Is DHL cheaper than USPS? (all you must know)
There are a lot of things to keep in mind when you’re shipping internationally. Not only do you have to choose the right packaging, you also have to choose the right shipping service and remember to fill out the customs documents.
While I can’t do these things for you, I can help you understand the shipping options offered by different carriers. More specifically, I can tell you which carrier is cheaper when comparing DHL and USPS, so read on to find out more!
Is DHL cheaper than USPS in 2022?
Because the U.S. Postal Service is the government agency that monopolizes the U.S. mail system, USPS shipping is always cheaper than DHL domestically. Internationally, USPS also appears to be cheaper than DHL, especially when it comes to shipping documents or light packages in 2022. That said, DHL delivers faster, so this price difference is understandable.
To better understand which shipping company is cheaper, be sure to read the entire article for more facts!
Is DHL domestic shipping cheaper than USPS?
There is no competition between DHL and USPS when it comes to domestic shipping. In almost all cases, USPS is the cheaper option.
As the US government agency and the only postal service provider, the postal service has much more domestic experience than DHL.
Because of this experience and the Postal Service’s monopoly on the U.S. mail system, it is impossible for other companies to compete financially in the domestic market.
How much cheaper is USPS than DHL in China?
While it’s clear that USPS is the cheaper method of shipping within the US, it’s important to know how much.
Let’s look at an example to see the difference in pricing between the two companies.
In this example, the package is traveling from New York to Los Angeles. It weighs 2 pounds and measures 15″ x 11″ x 3″.
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DHL
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United States Postal Service
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- Priority Mail Express 1 day = $56.00
- Priority Mail 3 days = $16.10
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As you can see, USPS is over 50% cheaper than DHL for next day domestic shipping.
Is DHL international shipping cheaper than USPS?
Unfortunately, the answer to this question is more complicated than it appears.
This is because shipping costs depend on many factors, such as shipping frequency, weight loss, and billing country.
Still, it’s safe to say that USPS is generally cheaper than DHL when it comes to international shipping.
Let’s look at some examples to see what the difference in pricing looks like.
In both examples, the package weighs 2 pounds, measures 15″ x 11″ x 3″, and is shipped from New York City, USA to London, UK.
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DHL
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- 2-day shipping = $145.52
- 3 days before 9:00AM = $171.24
- 3 days at 12:00pm = $151.95
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United States Postal Service
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- Priority Mail Express International (3-5 business days) = $78.45
- Priority Mail International Medium Flat Rate Box (6-10 business days) = $86.90
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While USPS wins on pricing for this item, it’s important to realize that DHL may have a better price on slower service and/or larger packages.
Who has the higher surcharge: DHL or USPS?
One of the reasons USPS pricing is more competitive is that, unlike DHL, it charges very little surcharge.
DHL charges customers additional fees such as:
- Fuel – This fee helps cover the fuel needed to transport cargo by plane or truck. It is calculated based on wholesale diesel prices in the country of origin of the goods and can fluctuate widely depending on world events.
- Remote Areas – DHL defines remote areas as places that are difficult to service. This surcharge starts at $20.00 or $0.45/kg, whichever is higher.
- Saturday Delivery – DHL offers Saturday delivery at several locations. However, the cost per shipment is $30.00.
On the other hand, USPS does not impose surcharges on fuel price increases, residential deliveries, or Saturday deliveries.
Should I choose DHL or USPS?
Based on pricing alone, USPS is more competitive than DHL in shipping costs. However, cost is only one thing to consider when shipping.
When choosing one carrier over another, it’s important to consider the following:
- how often do you ship
- Package weight
- where are you shipping to
If you’re a private customer or small business shipping primarily in the US, USPS is the clear winner.
However, if you’re a larger company with many international customers and often ship items over 70 pounds, it might be worth looking into DHL’s services.
This is because DHL has a strong international reputation and presence around the world, including many hard-to-reach locations.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on whether DHL’s estimated deliveries are accurate, whether DHL is in the US, and where DHL’s hubs are.
in conclusion
As this article shows, USPS is almost always a cheaper shipping method compared to DHL. This is especially true for lighter packages and domestic shipping within the US.
While USPS prices may be more competitive, there are still reasons to choose DHL. If your company is larger, typically ships packages over 70 pounds, and has a large number of international customers, you may benefit from DHL’s more developed international shipping network.