Key Points:
- India is one of the world’s largest eCommerce markets, valued at $63.17 Billion in 2023
- All countries, including India, assess import duties and taxes on cross-border shipments
- The cheapest shipping option to India depends on several factors: package size, weight, and delivery features
- With Easyship you can compare rates from over 250+ couriers around the world. Instantly find the best value service for your customers in just a few clicks now!
India is one of the world’s largest eCommerce markets, currently valued at $63.17 Billion in 2023 and forecast to explode. Reaching a staggering $1,319 Billion in 2027. However, finding cheap shipping for your online store can still be tricky!
Fortunately, helping online merchants obtain cheap international shipping is what we do best here at Easyship. Here’s a quick look at how you can cut your shipping costs to India, plus how Easyship can help out!
Table of Contents
How Long Does Shipping to India Take?
Courier delivery times to India from the US can typically be as quick 4 working days with an expedited shipping service, or 9 working days with an economy shipping service.
Let’s say you want to ship a 5-pound package from New York, NY to India.
You can use Easyship’s Free Shipping Rate Calculator to get your delivery time estimate. Here are the estimated transit times for our package between New York and India below:
| Courier Service | Lead Time | Tracking | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat Export | 4 - 9 working days | Limited | $39.88 |
| SF Express - Standard Economy | 10 - 11 working days | Basic | $51.16 |
| Shypmax - Parcel Expedited | 4 - 7 working days | Regular | $52.81 |
| Asendia - Epaq Select | 4 - 9 working days | Regular | $53.08 |
| UPS Worldwide Expedited® | 9 working days | Excellent | $62.64 |
| UPS Worldwide Saver® | 5 working days | Excellent | $67.62 |
| USPS - Priority Mail International | 17 - 28 working days | Basic | $76.92 |
| DHL - Express Worldwide | 6 - 13 working days | Excellent | $95.82 |
| USPS - Priority Mail Express International | 4 - 8 working days | Basic | $98.05 |
As we can see, the fastest way to ship to India from New York is UPS Worldwide Savers. However, the cheapest way to ship to India would be for $39.88 USD with Flat Export and will take 4-9 working days.
It is important to note that regardless of courier, you can guarantee that cheap shipping will always arrive later than expedited shipping.
How Much Does It Cost?
Cheap shipping to India is primarily impacted by your package's size and weight. Understandably so, heavier packages incur a higher shipping cost. Large and irregularly-shaped boxes also cost more to ship due to the fact that they require special handling.
Let’s use Easyship’s Free Shipping Rate Calculator to compare example shipping rates for a 5-pound package and a 10-pound package. For reference, both are sent from New York. Let’s head on over to the 10-pound package. Since the package weighs more, the rates will inevitably increase. Here is a screenshot of the 10-pound package:
| Courier Service | Lead Time | Tracking | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat Export | 4 - 9 working days | Limited | $44.88 |
| Asendia - Epaq Select | 4 - 9 working days | Regular | $72.78 |
| SF Express - Standard Economy | 10 - 11 working days | Basic | $76.35 |
| Shypmax - Parcel Expedited | 4 - 7 working days | Regular | $83.22 |
| UPS Worldwide Expedited® | 7 working days | Excellent | $88.50 |
| UPS Worldwide Saver® | 6 working days | Excellent | $97.45 |
| USPS - Priority Mail International | 17 - 28 working days | Basic | $101.33 |
| USPS - Priority Mail Express International | 4 - 8 working days | Basic | $126.59 |
| DHL - Express Worldwide | 6 - 13 working days | Excellent | $129.91 |
As we can see above, the cheapest way to ship a 10-pound package to India is at $44.88 with Flat Export. However, this option only includes limited tracking.
Similar to the 5-pound package, UPS Worldwide Saver is the fastest courier service, in this case priced at $97.45. This option also includes excellent tracking services. Below, you can find the rates and lead times for a 15lb package between New York and India:
| Courier Service | Lead Time | Tracking | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Flat Export | 4 - 9 working days | Limited | $59.80 |
| Asendia - Epaq Select | 4 - 9 working days | Regular | $92.95 |
| SF Express - Standard Economy | 10 - 11 working days | Basic | $97.75 |
| Shypmax - Parcel Expedited | 4 - 7 working days | Regular | $113.06 |
| UPS Worldwide Expedited® | 7 working days | Excellent | $114.75 |
| USPS - Priority Mail International | 17 - 28 working days | Basic | $125.79 |
| UPS Worldwide Saver® | 6 working days | Excellent | $127.49 |
| USPS - Priority Mail Express International | 4 - 8 working days | Basic | $155.40 |
| DHL - Express Worldwide | 6 - 13 working days | Excellent | $164.41 |
Overall, you can expect to pay a minimum of roughly $50 for a 10-pound package to India, and a minimum of roughly $70 for a 15-pound package. Instead of going through the hassle of visiting various courier sites, using a shipping rate calculator makes it easily accessible to compare the cheapest rates to India.
Things to Consider
Whenever you are shipping internationally, there are two key factors to keep in mind that make shipping to India complicated. But don’t worry, here are some factors to consider.
