TSI is happy to provide you with information related to shipping and moving. If and when you’d like more details for shipping your boxes, you can request a quote or call us at 1-800-626-1257. We’ve been leading the way in small moves and specialty shipments nationally for more than 30 years and are A+ rated by the Better Business Bureau.
Calculating shipping costs and choosing the most economical shipping method can be confusing. Our Cheapest Way to Ship Anything guides make it easy to compare shipping costs and choose the right method for your cargo, whether you're shipping common items like boxes or difficult-to-transport goods like antiques or artwork.
Jump to:
1. How Much Does it Cost to Ship Shoes?
We've calculated shipping costs for three common shipping methods: USPS, parcel shipping, and consolidated freight.
i. USPS shipping costs
ii. Parcel shipping costs (eg. UPS or FedEx)
iii. Consolidated freight
2. Frequently Asked Questions
Get answers to the most frequently asked questions about shipping shoes.
Unless you’re in the NBA, shoes are typically small and lightweight and, with the exception of some designer pieces, they’re not overly fragile. This makes them one of the easiest items to ship, especially for retailers who may already have them packed neatly in their original box.
People ship shoes for a number of reasons:
- Individuals who are moving and need to ship your shoe collection to a new home, or perhaps to college. In this case, you’ll typically be working with larger quantities of shoes packed into large boxes or multiple smaller boxes.
- Individuals who sell shoes online and are shipping them to a buyer, or to a friend or loved one in another state or across the country.
- Retailers shipping shoes to buyers across the country, typically single items or smaller shipments packed into envelopes or small boxes.
- Retailers shipping large quantities of shoes to distribution centers or other locations in their network.
Clothing is easy to ship, but there are a number of special considerations to keep in mind when shipping shoes:
- Weight: Most shipping companies base the cost of your shipment on how much it weighs, with less importance placed on package size. Heavier shoes like boots or work shoes will likely cost more to ship than a lightweight running shoe or summer sandal.
- Quantity: How many pairs of shoes you’re shipping will impact how you pack them, and therefore how you ship them. If you’re moving an entire wardrobe’s worth of shoes, including heavy winter footwear and light summer shoes, you may want to pack them all into a larger box. If you’re a retailer shipping a single pair of shoes to a customer, it is typically easiest to ship them in their original box.
- Type of shoe: If you are only shipping a single pair and aren’t a retailer, many shoes can be sent in a simple bubble mailer. High heels, larger shoes, heavy shoes, or unusually-shaped shoes are best packed and shipped in boxes.
- Shoe value: For especially valuable shoes like designer shoes, collector footwear, or vintage shoes, you should use a sturdy box with ample padding. You may also want to purchase additional insurance to cover the value of your shipment in case of damage.
The cheapest way to ship shoes depends on how many items you have to ship, as well as the speed and distance of travel. For single items, USPS is the cheapest option. Flat rate shipping is the most cost-effective shipping method for small boxes or single pairs of shoes, but if you’re shipping multiple larger boxes as part of a household move or to other locations in your business’s network, consolidated freight is often the cheapest way to ship boxes of shoes.
Compare rates for shipping shoes using some of the most common methods:
- USPS
- Parcel shipping (such as FedEx or UPS)
- Consolidated freight
At TSI, we see three common box sizes and weights for shipments of shoes:
- A single smaller box (10” x 5” x 5”) holding a single pair of shoes weighing 5 lbs or less
- A medium box (14” x 12” x 8”) holding approximately 5 pairs of shoes weighing 20 lbs
- A large box (24” x 18” x 18”) holding approximately 10 pairs of shoes weighing approximately 40 lbs
The shipping cost estimates for variable pricing provided below will be based on these common sizes and weights.
USPS
USPS offers three options for shipping shoes:
- First Class Mail
- Priority Mail flat rate shipping
- Priority Mail variable rate shipping
First Class Mail is ideal for packages up to 13 ounces that can be packed into a bubble mailer, such as a single pair of shoes. Prices start at $3.80.
