How to ship · generic
How to ship heavy items
Any individual item over 50 lb starts bumping into parcel-carrier surcharges. Over 70 lb, USPS refuses and you are in UPS or FedEx territory. Over 150 lb, freight is mandatory.
- Typical weight
- Generic: over 50 lb
- Rate band tracked
- USPS/UPS Ground
- Cheapest option
- UPS Ground under 70 lb; freight or uShip above
Rate guidance
Heavier than our rate tracker goes
At a minimum of 50 lb, this sits above our 20 lb rate band. USPS Ground Advantage still applies (up to 70 lb), and UPS Ground goes to 150 lb. See the carrier notes below for the realistic options and expected cost.
Why no table: we track representative rates at 12 oz, 1 lb, 5 lb, and 20 lb. Anything between 20 and 70 lb would be an extrapolation, not a live quote. Carrier calculators are the honest answer for that range.
Before you pack
The box and materials
Box
Heavy-duty double-wall corrugated
Sized to fit the item with 2-3 in of cushioning on all sides
Regular single-wall boxes fail at 50+ lb; always use double-wall for heavy items.
Checklist
- Double-wall box
- Heavy-duty packing tape
- Bubble wrap
- Packing peanuts or foam
- Corner protectors
The process
Pack heavy items in 5 steps
01 of 05
Choose the right box
Double-wall corrugated. Single-wall collapses under heavy items during stacking.
02 of 05
Wrap the item
2+ layers of bubble wrap around the item.
03 of 05
Add cushioning on all sides
Peanuts or foam between the wrapped item and the box walls.
04 of 05
Reinforce the box with extra tape
Tape every seam with 2-in packing tape, at least two strips per seam.
05 of 05
Attach heavy-item labels
Label 50+ lb is standard shipping language; attach on the top face.
Carrier notes
Which carrier to use
USPS
Ground Advantage up to 70 lb. Over that, declines.
UPS
Ground up to 150 lb. Heavy Package surcharge applies over 70 lb.
FedEx
Home Delivery refuses over 70 lb; FedEx Ground accepts up to 150 lb.
Insurance + declared value
Protecting the package
Declare full value. Heavy items claim more often because handlers drop them.
Specialty shippers are worth it here.
For items over 100 lb, uShip or a freight forwarder beats parcel on cost and handling quality.
Get quotes on uShipFAQ
Common questions
Q01 What counts as "heavy"?
Anything over 50 lb triggers parcel-carrier surcharges; anything over 70 lb limits your carrier choices.
Q02 Should I double-box?
For items over 50 lb, yes. Inner box holds the item; outer box holds the inner with 2+ in of peanuts between.
Q03 Insurance for heavy items?
Always. Heavy items have the highest damage rate of any shipment category.