Cheapest Way to Ship to Alaska: Carrier Rates, Surcharges & What You Need to Know

For most shipments, USPS Ground Advantage and USPS Priority Mail offer the lowest rates, starting at around $9–$14. However, the best option depends on your package size, delivery speed, and destination within Alaska. In this article we will cover what you need to know to enjoy the cheapest way to ship to Alaska, find couriers offering the best services, tips to save on Alaska shipping, and the possible challenges you can encounter.

What's the Cheapest Way to Ship from the Mainland to Alaska?

As a business owner, it is important to find the most economical shipping options possible for your customers, whether you are shipping to Alaska or any other location.

To give you a realistic comparison, here are estimated shipping rates for a 5 lb package (10 x 5 x 5 inches) shipped from Los Angeles to Anchorage using Easyship’s discounted rates:

Category: Accessory (no-battery)

Dimensions: 10 x 5 x 5 inch

Weight: 5 pounds

Origin: Los Angeles, California

Destination: Anchorage, Alaska

Are you considering shipping to Alaska? As an online store owner, it’s critical you understand the different steps involved including which carriers to use, the costs, various regulations, and of course the cheapest options.

Alaska is the northernmost U.S. state, with Canada sitting between it and the mainland United States. Like many Americans, Alaskans like to shop with U.S. retailers and eCommerce merchants on the mainland. However, since it’s not a part of the contiguous United States, and sparsely populated in most parts, shipping can present unique challenges.

For eCommerce merchants, it’s important to understand the cheapest shipping rates to Alaska since many customers will seek this out due to the costs generally incurred from the shipping distance.

In this article, we’ll cover what you need to know to enjoy the cheapest way to ship to Alaska, find couriers offering the best services, tips to save on Alaska shipping, and the possible challenges you can encounter.

Don’t forget that Easyship can help you send a parcel to Alaska by giving you access to multiple cost-effective courier solutions so you can always find the cheapest solution!  

What You Should Know About Shipping to Alaska

Regardless of whether you are shipping small packages or shipping a car to Alaska, you’ll want to understand the nuances in order to help you find the cheapest options.

The major carriers all ship to Alaska, but because of its location, and geographic size, it can take longer, and in some cases, there will be significant surcharges if sending a package to a remote part of the state. Fortunately, nearly 50% of the population lives in the Anchorage metropolitan area, so that's most likely where parcels will be shipped.  

Be Aware of Surcharges

However, if you are shipping to the most remote parts of Alaska, you should expect significant surcharges with UPS and FedEx depending on the zip code. Alaska is the largest state with vast remote areas, some only accessible by plane or boat. So you definitely will need to check with the carriers to get specific details on the surcharges.

Look up the Local Regulations

There may also be local regulations (some due to the COVID-19 crisis) that will restrict the shipping of some packages. Among them, include alcohol, battery-operated self-balancing devices, explosives, flammable solids, and liquids. For some packages, local restrictions might require you to get licenses before shipping the items.

Alaska is know for it's natural beauty and wildlife, so there are strict laws around bringing animals and plants into the state; this is done to protect the local environment from the hazards of foreign animals and plants.

It Could Take Longer to Reach Remote Locations

Besides understanding the potential surcharges in shipping to Alaska, you should also understand how long Alaska shipping takes. Again, this will largely be dependent on whether you are shipping to the populous areas like Anchorage or Juneau as compared to the more remote parts of Alaska. If you are shipping to those remote parts, you should expect that packages could take much longer to arrive, especially if you are using a service like USPS ground.

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Shipping to Alaska with UPS, USPS, and FedEx

Finding the cheapest shipping rates to Alaska is a good option for online retailers looking to get profits without sacrificing your customer's delivery experience. This is why you should find the best and cheapest way to ship to Alaska and any other destination. That said, below are the costs of shipping to Alaska with various couriers.

UPS®

Online retailers with large and heavy packages should consider UPS shipping to Alaska. Shipping to Alaska using UPS has a weight limit of 150lbs for every package. As such, consider UPS if your shipments are between 70 and 150lbs.

Note that your choice of UPS shipping to Alaska option will determine the delivery times. Compared to UPS's urgent and express options, UPS® ground is a cost-effective choice. It is an ideal option if you are looking for the cheapest shipping rates to Alaska.

FedEx

FedEx shipping to Alaska and other destinations is best for overnight deliveries. If you need your packages delivered by the next morning, consider FedEx shipping to Alaska, especially with their variety of fast services. You can choose from FedEx priority mail or FedEx Next Flight for convenient deliveries. For Easyship customers, you’ll need to link to your FedEx account to generate delivery rates.

USPS

The USPS offers some cheapest shipping rates to Alaska, so in most cases this will be the best option for online store owners. Just like UPS, this courier has the most affordable shipping to Alaska cost, especially if your parcel is less than 70lbs. However, if you have large packages, consider other shipping couriers.

The best way to get a quick quote is to use the Easyship Shipping Rates calculator.

The Cheapest Shipping from USPS, UPS & FedEx

Find the guaranteed cheapest rates for any courier in seconds with Easyship’s free shipping rate calculator. Compare discount rates from USPS, UPS, FedEx, and 550+ courier services at a glance.

Cheapest Shipping to Alaska FAQs

What is the cheapest way to ship a package to Alaska?
USPS is typically the most affordable option, especially services like USPS Ground Advantage for lightweight to mid-weight packages.

Is UPS or FedEx cheaper to ship to Alaska?
In most cases, USPS is cheaper than UPS or FedEx for shipping to Alaska, particularly for small and medium parcels.

Why is shipping so expensive to Alaska?
Shipping costs are higher due to Alaska’s remote location, limited ground transportation, and reliance on air or sea freight.

Does USPS Flat Rate ship to Alaska?
Yes. USPS Flat Rate services ship to Alaska at the same price as the continental U.S., with no additional surcharge.

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