Weight
Carriers price by the pound, or by the ounce under a pound. Actual weight is only half the story — see dimensions.
Cheapest way to ship — the hub
Cheapest Way to Ship
There is no single cheapest carrier or service.
The winner changes with the parcel — so start by picking the right guide.
- In the U.S.Start with the package framework, then switch to the item guide if you ship clothes, shoes, books or art prints.
- Going abroadStart at the international hub, then open your destination lane — duties and customs move the total more than postage does.
- Every labelCompare the same parcel across every eligible carrier and judge the all-in price, not the base rate.
- More than 500,000 shippers across the U.S. and Canada use Rollo.
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The short answer
Six things decide your cheapest option
Any page that names one “cheapest carrier” is guessing. The lowest price falls out of six factors working together — change one and the winner can change. Weigh these before you compare anything.
Dimensions
A light item in a big box is billed on dimensional weight. Right-sizing the box is the most common way to pay less.
Destination
Distance sets the zone. Across a border, the country’s duties and customs move the total more than the base rate does.
Speed
Ground and economy are cheapest; two-day and overnight cost more. Buy only the speed the deadline truly needs.
Item type
What is inside can unlock a special rate — eligible books ship USPS Media Mail® — or add protection and handling cost.
Fees and duties
Fuel, residential and handling surcharges, plus import taxes abroad, decide the real total. Compare all-in, not base rate.
The one rule that always holds
Whatever you are shipping, compare the same parcel — identical weight, dimensions and ZIP or postal codes — across every eligible carrier before you buy. The cheapest option shifts with the shipment; a real comparison is the only reliable answer.
Anatomy of a price
What you actually pay for on a shipping label
Every guide below compares rates. This hub explains the thing they all compare. A shipping price is not one number — it is a base transportation charge, calculated on a billable weight you can influence, with surcharges layered on top and, across a border, clearance costs after that. Knowing which layer you are looking at is what stops a cheap-looking rate from turning expensive at checkout.
Layer 1 — the transportation charge
The published rate for a service, at a billable weight, between two zones. It is the only layer most rate cards show, and the only one people usually compare.
Layer 2 — the billable weight it is priced on
Carriers bill the greater of the scale weight and the dimensional weight on most parcel and courier services. Two identical items in different boxes are two different prices.
Layer 3 — surcharges
Fuel is a percentage on the transportation charge and moves often. Residential delivery, extended area, additional handling, oversize and signature each add their own line.
Layer 4 — border costs, if you cross one
Duty, taxes, entry and brokerage are separate from postage and often larger than the difference between two carriers. Who pays them depends on the terms you sell on.
Billable weight = the greater of (scale weight) and (length × width × height ÷ the carrier’s dimensional divisor)
Dimensional divisors, surcharge amounts and duty thresholds differ by carrier, service and country, and they change during the year. Each guide below carries the current figures with its own verification date; this hub deliberately quotes none.
The base rate
What a rate card or a quote widget shows first. Useful for a rough sort, misleading as a decision. It excludes most of what changes the invoice.
vs
The all-in price
Transportation charge plus fuel and every applicable surcharge, plus any duty, tax and brokerage. This is the number that decides which carrier was actually cheapest.
The cheapest lever is the one you control
You cannot negotiate a fuel percentage or a duty rate on a single parcel. You can change the box. Cutting void space moves the billable weight, and billable weight sets layers one and three. That is why every guide below starts at the package, not the carrier.
Start here
Three questions that pick your guide
This hub does not re-teach every rate — each guide below does that in depth. Its job is to route you. Answer three questions and you will know exactly which page to open.
- 1
Where is it going?
Domestic U.S., international, or within and from Canada. Destination decides the whole ruleset — zones at home, duties and customs abroad, and a separate localized hub for Canadian-origin labels.
- 2
What are you shipping?
A general parcel, or something with its own rules — apparel, footwear, books and comics, art prints, or documents. Special items have their own guide because the packaging decision changes the price.
