Asking for an international shipping quote is easy; getting one that matches the final invoice is harder. The secret is accurate data. Here is the checklist.
The information you need
- Origin and destination: country, city and postal code. Remote or rural areas can add surcharges.
- Weight: weigh the packed box, not just the product.
- Dimensions: length, width and height of the packed box in centimetres.
- Contents and value: needed for customs and insurance.
- Speed: express, standard or economy.
- Delivery type: home delivery, pickup point or business address.
Why quotes differ between couriers
Every carrier has its own rate tables by zone and weight, its own fuel and peak surcharges and its own volumetric divisor. A bulky, light box may be cheap with one courier and expensive with another. Learn the maths in how to calculate international postage.
Hidden fees to watch for
- Fuel and seasonal surcharges.
- Remote-area or residential delivery fees.
- Oversize, overweight or non-standard packaging charges.
- Import duties and VAT in the destination country.
- Customs clearance or handling fees.
Tip: ask whether the quote is DAP (receiver pays duties) or DDP (sender pays duties). It changes the total you or your customer will pay.
The fastest way to get a quote
Instead of emailing several carriers, use the shipping calculator: enter weight, size and destination and compare prices and times in seconds. See also what worldwide shipping costs are made of.
