Shipping internationally requires a few more steps than domestic shipping, but the process is straightforward once you understand the paperwork, costs, and carrier options. You need to fill out customs forms, classify your items correctly, choose a carrier that fits your budget and timeline, and pack everything to survive a longer journey. Here’s how to do each part.
Choose the Right Carrier
Your four main options for international shipping from the U.S. are USPS, FedEx, UPS, and DHL. Each has strengths depending on what you’re sending, where it’s going, and how fast it needs to arrive.
USPS is typically the cheapest option for lightweight packages and small parcels. It offers wide global reach and integrates with postal systems in the destination country, which means your package gets handed off to the local mail carrier for final delivery. For heavier shipments or time-sensitive deliveries, it’s less competitive.
FedEx offers multiple international service tiers that let you balance speed against cost. You can choose anything from economy freight to next-day express depending on urgency. UPS is particularly strong for business-to-business shipping where predictable delivery windows matter. DHL tends to perform best in harder-to-reach markets, especially in parts of Asia, Africa, and the Middle East, where its private delivery network gives it an edge over carriers that rely on local postal systems.
For most personal shipments and small ecommerce orders, start by comparing rates on each carrier’s website. Enter the destination country, package dimensions, and weight to get quotes. Prices can vary dramatically between carriers for the same route, so checking all four is worth the few minutes it takes.
Fill Out Customs Forms
Every international package leaving the U.S. needs a customs form, with one narrow exception: First-Class Mail International letters and large envelopes under 15.994 ounces. Everything else, including small personal gifts, ecommerce orders, and mail to military or diplomatic addresses (APO/FPO/DPO), requires customs documentation.
If you’re shipping through USPS, you can complete customs forms online when you buy postage, or visit a Post Office branch and fill out form PS 2976-R at the counter. FedEx, UPS, and DHL generate customs paperwork through their online shipping tools when you create a label.
Regardless of carrier, every customs form requires the same core information:
- Detailed item descriptions. Each item needs its own line with a specific description that makes clear what the item is, what it’s made of, and what it’s used for. “Clothing” is too vague. “Men’s cotton t-shirt” works.
- Individual item values. List a separate dollar value for every item, plus a total value for the entire shipment. For gifts, use the fair market value of what you paid.
- Total package weight. Include the gross weight of the entire package in pounds or kilograms.
- Country of origin. Where each item was manufactured.
If you’re shipping commercially (selling products), you’ll also need a commercial invoice. This is a more detailed version of the customs declaration that includes buyer and seller information, payment terms, and an itemized product list. Most carrier shipping platforms will generate a commercial invoice template for you during checkout.
Classify Your Items With HS Codes
Harmonized System (HS) codes are standardized six-digit numbers that customs agencies worldwide use to identify what’s inside a package. The first six digits are universal across all countries in the World Customs Organization, so a cotton t-shirt has the same six-digit HS code whether it’s entering Germany or Japan. For U.S. exports, you’ll use a 10-digit version called a Schedule B code, which starts with those same six digits and adds four more for greater specificity.
To find the right code, use the free Schedule B search engine on the U.S. Census Bureau’s website. Type in a description of your product, and the tool will suggest matching codes. If your item is unusual or hard to classify, the Customs Rulings Online Search System (CROSS) database lets you look up past classification decisions for similar products.
For casual personal shipments, you generally don’t need to look up HS codes yourself since a detailed written description on the customs form is sufficient. But if you’re shipping commercially or in bulk, accurate HS codes speed up customs clearance and help ensure the correct duties are applied.
Understand Duties and Taxes
When your package arrives in the destination country, the recipient may owe import duties (a tax based on the product category) and VAT or sales tax (a tax based on the item’s value). These charges are determined by the destination country’s customs authority, not by the U.S.
Many countries set a “de minimis” threshold, a value below which shipments enter duty-free. These thresholds vary widely. Some countries exempt packages worth under $20 or so, while others set the bar at several hundred dollars. The European Union, for example, eliminated its VAT exemption for low-value goods, meaning VAT applies to imports of any value. Check the destination country’s customs website for its current threshold before shipping.