- 3
How fast, and how protected?
Match speed to the real deadline, and add tracking, insurance or proof of delivery only where the shipment needs it. Paying for a guarantee you do not need is the most common avoidable cost.
Use the guide finder at the top of this page to jump straight to your page, or browse every guide below.
Compare fairly
How to run a comparison that actually proves the cheapest option
Most “cheapest carrier” comparisons are unfair without meaning to be — a different weight here, a different service level there, a surcharge counted on one side and not the other. Five habits make the result trustworthy, whichever guide you open next.
- 1
Weigh and measure the sealed parcel
Not the product, not the empty box — the finished package on a scale with a tape across all three edges. Every number downstream is derived from these four figures, and a guess is how you get an adjustment charge weeks later.
- 2
Fix the deadline before you look at prices
Decide the date the parcel must arrive, then only compare services that meet it. Choosing the speed after seeing the prices is how economy shipments quietly become express ones.
- 3
Price the identical parcel with every eligible carrier
Same weight, same dimensions, same origin and destination codes, same declared value, same residential or commercial address type. Change one input and you are comparing two different shipments.
- 4
Judge the all-in price, not the base rate
Add fuel and every surcharge that applies to your address and package, and across a border add expected duty, tax and brokerage. The cheapest base rate loses this comparison more often than people expect.
- 5
Re-check before you print, not once a year
Carrier rates, surcharges, dimensional divisors and customs thresholds all change during the year. Treat any figure in any guide — including ours — as dated, and confirm the live rate for your exact parcel before you buy.
Where comparisons usually go wrong
Quoting one carrier at actual weight and another at dimensional weight; comparing a guaranteed service against an economy one; leaving residential delivery off a home address; and forgetting that a low-value international parcel can still owe duty, tax and an entry fee. Each of these can flip the winner on its own.
Choose your guide
Every guide in the Cheapest Way to Ship series
Each card summarizes a guide and links to it. Start with the framework, then pick by destination or item type. We link out; we do not repeat each guide’s detail here.
Start with the framework
General package
Cheapest Way to Ship a Package
The full framework: how weight, size, distance and speed set your price, with a side-by-side USPS, UPS®, FedEx, Canada Post and Purolator comparison for one parcel.
Open guide →
Cheapest Way to Ship Internationally
The starting point for any cross-border parcel — how weight, destination, speed and the duties your buyer pays decide the lowest all-in cost, then a route to your lane.
Open guide →
Shipping abroad — by destination
US → UK
Cheapest Way to Ship from the US to the UK
Carriers, customs paperwork and the buyer’s VAT threshold on the UK lane.
Open guide →
Cheapest Way to Ship to Australia
Long-haul economy against express, and the GST rules that apply on arrival.
Open guide →
Cheapest Way to Ship to China from the US
Documentation, restricted goods and the services that reach mainland China.
Open guide →
Cheapest Way to Ship to Canada from the US
The short border lane, where brokerage and taxes often decide the winner.
Open guide →
Shipping a specific item
Apparel
Cheapest Way to Ship Clothes
Poly mailer against box for apparel: cut dimensional weight on soft goods, protect garments, and plan returns before the first sale.
Open guide →
Cheapest Way to Ship Shoes
Right-size the shoe box to stay on actual weight, box-in-box to protect the resale box, and compare carriers on your exact parcel.
Open guide →
Cheapest Way to Ship Books
When USPS Media Mail® wins on eligible books and comics, what qualifies, and when Ground Advantage™ or a courier beats it.
Open guide →
Cheapest Way to Ship Art Prints
Flat, rolled or framed — pick the format that protects the print without paying for dimensional weight you do not need.
Open guide →
Documents — coming soon
Cheapest Way to Ship Documents
A dedicated documents guide is planned. Until it publishes, the package framework covers letters and envelopes.
