Packing + shipping
How to ship anything.
Guides for the 35 items most people struggle to ship via USPS, UPS, or FedEx. Each has exact box dimensions, step-by-step packing, and live postage for the right weight band.
Category
Furniture
a bookcase
Cheapest Parcel carriers for flat-packed under 70 lb; freight or uShip otherwise
Weight Small: 25-50 lb, Large (6+ ft): 60-150 lb
→a bookshelf
Cheapest USPS Ground Advantage if flat-packed and under 70 lb, otherwise freight
Weight Flat-packed: 40-70 lb, Pre-assembled: 60-120 lb
→a couch
Cheapest Not USPS or FedEx ground, almost always uShip or a freight carrier
Weight Loveseat: 60-80 lb, 3-seat: 100-150 lb, Sectional: 200+ lb per piece
→a desk
Cheapest UPS Ground for flat-packed under 100 lb, uShip for assembled
Weight 40-120 lb depending on size and materials
→a dining table
Cheapest uShip almost always wins on tables over 70 lb
Weight Small: 40-80 lb, 6-seat: 100-150 lb, 8-seat: 150-250 lb
→a mattress
Cheapest USPS Ground Advantage (sub-70 lb memory foam); UPS Ground otherwise
Weight Twin: 35-45 lb, Queen: 50-80 lb, King: 80-150 lb
→an office chair
Cheapest UPS Ground with chair disassembled
Weight 25-50 lb (most task chairs), 60+ lb for executive chairs
→
Category
Recreation and sports
a bike
Cheapest USPS Ground Advantage (under 50 lb), UPS Ground for e-bikes and BMX
Weight Road bike: 17-25 lb, Mountain bike: 25-35 lb, E-bike: 45-70 lb
→an exercise bike
Cheapest Freight via uShip; parcel carriers decline most exercise bikes
Weight Upright: 40-70 lb, Spin bike: 80-130 lb, Recumbent: 70-150 lb
→golf clubs
Cheapest UPS Ground with golf bag; Ship Sticks for door-to-door
Weight Full bag: 25-45 lb
→a kayak
Cheapest uShip or a specialty freight carrier; parcel carriers decline most kayaks
Weight 35-80 lb (most single kayaks), 100+ lb for tandems
→a rowing machine
Cheapest UPS Ground for lighter rowers; freight for water rowers and commercial
Weight Water rower: 80-100 lb, Air rower: 50-75 lb, Magnetic: 60-100 lb
→skis
Cheapest UPS Ground with ski-length box
Weight Pair of downhill skis: 8-15 lb
→a snowboard
Cheapest USPS Ground Advantage (board only); UPS Ground for board+boots+bindings
Weight 5-12 lb for the board; 15-25 lb with bindings and boots
→a surfboard
Cheapest UPS Ground or specialty surf shipper (Sendsurfing, BoardRoom)
Weight Shortboard: 8-12 lb, Longboard: 15-25 lb
→a tent
Cheapest USPS Priority Mail or Ground Advantage
Weight Backpacking: 3-6 lb, Family 6-person: 15-30 lb
→a treadmill
Cheapest Freight only
Weight Folding: 130-200 lb, Commercial: 250-400 lb
→
Category
Electronics
a laptop
Cheapest USPS Priority Mail or UPS Ground Saver
Weight 2-5 lb (most); gaming laptops up to 7 lb
→a large TV
Cheapest Original box + UPS Ground; no original box = specialty shipper
Weight 55 in: 35-50 lb, 65 in: 45-70 lb, 75+ in: 60-100 lb
→a microwave
Cheapest UPS Ground with original box
Weight Countertop: 25-40 lb, Over-the-range: 40-80 lb
→a monitor
Cheapest USPS Ground Advantage with original box; UPS Ground otherwise
Weight 24 in: 5-10 lb, 27 in: 8-15 lb, 32+ in: 15-30 lb
→a PC tower
Cheapest UPS Ground with extra insurance
Weight 15-40 lb (most tower PCs), 50+ lb for full-tower custom builds
→a printer
Cheapest UPS Ground with original box; USPS Ground Advantage for small inkjets
Weight Home inkjet: 10-25 lb, Laser: 20-40 lb, All-in-one: 25-50 lb
→a sewing machine
Cheapest USPS Ground Advantage with padding
Weight 15-30 lb (home sewing machines), 40+ lb for industrial
→a small appliance
Cheapest USPS Priority Mail or Ground Advantage
Weight 2-15 lb (blenders, toasters, coffee makers, etc)
→
Category
Household items
artwork
Cheapest USPS Priority Mail Large Flat Rate, up to 70 lb any distance
Weight Framed 16x20 in print: 3-6 lb, 24x36 in canvas: 5-12 lb
→a lamp
Cheapest USPS Priority Mail or Ground Advantage
Weight Table lamp: 3-10 lb, Floor lamp: 8-25 lb
→a mirror
Cheapest UPS Ground with heavy-duty padding
Weight Small wall mirror: 2-5 lb, Full-length: 10-25 lb, Vanity: 15-40 lb
→a rug
Cheapest USPS Ground Advantage (rolled and under 70 lb), UPS Ground for larger rugs
Weight 5x7 ft: 15-30 lb, 8x10 ft: 30-60 lb, 9x12 ft: 50-100 lb
→a wedding dress
Cheapest USPS Priority Mail or UPS Ground Saver
Weight 3-8 lb (most gowns), 10+ lb for heavily-beaded or multi-layer
→
Category