For packages over 13 oz, Priority Mail flat rate shipping is one of the cheapest ways to ship boxes of shoes. Delivery takes 1-3 business days and you must use USPS packaging to qualify. With flat rate shipping, the cost of your shipment depends on the size of the box, with a maximum weight of 70 lbs. Medium or Large boxes will fit a single shoe box, multiple shoes boxes, or multiple pairs of loosely packed shoes.
| Box size | Flat rate price |
|---|---|
| Padded flat rate envelope (12 ½” x 9 ½”) |
$9.65 |
| Small box (8 ⅝” x 5 ⅜” x 1 ⅝”) |
$9.45 |
| Medium box (13 ⅝” x 11 ⅞” x 11” or 11” x 8 ½” x 5 ½”) |
$16.10 |
| Large box (23 11/16” x 11 ¾” x 12” or 12” x 12” x 5 ½”) |
$21.50 |
You can also ship shoes in a special Priority Mail Shoe Box. This packaging was designed to meet the shipping needs of footwear and clothing retailers and direct-to-customer businesses—simply slide a boxed pair of shoes inside the Priority Mail Shoe Box, then seal, label, and ship. Priority Mail Shoe Boxes are available in packs of 10-15 boxes. Each box measures 7 ⅜” x 5 ¼” x 14 ⅞” and can hold sizes ranging from women’s size 5 to men’s size 13.
With First Class Mail variable rate shipping, the cost of your shipment depends on the size and weight of the shipment, as well as distance traveled. Variable rate shipping typically costs more than flat rate shipping, but you can use your own packaging and multiple shipping speeds are available, including overnight shipping.
| Box Size | Philadelphia → Miami | Philadelphia → Los Angeles | Chicago → Dallas | Cleveland → San Diego |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10" x 5" x 5" 5 lbs (single pair) |
$16.10-$72.35 | $16.10-$78.60 | $16.10-$72.35 | $16.10-$78.60 |
|
14" x 12" x 8" |
$39.50-$147.75 | $65.00-$162.15 | $39.50-$147.75 | $65.00-$162.15 |
| 18" x 14" x 12" 40 lbs (approx. 10 pairs) |
$80.10-$267.20 | $107.20-$291.55 | $80.10-$267.20 | $107.20-$291.55 |
Parcel shipping (UPS or FedEx)
Parcel shippers such as FedEx and UPS offer flat rate and variable pricing. Both shipping methods are suitable for shipping shoes depending on how fast you need them to arrive and how many boxes you’re shipping.
Flat rate shipping is typically much cheaper but with less flexible delivery timelines. There are no surcharges for residential deliveries, and package weight doesn’t matter as long as it weighs under 50 lbs. Three box sizes are available for shipping shoes:
| Box Size | UPS (starting at) | FedEx | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Medium | 251-650”3 | $14.95 |
11 ½” x 2 ⅜” x 13 ¼” |
$15.70-$181.70 |
| Large | 651-1,050”3 | $19.6 |
12 ⅜” x 3” x 17 ½” |
$24.20-$201.45 |
| Extra Large | 1,051-1,728”3 | $24.30 |
11 ⅞” x 10 ¾” x 11” |
$39.10-$259.95 |
Here’s how UPS and FedEx flat rate shipping services compare:
UPS Simple Rate
- Pricing depends on package size and speed travel—distance of travel does not factor into shipping costs
- Use your own packaging
- Package sizes are based on volume, not dimensions
- Maximum weight of 50 lbs per box
- Three speeds available: UPS Ground, UPS 3 Day Select, and UPS 2nd Day Air
FedEx One Rate
- Pricing depends on package size, as well as speed and distance of travel
- Must use FedEx packaging, but packaging is free and can be ordered online
- Four sizes to choose from: small, medium, large, and extra large
- Maximum weight of 50 lbs per box
- Six speeds available: FedEx Express Saver, FedEx 2Day, FedEx 2Day A.M., FedEx Standard Overnight, FedEx Priority Overnight, FedEx First Overnight
- Flat rate pricing also available for LTL shipments up to 1,200 lbs
With FedEx or UPS variable pricing, the cost of your shipment will depend on the size and weight of the box, as well as the speed and distance of travel. Additional charges may apply for residential deliveries.
| Box Size | Philadelphia → Miami | Philadelphia → Los Angeles | Chicago → Dallas | Cleveland → San Diego |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10" x 5" x 5" 5 lbs (single pair) |
UPS: FedEx: $17.27-$155.28 |
UPS: FedEx: $20.08-$180.69 |
UPS: FedEx: |
UPS: FedEx: |
| 14" x 12" x 8" 20 lbs (approx. 5 pairs) |
UPS: FedEx: $25.03-$278.53 |
UPS: FedEx: $39.52-$311.81 |
UPS: FedEx: |
UPS: FedEx: |
|
18" x 14" x 12" |
UPS: FedEx: $41.53-$425.98 |
UPS: FedEx: $69.58-$483.24 |
UPS: FedEx: |
UPS: FedEx: |
*Shipping cost estimates are calculated using individuals providers’ online cost estimator tools. Details, exact prices, and shipping times are not guaranteed.
Consolidated freight
Consolidated freight providers like TSI also offer both flat rate and variable pricing.
