How much does it cost to ship a shirt USPS? (all you must know)
Shipping a shirt is easy and affordable, but if you want to spend the least amount of money, there’s a good chance that using the U.S. Postal Service is your best bet.
But how much does it cost to ship a shirt USPS? You have a lot of options, and since T-shirts are relatively light, they’re all cheap. Here’s what you need to know!
How much does it cost to ship a shirt via USPS in 2022?
T-shirts weigh between 3 and 6 ounces, depending on the fabric, and by 2022, there are several affordable options that can be shipped using the U.S. Postal Service. This includes the First-Class Mail Large Envelope for just $2.16 – and can be covered by four Forever stamps. Faster options also exist, including flat rates.
To learn more about all the different options for shipping shirts, whether USPS or UPS is really cheaper, and more, keep going!
What is the shipping weight of a shirt?
When it comes to your options, the weight of the shirts you want to ship can vary, especially how much you’ll pay.
That said, assuming a typical T-shirt, the Kalamazoo Spirit Shoppe estimates that most basic T-shirts will weigh between three ounces on the low end and six ounces on the high end.
In some cases, they may even weigh more than 6 ounces, such as oversized or very heavy knits.
But to be sure, a regular T-shirt, like one you might find on a shelf at Walmart or Target, has a maximum capacity of about 6 ounces.
Now, that’s important because something lightweight makes first-class mail an option.
While First-Class Mail is one of the slowest ways to ship items, it’s also the most affordable. You may even have received postage by now.
Let’s check it out along with some other shipping options in the section below.
What is the cheapest way to ship a shirt through USPS?
The cheapest way to ship a shirt with USPS is to put in an envelope and send the First-Class Large Envelope.
We calculated the cost of shipping a 6 oz shirt to a zone 8 address (it’s like sending from one coast to another) and it came to a cost of only $2.15.
I don’t know about you, but I actually have that postage on hand right now – just four Forever stamps (assuming the retail price is 58 cents).
You’ll pay more this way – you can always take your envelope to the post office and buy it exactly – but it will save you time on a trip if you already have stamps.
Let’s take a look at some other affordable ways you can ship a six-ounce shirt:
- First Class Package: $5.50 for Zone 8; This option is ideal if you want to be able to track your shipment, as First Class packages include tracking.
- Retail venue: $10.25 for Zone 8; includes tracking, but is slower and more expensive than the first class package.
- Priority Mail 2-Day Flat Rate: By folding the shirt, it’s sure to fit in a small flat rate box for $9.45, or a flat rate envelope for $8.85.
It’s faster than any of the options above, includes $50 worth of insurance, and includes tracking.
Flat rate boxes and envelopes can be found for free at the post office or ordered online (totally free) and delivered by your postman.
- Priority Mail Express or Priority Mail Express Flat Rate: If you’re in a hurry, Priority Mail Express delivers fast next- or two-day delivery.
Obviously, this isn’t the cheapest option; shipping to Zone 8 costs $40.90 with your own Priority Mail Express box.
But because T-shirts fit in envelopes, you can also take advantage of their flat-rate envelopes for $26.95.
I know the price jump from Priority Mail to Priority Mail Express is pretty big, but for next-day or two-day delivery, USPS offers very good prices.
Is it cheaper to ship clothes with USPS or UPS?
Wait until you see the price difference between USPS and UPS – the postal service is much cheaper.
Assuming another 6-ounce shirt, UPS Next-Day Air costs a whopping $100.16 by 10:30 the next day. Next-Day By End Of Day is still $89.39.
By comparison, USPS’ Priority Mail Express flat rate is just $26.95.
UPS 2nd Day costs between $44.82 and $39.09, while 3 Day Select costs $31.83.
And the cheapest option, UPS Ground, which takes about a week, is still $13.18, while the USPS First-Class Large Envelope is $2.16.
Some people find UPS more trustworthy or reliable after using USPS; this is fair and efficient.
But to ship a t-shirt, you’ll spend more on UPS. Postal service is much cheaper.
Can you send shirts in a flat rate envelope?
As long as the shirt fits in the envelope — and most people will — you don’t need a lot of tape to keep it closed, you can definitely ship in a flat rate envelope.
In fact, if it were up to me, this is definitely the method I would use as it is cheaper than shipping a box.
How do you beat a Priority Mail 2-Day Flat Rate Envelope for just $8.95 shipping, including tracking and insurance?
Plus, T-shirts aren’t brittle or breakable, so you don’t have to worry about missing padding or bubble wrap in regular envelopes.
To learn more, you can also check out our posts on Where to Drop USPS Packages, Ship Clothes USPS, and Cheapest USPS Shipping Methods.
in conclusion
Shipping t-shirts with USPS is very affordable at just $2.16, or even lower if your package is lighter. More expensive options are still within the reach of most budgets, with flat-rate envelopes making shipping cheaper and faster.
