Key Points:
- Computers and consumer electronics represent 22% of all retail eCommerce sales
- Consumer electronics are projected to bring in over $79 million in eCommerce sales in the next year
- Electronics are very delicate and packaging them for shipping must be done with the utmost care and caution
According to eMarketer, computers and consumer electronics represent 22% of all retail eCommerce sales. Plus, consumer electronics are projected to bring in over $79 million in eCommerce sales in the next year.
Obviously, it’s no secret that the electronics industry is booming, which is why eCommerce merchants should take advantage of the lucrative industry. However, shipping electronics requires more care and attention for shipping. This factor is because most, if not all, electronics are fragile any mishandling could cause unknown damages.
Merchants of this line of commerce need to master how to safely package electronics for shipping and know the best couriers to use. This blog post will help you learn all you need to know about safely shipping electronics without incurring any damage during transit.
Table of Contents
How Much Does It Cost to Ship Electronics?
It’s important to note that there’s no one-size-fits-all price for shipping electronics, especially considering the various types of electronics.
No matter what, the following factors determine the cost of shipping:
- Courier service
- Delivery speed
- Weight of package
- Shipping distance
- Package dimensions
How to ship electronics domestically
The tables below will consider how much various couriers charge for shipping electronics from New York to Los Angeles. To calculate these rates, we will use three electronic items to illustrate, such as:
- 3-pound (Tablet)
- 5-pound (Laptop)
- 15-pound (Gaming system)
For this example, we’ll highlight the cheapest rates from USPS, FedEx, and UPS – and then compare them to Easyship’s competitive rates.
How to ship electronics with USPS (Pricing)
| Item | Weight | Courier Service | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tablet | 3 pounds | USPS Retail Ground | $17.90 |
| Laptop | 10 pounds | USPS Retail Ground | $22.80 |
| Gaming System | 15 pounds | USPS Retail Ground | $54.40 |
How to ship electronics with UPS (Pricing)
| Item | Weight | Courier Service | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tablet | 3 pounds | UPS Ground | $26.33 |
| Laptop | 10 pounds | UPS Ground | $34.45 |
| Gaming System | 15 pounds | UPS Ground | $45.42 |
How to ship electronics with FedEx (Pricing)
| Item | Weight | Courier Service | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tablet | 3 pounds | FedEx Home Delivery | $31.95 |
| Laptop | 10 pounds | FedEx Home Delivery | $32.38 |
| Gaming System | 15 pounds | FedEx Home Delivery | $35.95 |
How to ship electronics with Easyship (Pricing)
| Item | Weight | Courier Service | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tablet | 3 pounds | USPS Parcel Select | $12.25 |
| Laptop | 10 pounds | USPS Parcel Select | $13.98 |
| Gaming System | 15 pounds | USPS Parcel Select | $24.75 |
As we can see, Easyship offers the best available shipping rates for shipping electronics from New York to Los Angeles. Merchants always save up to 89% off discounted shipping rates from 250+ couriers.
Plus, while most couriers only offer shipping insurance up to $100, Easyship offers up to $10,000 of shipping insurance. This benefit means that all your high-value items like electronics are insured so merchants like yourself can have peace of mind.
Shipping electronics internationally
Can you ship electronics overseas? Fortunately, yes. Shipping electronics internationally doesn't need to be a daunting task, as long as you follow all courier guidelines and regulations.
We'll go over the costs for shipping electronics to Australia and shipping electronics to Brazil so you can under how to ship electronics internationally.
Shipping electronics to Australia
Below we'll consider the cheapest costs for shipping electronics to Australia with USPS, UPS, and FedEx.
USPS International Shipping Electronics
| Item | Weight | Courier Service | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tablet | 3 pounds | First-Class Package International Service | $88.15 |
| Laptop | 10 pounds | Priority Mail Express International | $137.15 |
| Gaming System | 15 pounds | Priority Mail Express International | $172.70 |
UPS International Shipping Electronics
| Item | Weight | Courier Service | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tablet | 3 pounds | UPS Worldwide Expedited® | $206.97 |
| Laptop | 10 pounds | UPS Worldwide Expedited® | $371.22 |
| Gaming System | 15 pounds | UPS Worldwide Expedited® | $514.35 |
FedEx International Shipping Electronics
| Item | Weight | Courier Service | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tablet | 3 pounds | FedEx International Economy | $231.66 |
| Laptop | 10 pounds | FedEx International Economy | $413.71 |
| Gaming System | 15 pounds | FedEx International Economy | $562.30 |
How to ship electronics with Easyship (Pricing)
| Item | Weight | Courier Service | Cost | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tablet | 3 pounds | DHL eCommerce | $54.87 | |
| Laptop | 10 pounds | Flat Export | $59.80 | |
| Gaming System | 15 pounds | Flat Export | $59.80 |
Shipping electronics to Brazil
Now, let's consider the cheapest costs for shipping electronics to Brazil with USPS, UPS, and FedEx.
