eCommerce brands that choose to ship internationally often see more business growth than those that remain within their domestic market. Think about the endless customers available to you within a global marketplace that may be interested in what you have to sell. If you have the ability to ship internationally, especially when there isn’t much difficulty meeting custom requirements, the best option is to offer it.
USPS is one of the top shipping companies in the world, shipping millions upon millions of parcels each day. With their international partners, you can trust that you’ll receive the best prices and that your shipments will arrive on time. In fact, most international shipping rates from USPS guarantee delivery by a specific day or your money back.
The cost of USPS shipping depends on the rate you choose as well as which type of commercial customer you are. Shipping through the post office is the most expensive option (although still competitive in prices compared to other shipping companies).
There are two types of business/commercial shipping options for USPS customers. If you ship enough volume each month, you become eligible for a Commercial Plus account, which provides high discounts and extra perks that other customers don’t have.
Commercial Base from USPS is the standard discounted rate offered to business customers. Buying and printing shipping labels are done online via an integrated USPS app (done via a plugin or application) or through Click-N-Ship services.
Commercial Plus from USPS is offered to business clients who meet a volume threshold each month. These discounted postal rates are higher than those offered to Base customers.
USPS International Shipping Rates
Shipping internationally is easy with USPS and is one of the cheapest options for getting purchases to your global customers with a guarantee of arrival within a set number of days.
USPS Global Express promises 1-3 business day delivery to about 180 countries worldwide – with transportation taken care of via FedEx Express. Most Canadian destinations arrive by the next business day. Packages must be under 70 pounds.
| USPS Global Express Guaranteed® | |
|---|---|
| At the Post Office™ | From $67.80 |
| Commercial Base® | From $64.41 |
| Commercial Plus® | From $64.41 |
USPS Priority Mail Express parcels arrive within 3-5 business days to 180 countries with flat rate prices available.
| USPS Priority Mail Express International® | |
|---|---|
| At the Post Office™ | From $45.95 |
| Commercial Base® | From $42.85 |
| Commercial Plus® | From $42.85 |
The arrival of USPS Priority Mail International parcels is within 6-10 business days to 180 countries including Australia and Mexico.
| USPS Priority Mail International® | |
|---|---|
| At the Post Office™ | From $37.60 |
| Commercial Base® | From $35.72 |
| Commercial Plus® | From $35.72 |
| USPS Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelopes | |
|---|---|
| At the Post Office™ | From $28.50 |
| Commercial Base® | From $27.10 |
| Commercial Plus® | From $27.10 |
| USPS Small Flat Rate Boxes | |
|---|---|
| At the Post Office™ | From $29.55 |
| Commercial Base® | From $28.10 |
| Commercial Plus® | From $28.10 |
| USPS Medium Flat Rate Boxes | |
|---|---|
| At the Post Office™ | From $54.65 |
| Commercial Base® | From $51.90 |
| Commercial Plus® | From $51.90 |
| USPS Large Flat Rate Boxes | |
|---|---|
| At the Post Office™ | From $71.05 |
| Commercial Base® | From $67.50 |
| Commercial Plus® | From $67.50 |
| USPS First-Class Package International Service® | |
|---|---|
| At the Post Office™ | From $14.25 |
| Commercial Base® | From $13.54 |
| Commercial Plus® | From $13.54 |
USPS Customs Documents required to Ship Internationally
According to USPS, “when you ship items from the U.S. to another country, you must fill out customs forms. The form you need depends on the USPS® mail service you use (and the total value of what you send).”
You can print just a customs form, or use the Click-N-Ship service to pay and print the international shipping labels along with any required customs forms.
For USPS Global Express Guaranteed® (GXG®) packages:
- Fill out the GXG International Air Waybill.
- Fill out the Commercial Invoice PS Form 6182 if you are mailing to certain destinations. Check Publication 141: Global Express Guaranteed Service Guide for individual country requirements. Insert all documents in PS Form 2976-E (plastic envelope) when complete.
- Create your GXG customs form with Click-N-Ship. You cannot complete a GXG customs form with our customs form tool.
For USPS Priority Mail Express International® and all other USPS international services, including APO/FPO/DPO mail, use PS Form 2976-R, and take your package to the counter for the clerk to create the label.
Many of these services of knowing which customs document to print are automatically generated when you are using Click-N-Ship or an API that has been integrated into your website. Don’t worry, USPS will let you know if you are missing anything.
Make sure to look up the destination address of your shipment to make sure there will not be any fees or charges put upon the parcel when it arrives. If customers are not told about extra fees prior to delivery, they can become upset and leave less than happy reviews if they are made to pay more than what they expected.
PluginHive allows eCommerce Store owners to streamline their shipping process right from cart to customers’ doorstep through real-time shipping prices, tracking options, automation of shipping labels and more. Learn more about integrating PluginHive into your Shopify, WooCommerce, or another eCommerce platform by reaching out to our customer support team.