Shipping in or from Canada (en-CA)
Canada · domestic
Cheapest Way to Ship Within Canada
Canada-domestic comparison across Canada Post, Purolator, UPS® and FedEx, priced in Canadian dollars. Lives under the Canadian hub, not this U.S. parent.
Open guide →
Cheapest Way to Ship from Canada
Canadian-origin parcels to the U.S. and worldwide across Canada Post, Purolator, UPS® and FedEx, including customs forms and landed cost.
Open guide →
Canadian shippers have a dedicated en-CA hub localized in Canadian dollars. Those pages sit under the Canadian parent, not this U.S. one.
Which guide for what
Find the right guide by what you are shipping
A scannable index of the whole cluster. This routes you; it is not a rate table — open the linked guide to compare live prices for your exact parcel.
| If you are shipping… | Start with | Why this guide |
|---|---|---|
| A general U.S. parcel | Cheapest way to ship a package | The full framework, cost drivers and a five-carrier comparison for one parcel. |
| Clothes and soft apparel | Cheapest way to ship clothes | Poly mailers keep light garments off dimensional-weight fees. |
| Shoes and footwear | Cheapest way to ship shoes | Right-sized boxes stay on actual weight; box-in-box protects resale value. |
| Books and comics | Cheapest way to ship books | USPS Media Mail® eligibility is the cost lever — the guide draws the line. |
| Art prints and posters | Cheapest way to ship art prints | Flat, rolled or framed decides packaging and price; prints do not qualify for Media Mail®. |
| Documents and letters | Guide coming soon — use the package framework | A dedicated documents guide is deferred; the framework covers envelopes for now. |
| Anything abroad | Cheapest way to ship internationally | Frames duties, customs and zones, then routes to your destination lane. |
| US to the UK, Australia, China or Canada | UK, Australia, China, Canada | Each lane owns its carriers, customs paperwork and the buyer’s tax threshold. |
| Within Canada (domestic) | Cheapest way to ship within Canada | Canada Post, Purolator, UPS® and FedEx, localized in Canadian dollars (en-CA). |
| From Canada (outbound) | Cheapest way to ship from Canada | Canadian-origin parcels to the U.S. and worldwide (en-CA). |
Box, large parcel, small parcel, heavy item and envelope are not separate guides — they are covered as sections inside the package framework.
Where Rollo fits
Compare every carrier, then print the label
Rollo Ship is free multi-carrier shipping software that compares USPS, UPS®, FedEx, Canada Post and Purolator rates in one dashboard. You see every eligible service for your parcel side by side, then buy and print the label. Because the cheapest option depends on the shipment, Rollo helps you compare — it does not claim to be universally cheapest.
Free to use, no subscription. Your first 200 labels have no Rollo service fee; after that it is a few cents per label on top of carrier postage, as low as 1¢ with Rollo Rewards.
There is nothing to give up. Keep shipping wherever you ship today, price the same parcel here, and keep the cheaper label. Carrier postage is always separate.
No credit card to start, and no subscription to cancel.
USPS — up to 90% off retail USPS rates.- UPS® — up to 81% off UPS® Ground, 75% off UPS 2nd Day Air®, 75% off UPS Next Day Air® and 85% off UPS® International.
- Canada Post — up to 34% off domestic and 58% off international, with no contracts, no fees and no volume minimums.
- FedEx and Purolator — connect your own account to compare and print those labels beside the rest.
USPS — up to 90% off retail USPS rates.
UPS® — up to 81% off UPS® Ground, 75% off UPS 2nd Day Air®, 75% off UPS Next Day Air® and 85% off UPS® International.
Canada Post — up to 34% off domestic and 58% off international, with no contracts, no fees and no volume minimums.
