (GST) of 10% that will be applied to the goods that are imported into the country. And some goods according to their category will be subjected to customs duties. The rates will vary depending on the goods that will be imported.
Insurance
It is generally a good practice to insure your goods when you are sending your goods internationally, from the US to Australia. Though the packages will provide some amount of safety to your goods they still may not fully protect your goods against damage, loss, or theft during transit. This cost will generally vary depending on the insurance provider, the value of the package contents, and the level of coverage you desire.
Packaging Materials
Regarding the packaging materials, you must exercise extra caution. To safeguard the contents of your parcels, use bubble wrap; to secure your packages, use strong tape and solid boxes. The fragility of the items inside your package should be considered while selecting a packaging. The size and weight of your box will determine how much it costs, but to safeguard your belongings, it is crucial to invest in high-quality packaging.
Services Provided by Various Shipping Companies to Ship Goods From the US to Australia
UPS
- UPS Worldwide Express Plus
It offers next-business-day delivery to major cities in Australia.
- UPS Worldwide Express
It offers second-business-day delivery to major cities in Australia.
- UPS Worldwide Saver
It offers delivery to major cities in Australia typically within 1-3 Business days.
- UPS Worldwide Expedited
It offers economical shipping options with delivery within 2-5 business days.
- UPS Standard
It offers affordable shipping options with delivery typically within 5-7 business days.
USPS
- First Class Package International Service
It offers affordable shipping options for sending small packages weighing up to 4 pounds and delivery time ranges between 7 to 21 business days.
- Priority Mail Express International
It offers the fastest shipping service and delivery time ranges between 3 to 5 business days. It also provides tracking and insurance.
- Priority Mail International
It offers affordable shipping options for packages weighing up to 70 pounds and delivery time ranges between 6 to 10 days.
- Global Express Guaranteed
The delivery time ranges between 1 to 3 business days to selected cities in Australia.
FedEx
- FedEx International Priority
It offers fast and reliable shipping options and delivery time ranges between 1 to 3 business days to major cities in Australia.
- FedEx International Economy
It offers affordable shipping options and delivery time ranges between 3 to 5 business days.
- FedEx International First
It offers the fastest shipping service and delivery time ranges between 1 to 2 business days.
- FedEx International Ground
The delivery time ranges between 2 to 7 business days and hence can be chosen if you are not particular about the delivery time.
- FedEx International Priority Freight
It offers fast and reliable shipping options for heavy packages and the delivery time ranges between 1 to 3 business days.
- FedEx International Economy Freight
It is similar to FedEx International Priority Freight but the delivery time ranges between 3 to 5 business days.
DHL
- DHL Express Worldwide
It offers fast and reliable shipping options and the delivery time ranges between 1 to 3 business days.
- DHL Express 12:00
This is specifically for time-sensitive shipments and guarantees delivery by noon on the next possible business day.
- DHL Express 9:00
This is again for time-sensitive shipments and guarantees delivery by 9.00 am on the next business day.
- DHL Economy Select
The delivery time ranges between 4 to 6 business days for less time-sensitive shipments.
- DHL Freight
This is for larger and heavier shipments.
Last Shot
It will require some wait as we are shipping from the US to Australia; there is no road delivery to Australia; everything is done by air or sea. However, before you decide to ship anything to Australia, be sure to use the shipping calculators offered by these different shipping firms to estimate the cost of your shipment. Then, compare them and make an informed decision. You can make use of plugins like ELEXEasyPost and ELEXShipEngine to seamlessly integrate these shipping carriers into your business.
FAQ’s
1. What is the cheapest way to ship to Australia?
Postal services like USPS offer the most affordable options.
2. Are there any additional costs while shipping to Australia?
Yes, Customs duties and taxes, import fees, and remote area surcharges.
Further Reading
- How Much Does it Cost to Ship a Box of Clothes Through UPS 2024?
- How to Calculate Shipping Costs for your WooCommerce Store?
- What is the Cheapest Way to Ship Clothes? How to Mail Apparel?