On the U.S. side, the de minimis exemption that previously allowed low-value inbound shipments to enter duty-free has been suspended as of February 2026, which matters if you’re receiving return shipments or importing goods back into the country.
Some carriers offer “Delivered Duty Paid” (DDP) service, where you pay the recipient’s duties and taxes upfront so they don’t face a surprise bill at delivery. This costs more but creates a smoother experience, especially for ecommerce sellers who want to avoid customer complaints about unexpected charges.
Know What You Can’t Ship
Certain categories of items are restricted or outright banned from international shipping. The major ones include:
- Agricultural products: Fresh fruits, vegetables, plants, seeds, soil, and meat products are restricted to prevent the spread of pests and disease.
- Firearms and ammunition: These require specific export licenses and are subject to strict regulations.
- Endangered species products: Ivory, certain animal skins, furs, and feathers made from protected wildlife are generally prohibited.
- Prescription medications: Subject to FDA and DEA regulations, and many countries prohibit importing medications without local authorization.
- Counterfeit goods: Items that infringe on trademarks or copyrights are subject to seizure at customs.
- Goods from embargoed countries: Products originating from countries under U.S. economic sanctions generally cannot be shipped without a specific license.
Beyond these universal restrictions, individual countries maintain their own prohibited items lists. USPS publishes Individual Country Listings on its website that detail what each country will and won’t accept. Check the destination country’s listing before you ship to avoid having your package seized or returned.
Get the Dimensions and Weight Right
International carriers bill based on whichever is greater: your package’s actual scale weight or its “dimensional weight.” Dimensional weight is a pricing technique that accounts for how much space a package takes up, not just how heavy it is. A large, light box costs more to transport than its weight alone would suggest.
The formula is simple: multiply length times width times height in inches, then divide by a dimensional weight factor set by the carrier (commonly 139 for domestic and 139 or 166 for international, depending on the carrier and service). Compare that result to the actual weight on the scale. The higher number is what you pay for.
Both UPS and FedEx round fractional inches up, so a box measuring 12.25 by 8.5 by 6.75 inches gets billed as 13 by 9 by 7. Keep this in mind when choosing box sizes. Packages exceeding 10,368 cubic inches trigger additional handling surcharges, and those over 17,280 cubic inches or 110 pounds get hit with oversize or large package surcharges on top of the base rate.
The practical takeaway: use the smallest box that safely fits your items. Downsizing from a medium to a small box can meaningfully reduce your shipping cost, especially for lightweight goods.
Pack for a Longer Journey
International shipments go through more handling points than domestic ones. Your package may be loaded and unloaded multiple times, pass through customs inspections in both countries, and travel by truck, plane, and local delivery vehicle before reaching its destination.
Use a sturdy corrugated box rather than a padded envelope for anything fragile. Wrap items individually and fill empty space with packing material so nothing shifts during transit. Seal all seams with shipping tape, not masking or duct tape. Place a copy of your shipping label and customs information inside the box in case the exterior label gets damaged.
If your shipment has significant value, purchase shipping insurance through your carrier or a third-party insurer. Carrier-included coverage is often limited to $100 or less for international packages, which won’t cover the loss of electronics, jewelry, or other high-value items.
Track and Prepare for Delays
All major carriers provide tracking numbers for international shipments. Tracking updates reliably within the origin country and usually pick back up once the package clears customs in the destination country. The gap in between, while the package is in transit or sitting in customs, can sometimes go silent for a few days. This is normal.
Customs processing times vary by country and by how complete your paperwork is. Incomplete descriptions, missing values, or incorrect HS codes are the most common reasons packages get held up. A shipment that might otherwise clear customs in a day could sit for a week or more if the customs authority needs to request additional information. Getting the paperwork right the first time is the single most effective way to avoid delays.
Transit times also depend on the service level you choose. Express international services from FedEx, UPS, and DHL typically deliver in one to three business days. Economy services range from one to three weeks depending on the destination. USPS First-Class Package International can take anywhere from one to four weeks, while Priority Mail International typically lands in six to ten business days.