USPS International Shipping Electronics
| Item | Weight | Courier Service | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tablet | 3 pounds | First-Class Package International Service | $47.45 |
| Laptop | 10 pounds | Priority Mail International | $96.60 |
| Gaming System | 15 pounds | Priority Mail International | $120.50 |
UPS International Shipping Electronics
| Item | Weight | Courier Service | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tablet | 3 pounds | UPS Worldwide Expedited® | $255.57 |
| Laptop | 10 pounds | UPS Worldwide Expedited® | $528.95 |
| Gaming System | 15 pounds | UPS Worldwide Expedited® | $708.11 |
FedEx International Shipping Electronics
| Item | Weight | Courier Service | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tablet | 3 pounds | FedEx International Economy | $247.72 |
| Laptop | 10 pounds | FedEx International Economy | $505.02 |
| Gaming System | 15 pounds | FedEx International Economy | $672.13 |
How to ship electronics with Easyship (Pricing)
| Item | Weight | Courier Service | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tablet | 3 pounds | APG - ePacket | $37.75 |
| Laptop | 10 pounds | UPS Worldwide Expedited® | $80.94 |
| Gaming System | 15 pounds | Asendia - Epaq Select | $132.71 |
How to Package Electronics for Shipping
Electronics are delicate, and packaging them for shipping must be done with the utmost care and caution. This section will go over the proper precautions merchants should follow for safe shipping.
Choose the right box
Whenever you’re shipping electronics, you want to make sure you choose a properly-sized box. Use a box bigger than the device you're packaging, so there’s space to fill in cushioning materials to prevent your item from getting damaged during transit.
Most importantly, you want to make sure that there are no empty spaces – every space should be filled with packaging paper or other materials to protect your electronics.
Secure your package
After selecting the correct box, the next step is to ensure your package is secured with the right packaging materials. For shipping electronics, the following materials are helpful to prevent and protect your package:
- Bubble wrap
- Packing peanuts
- Plastic wrap
As long as your electronics are packaged in the appropriate box and include the proper packaging materials, you’re one step closer to safely shipping electronics.
Label your package correctly
If you’re shipping electronics with a lithium-ion battery, you’ll want to make sure you include the correct label that indicates there’s a lithium battery inside. Plus, you’ll want to have a “Fragile” label on the outer packaging if the item you’re shipping is fragile.
Without the proper label, you run the risk of your package being damaged during transit. Or, even worse, you run the risk of paying a fine if something goes wrong during shipping.
Research shipping restrictions
For most, if not all, shipping couriers, you have to follow guidelines when shipping electronics. For example, specific destinations or couriers restrict shipping lithium-ion batteries, so be sure you do your research first.
Plus, all lithium-ion batteries are considered dangerous goods. For instance, if damaged batteries are exposed to extreme temperatures, it can cause a fire during transit. As long as you do your research first, it’s smooth sailing from there.
Related post: How to Safely Ship Lithium Batteries in 2021
Best Practices for Shipping Electronics
Shipping electronics requires you to adhere to specific guidelines to ensure the safe delivery of your package. This section will go over the best practices to employ when shipping them.
Use shipping insurance
Shipping insurance is beneficial, especially for high-value items like electronics. Shipping insurance protects merchants from lost, stolen or damaged packages. That way, buyers and sellers can have some peace of mind for their high-value items.
Unforeseen losses or damages can be inevitable sometimes. So, to curb this issue, shipping insurance is the go-to solution. Most major couriers only offer protection up to $100, but for expensive items like electronics, you’ll want to invest in more protection.
Easyship offers users up to $10,000 shipping insurance for all domestic and international shipments. So now, merchants can get the protection they need – without any additional cost.
Require signature upon delivery
You may want to consider signature upon delivery for high-value items like electronics to prevent package theft. For example, in 2021, 35.5 million Americans were victims of porch piracy, meaning that merchants should consider signature upon delivery to avoid this issue.
Luckily, most major couriers like USPS, UPS, or FedEx offer this service. So, to provide more protection for buyers, consider adding this service to your shipping strategy.
Double up on cushioning materials
Don't second-guess the package’s safety, so make sure you use enough cushioning materials to prevent any movement during transit. The more cushioning materials you use, the more protection you receive for shipping electronics.
Ship Electronics with Easyship
Shipping electronics can be a piece of cake if you follow the necessary precautions for shipping your package. When shipping high-value items, using the right-sized box and layering it with cushioning materials is key to safe shipping.
With Easyship, you don't need to sweat or fear when shipping electronics. We offer premium features to guarantee you a smooth and seamless experience, such as:
- Free Shipping Rates Calculator: Access high-volume discounts from major couriers. Plus, get instant access to delivery lead times from premium shipping couriers
- Premium Shipping Insurance: Easyship offers up to $10,000 shipping insurance for all shipments. This way, customers can have peace of mind when it comes to electronics
- Shipping Dashboard: Manage orders and create shipments instantly in the Shipping Dashboard. Plus, keep track of all your delivery lead times in one place
Ready to ship? Sign up for a FREE Easyship account and learn how to access the best available shipping rates for shipping electronics today
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