Customs Duties and Taxes in India
All countries, including India, assess import duties and taxes on cross-border shipments. It is important to note that import fees vary by shipment weight, product category and other varying factors. Additionally, shipments under a certain value don’t incur an additional fee.
Still need help? Easyship has you covered. With the help of our Free Tax and Duty Calculator, it is simple and easy to get a quote on the duties and taxes you will pay on your shipment. Let’s take a look at the duties and taxes owed on a $600 watch imported to India from the US.
As we can see, it costs $300.00 to ship to India from the US. Now, the next time you need a duties and tax quote, you can easily do so with our tool.
Customs Documents
Similar to shipping internationally to other countries, importing to India also requires certain documents to be completed as a part of your shipment. These documents include the commercial invoice, along with a packing slip and other information. This paperwork will determine the duty and tax owed, which is followed by your shipment being sent off for final delivery.
Be sure to be mindful of any restricted or prohibited goods that are not allowed to be imported to India. Every country has different restrictions, so it is important to do your research on each country’s import restrictions. Some goods that are banned for importation into India include money orders, gems, and jewelry and even meat of wild animals.
To know more about the details of importing and shipping to India, read our eCommerce shipping guide to India.
Does FedEx, UPS and USPS Ship to India?
Luckily, FedEx, UPS and USPS all ship to India. However, do keep in mind there may be some delays due to Covid-19. Here are the courier services that are easily available for you.
Shipping to India with FedEx
FedEx offers the following delivery services to India from the US:
- FedEx International Priority (3 business days)
- FedEx International Priority Freight (3 business days)
- FedEx International Economy (5 business days)
- FedEx International Economy Freight (5 business days)
Shipping to India with UPS
UPS offers the following delivery services to India from the US:
- UPS Worldwide Express Plus (1-3 business days)
- UPS Worldwide Express (1-3 business days)
- UPS Worldwide Express Freight (1-3 business days)
- UPS Worldwide Express Freight Midday (1-3 business days)
- UPS Worldwide Express Saver (1-3 business days)
- UPS Worldwide Expedited (3-5 business days)
Shipping to India with USPS
USPS offers the following delivery services to India from the US:
- Global Express Guaranteed (1-3 days)
- Priority Mail Express International (3-5 days)
- Priority Mail International (6-10 days)
- First-Class Mail International (delivery time varies)
- First-Class Package International Service (delivery time varies)
What’s the Cheapest Option from the US to India?
The cheapest shipping option to India depends on several factors: package size, weight and delivery features. With Easyship’s 250+ shipping solutions, you have access to regional and local couriers. Local couriers may end up saving you money as compared to big-name shippers like FedEx, UPS or USPS.
In just a few clocks, our Free Shipping Rate Calculator can help you find the cheapest way to ship to India. Or, if you need help with calculating duty and tax, you can use our Free Tax and Duty Calculator.
Tips for the Cheapest Way to Ship to India
Cheap shipping to India from the U.S. and elsewhere is possible! Here are a few tips to keep in mind.
1. Try Out Multiple Couriers
When you try out multiple shipping couriers instead of locking yourself to one, you can potentially save money by using which one best fits your budget for specific shipping needs.
2. Determine the Needs of Your Customers
Before you settle on the courier to use when shipping to India, you should first determine what your customers need. Do they need their products delivered as soon as possible or are they more cost-conscious? The answer you get can determine the shipping options you choose!
3. Maximize Packaging
In order to avoid wasting space, you should always package your products in boxes that snugly fit them. Avoid adding to the size or weight by using more packing material than what’s absolutely necessary.
4. Properly Plan Deliveries
When you plan your product delivery to align with cheaper shipping schedules, you and your customers will both be able to save money. For example, leveraging the lower-cost option of ocean freight saves more money in comparison to air freight!
5. Reuse Packaging
When shipping to India, or any other cross-border location, you can save on shipping costs by reusing packaging. You see those packages you get in the mail? Utilize them all, from the bubble, wraps to boxes!
Shipping to India: Find the Best Deals with Easyship!
For online store owners shipping to India, Easyship has you covered. With a robust network of 250+ couriers worldwide, we are dedicated to helping ambitious entrepreneurs boost profits and scale successfully, even to international destinations like India. Unlock unbeatable discounts, including:
- Save up to 76% on UPS Worldwide Saver®
- Save up to 33% on SF Express
- Save up to 52% on Asendia - e-PAQ Plus
- Save up to 73% on DHL – Express Worldwide
- Save up to 91% on DHL eCommerce services
While shipping to India can present some unique challenges, join the thousands of eCommerce entrepreneurs using Easyship every day to simplify shipping. Create a delivery experience your Indian customers love with these popular user-friendly shipping tools:
- Shipping Rate Calculator: Discover the best deals by comparing exclusive rates from over 550+ courier services worldwide. Including options tailored for shipping to India
- Insurance: Keep your shipments to India safe and secure with up to $10,000 in insurance coverage, allowing you to focus on scaling your store without worries
- Tracking: Boost customer satisfaction with custom-branded tracking emails and automatic message alerts throughout the delivery process to India
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