Shoes are some of the most commonly shipped e-commerce products. Almost every pair of sneakers you’ve ever seen in your life has been shipped at some point. Despite the fact that shoes are frequently mailed, shipping them presents some challenges. Knowing the correct way to ship shoes will help you a lot.
How Can I Ship Shoes?
Whether you’re running an online store or reselling or flipping small amounts of shoes, you’ll get the most for your money if you find the cheapest shipping service and package the shoes well. You can learn various ways to ship boxes in our article on How To Ship Boxes. Here are the basic steps for shipping shoes:
Get Appropriate Packaging Materials
Being properly equipped with the necessary packing materials is the ideal approach for delivering shoes, or anything else. Having the materials listed below will enable you to package shoes for shipping quickly and efficiently.
Even though things can get broken while being shipped, if they are well-wrapped, they can stay safe and prevent a lot of damage.
Keep the following supplies on hand at all times if you send shoes frequently:
- Box
- Tape
- Scissors
- Mailing Labels
- Cushioning Materials (bubble wraps or plastic foams)
Box Options for Shipping Shoes
The four most common box possibilities are as follows: Small (8 12″ x 5″ x 1 12″), medium (13 34″ x 11 34″ x 11), large (23 12″ x 11 34″ x 12), and extra large (30 14″ x 12 12″ x 12 12″) are the sizes available. Custom boxes, like the Jones Custom shoe box (20″ x 14 12″ x 5 12″), are also a great option, but we do not advise buying them because they are quite expensive and will most certainly crack and damage.
Aviditi Store on Amazon has all the various box sizes.
Double Boxes for Shipping Shoes
If you want to be sure your shoes arrive in perfect condition and in the original box, double-boxing them is your best bet. Remove the shoes from their packaging and neatly pack them in a 2-inch depth. This will prevent them from being damaged during transportation.
Fill one shoe with bubble wrap, then another with bubble wrap, and so on, until each shoe is separately packed to a depth of two inches. Then, in a single box, lay all of your shoes, seal them, and tape them tight. This will keep them from being crushed by each other or by other mail items. The box can then be addressed to the destination and shipped!
Package the Shoes
Clean shoes before boxing.
To guarantee that your shoes reach the destination in good shape, it is vital to clean them before shipping them. Wipe and condition your shoes with any good shoe conditioning solution to give them a lustrous finish. You can polish your shoes with cost-effective (and environmentally friendly!) recycled rags. Scrub the soles with an old toothbrush or another bristle brush. Mr. Clean Magic Erasers are also effective!
Once your shoes are clean, take a photo of them so you have a record in case you need to file an insurance claim.
Select the most appropriate box.
By eliminating excessive shifting during shipments, you’ll be able to keep all of your items (not just shoes) safe and secure with the right box. If you sell accessories like laces, shoe trees, and shoehorns, think about what kind of packaging would best suit the shape and size of these items without increasing the total weight of the shipment.
Keep in mind that the heavier the cargo, the higher the shipping fee. Apparel boxes come in a range of shapes and sizes, allowing you to find the right one for your needs, whether you’re sending shoes or anything else.
If at all possible, use the original shoe box as well. Simply put, that package goes inside a larger shipping container.
Wrap the shoes with tissue paper.
While customers are responsible for maintaining their shoes in excellent condition after delivery, you may assist them by wrapping them in bubble wrap, tissue paper, or packing peanuts before shipping.
You’ll want to keep the shoes as immobile as possible, especially if they have sequins, buckles, sharp heels, or other embellishments that can get damaged during the journey.
This will also help to maintain the shape of the shoes and prevent them from being damaged or dented on their journey to their destination.
Make use of shoe trees.
It’s a good idea to use suitable shoe trees to maintain the fresh looks of the shoes when shipping from your store or home. Shoe trees are a great way to keep your shoes looking brand new because they keep the toe box from sagging and maintain the quality of the leather.
Use cushioning to package oddly shaped shoes
Cushioning materials will guarantee that nothing breaks or is damaged while carrying weirdly shaped shoes or other merchandise. While packing peanuts or bubble wrap is a great addition to just about every shoebox, it may also be used to protect odd-shaped loose items like shoe trees or shoehorns from sliding about too much.
Attach the shipping labels.
Fill out the correct delivery information on your courier’s website and print out the shipping labels. Ensure you stock the labels on the top and side of the box. If you are sending something internationally, you must include the right customs information and harmonized codes.
How Much Does it Cost to Ship Shoes?
Estimating the exact cost of transporting shoes might be challenging because of the abundance of delivery couriers available. So, what does shipping shoes cost? That, of course, is dependent on a number of factors. Some factors that will influence the total cost are listed below:
Weight: Because many couriers charge based on the weight of a shipment, heavier shoe packages will cost extra.
Shipping Distance: The longer your shipment must travel, the more expensive it will be. This is applicable whether you’re exporting locally or globally.
Shipping Service: Most couriers provide a variety of shipping services at varying price points, as well as varying degrees of tracking and insurance. Express services with full tracking should cost more, whereas slower services with less tracking should cost less.
Import taxes and duties: If you’re exporting overseas, the authorities in the receiving country will almost certainly levy import taxes and charges on your package. Because this can drastically increase the cost of shipping shoes, you should let your buyers know about it.
What are the Cheapest Options for Shipping Shoes?
You should compare prices and services from various couriers before picking how to mail shoes. USPS, FedEx, UPS, and DHL are all good options for shipping shoes. Even though shipping shoes don’t usually cost a lot, comparing the services of different couriers could help you find one that ships shoes quickly and cheaply.
It’s worth mentioning that most consumers choose the USPS First Class option for lightweight parcels before looking at the fees charged by various couriers for sending shoes. You can also choose UPS Ground service, which takes one to five days to deliver based on your location.
The table below shows the expected expense of shipping shoes via different couriers.
Shipping costs from Los Angeles to Miami for a 10in x 5in x 5in box weighing 5lbs.
- USPS Priority Mail Express 2-Day $71.35 2 days
- USPS Priority Mail 2-Day $26.70 4 days
- USPS Retail Ground $23.90 8 days
- FedEx 2Day $58.30 2 days
- FedEx Ground $19.06 2 days
- UPS 2 Day Air $54.08 2 days
- UPS Ground $20.07 4 days
Shipping costs for a 10in x 5in x 5in box weighing 5lbs from Los Angeles to Hong Kong are estimated.
- International Priority Mail Express $88.55 3-5 days
- USPS Priority Mail International $71.25 6-10 days
- FedEx International Priority $195.40 4 days
- FedEx International Economy $173 5 days
- UPS Worldwide Express $173.8 4 days
- UPS Worldwide Saver $171.19 4 days
If you ship other pieces of clothing, you should check our article on How To Ship Shirts and T-Shirts.