With TSI’s flat rate shipping, you simply tell us how many boxes you need and we’ll send them to your door to pack, then return to pick them up and ship them anywhere in the continental USA for a flat rate per box. Flat rate shipping is ideal for those who are shipping shoes as part of a larger household move and have boxes of other goods to ship, such as clothing, linens, and other household goods. Boxes measure 18” x 14” x 12” and must weigh less than 40 lbs when packed.
Variable shipping is available for shipments of more than 15 boxes. The cost of your shipment will depend on the weight of what’s being shipped and the distance of travel—box size does not factor into your shipping costs. With variable pricing, you don’t pay per box. Instead, the cost of your shipment depends on the total combined weight of all your boxes. Less-than-truckload shipping, which is the service used to transport household goods like shoes, starts with a minimum billable weight of 120 lbs. That means a single box weighing 50 lbs will be priced as if it weighs 120 lbs.
Here’s how much you can expect to pay for 3 large boxes weighing 50 lbs each, for a combined total of 150 lbs.
| Number of boxes | Weight (per box) |
Philadelphia → Miami | Philadelphia → Los Angeles | Chicago → Dallas | Cleveland → San Diego |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3 boxes | 30 lbs each (150 lbs total) |
$435 ($145 per box) | $445 ($149 per box) | $356 ($119 per box) | $445 ($149 per box) |
NOTE: Shipping cost estimates are calculated using individuals providers’ online cost estimator tools. Details, exact prices, and shipping times are not guaranteed.
COVID-19 Precautions
TSI is carefully monitoring all of our shipments nationwide. We have seen minimal delays thus far, and are in constant contact with transportation industry leaders in order to be as proactive as possible. All members of the logistics chain are using the safety precautieons recommended by the C.D.C.:
- Clean your hands often (washing for 20 seconds or using hand sanitizer)
- Avoid touching your face
- Avoid close contact
- Stay home if sick
- Cover coughs and sneezes
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched surface
Need help shipping shoes?
Take a look at our package shipping solutions page. Getting a price is easy, simple and straightforward. Shipping your shoes is safer with TSI.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to ship a single pair of shoes?
The cost of shipping a single pair of shoes depends on the size of the shipment and the speed of travel. USPS and parcel shipping services are ideal for shipping a single pair of shoes. Here’s how much you can expect to pay using these services:
- USPS: $3.80-$71.35 depending on size of shipment and speed of travel. Costs may be lower for longer delivery timelines.
- Parcel shippers: $13.69-$146.34 depending on shipping provider, as well as speed and distance of travel. Costs will vary depending on origin and destination and precise box weight.
How do I pack shoes?
Shoes are sturdy and are less likely to get damaged in transit than other cargo. Pack shoes according to these instructions.
- Clean used shoes. Gently wipe the leather and plastic uppers, brush suede shoes, and brush the soles until they’re clean. A toothbrush works well for this purpose. Make sure the shoes are completely dry before packing.
- Wrap shoes in paper to protect them during transit. If you’re moving, you can pack several pairs of shoes into one box and the paper will stop dirt from transferring between pairs. Well-worn shoes may be best wrapped individually in plastic bags. Be sure to secure any buckles, zipper pulls, and other embellishments so they don’t snag or break in transit.
- Place the shoes in a correctly sized box. The box should be as small as possible to comfortably fit the shoes, but not so small that you have to cram them in. There should be a bit of extra space around the shoes so you can cushion them with crumpled paper or bubble wrap.
- Secure the box with packing tape before labelling clearly according to your shipping provider’s specifications.
If you have the original box, you may wish to pack the shoes into their original box, then slide that box into a larger one with padding for extra protection, depending on how far it will travel.
How do I ship shoes in their original box?
To ship shoes in their original box, pack the original box into a larger box such as a USPS Priority Mail Shoe Box, or use your own packaging. Seal, label, and ship according to your shipping provider’s instructions. Double boxing in this manner will keep the shoes safe and offer additional protection in transit.
How do I ship shoes without a box?
To ship shoes without a box, use any sturdy box or packaging that can safely fit the shoes. Securely wrap and pad the shoes with crumpled paper or bubble wrap before sealing the box. For cheaper or used shoes, poly mailers or bubble mailers are cost-effective packaging options.
How do I ship shoes sold on eBay?
To ship shoes sold on eBay, pack the shoes into their original box if possible, then slide the original box into a larger box for shipping. For cheaper or used shoes without the original box, poly mailers or bubble mailers are cost-effective packaging options.
What size box should I use for shipping shoes?
To ship shoes, use a box that is slightly larger than the pair of shoes. This allows room to properly pad and cushion the shoes. USPS Priority Mail Shoe Boxes are the ideal size for shipping a single pair of shoes.