FedEx and Purolator — connect your own account to compare and print those labels beside the rest.UPS®. Discounts off UPS daily rates. Rates are limited to shipping from the U.S. only. Rates and any applicable discounts are subject to change at any time without notice. The 81% off UPS® Ground figure applies to dimensional rates; Rollo Ship calculates dimensional weight on every quote, so the rate you see is the rate you pay. Rates include Fuel Surcharge and Residential Surcharge for all services, and Delivery Area Surcharge for domestic services. Savings are “up to” and vary by service, weight and zone; the 85% figure applies to UPS® International only and never as a general UPS® figure. All figures come from Rollo’s approved claim set and must be re-verified before publish.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Is there one cheapest way to ship?
No. The cheapest option changes with your package’s weight, size, destination, speed and contents, plus any fees or duties. A light parcel and a heavy box rarely share the same best carrier. The dependable approach is to match the shipment to the right service, then compare the same parcel across carriers before you buy.
How do I choose the right guide?
Start with where it is going and what is inside. A general U.S. parcel uses the package framework. Clothes, shoes, books and art prints each have their own guide. Anything abroad starts at the international hub, and Canadian-origin labels use the en-CA guides. The finder near the top of this page points you to the right guide in two choices.
Why does this hub not quote any rates?
Because a rate is only meaningful against a specific parcel, service and date, and carrier pricing changes several times a year. This page owns the framework — the six cost factors, the four layers of a price, and the method for a fair comparison. The guides own the current figures, each with its own verification date, and Rollo Ship prices your actual parcel live.
Is USPS, UPS® or FedEx cheapest?
It depends on the shipment. USPS often wins for light parcels and short distances; UPS® and FedEx ground services get competitive as weight rises; USPS Media Mail® can be cheapest for eligible books. Because rates and surcharges vary by weight, zone and service, price the identical package with each carrier before deciding.
What is dimensional weight, and why does it change my price?
Dimensional weight converts a parcel’s size into a weight figure by dividing length × width × height by the carrier’s dimensional divisor. On most parcel and courier services, carriers bill the greater of that figure and the scale weight. That is why a light item in an oversized box can cost the same as a much heavier shipment — and why right-sizing the box is usually the largest saving available on a single label. The divisor differs by carrier and service; each guide carries the current figures.
Can I compare carrier rates without an account?
Yes. Rollo Ship lets you compare USPS, UPS® and FedEx rates side by side, then buy and print a label — free to use, no subscription, and your first 200 labels have no Rollo service fee. FedEx and Purolator run on your own connected account. Confirm current pricing for your exact parcel before you buy.
Do you cover international and Canada shipping?
Yes. The international guide frames duties, customs and zones, then routes you to dedicated US-to-UK, Australia, China and Canada pages. Canadian shippers have their own within-Canada and from-Canada guides in the en-CA hub, localized in Canadian dollars across Canada Post, Purolator, UPS® and FedEx.
Are the prices in these guides current?
Every rate, surcharge, service detail and eligibility rule is dated in each guide and should be re-verified against the carrier’s official source before you rely on it, because carrier prices change several times a year. This hub links you to the right guide; always confirm the live rate for your exact parcel before buying.
You know the six factors and your guide
Now compare your parcel and lock in the lowest cost
Rollo Ship compares USPS, UPS®, FedEx, Canada Post and Purolator in one dashboard, then buys and prints the label
— free to use, no subscription, first 200 labels with no Rollo service fee.
Carrier postage is separate. Discounts are “up to” and vary by service, weight and zone.
Sources & freshness. This hub is a navigational page and quotes no live rates. Carrier services, dimensional-weight rules, customs and tax thresholds, restricted-item rules, Media Mail® eligibility, Rollo product facts and all savings figures are governed by each child guide and Rollo’s approved claim set — every one is volatile and must be re-verified against primary sources (USPS, UPS®, FedEx, Canada Post, Purolator and Rollo) immediately before publication. The UPS® DAP savings disclaimer must be inserted verbatim. This page does not provide customs, legal, tax or hazardous-materials advice. Page is set to noindex, follow per the cluster plan.