Empty the toiletry bag first
Lighters, matches, nail polish, nail polish remover and aerosol cans are the four items packing habit puts in a suitcase and FedEx's own list puts on the never-ship side.
Luggage
Can I ship a suitcase with FedEx?
Yes, boxed. FedEx's own how-to page says the same thing plainly: pack the bag in a sturdy box, or have it packed at a FedEx location. What it will not carry inside that box is the more useful half of the answer, because a packed-for-travel suitcase is full of exactly the things FedEx lists as dangerous goods. A boxed 29-inch checked suitcase quoted $77.59 on FedEx Smart Post below, Berkeley Heights NJ to Austin TX, captured 2026-08-18, with UPS Ground undercutting it at $65.38 on the same lane.
Live parcel ratesFedEx wording, quoted and datedTracking included
What a boxed suitcase costs on FedEx
Both figures below came back live on 2026-08-18 for these exact boxes on one lane. A different bag or a different ZIP pair prices differently.
A real quote: 29-inch checked suitcase, boxed
Packed into a 30 × 20 × 12 in box at 15 lb, quoted Berkeley Heights, NJ to Austin, TX on 2026-08-18. UPS undercut FedEx on this route, and the table shows every service that came back.
| Carrier | Service | Price | Estimated transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPS | Ground | $65.38 | 5-6 business days |
| FedEx | Smart Post | $77.59 | 6-7 business days |
| UPS | Ground Saver | $88.58 | Ground transit |
| FedEx | Ground | $103.93 | 5-6 business days |
| UPS | 3 Day Select | $113.27 | 5-6 business days |
FedEx Smart Post was FedEx's own cheapest tier here, though UPS still undercut it on this lane. Every ZIP pair rates differently, so treat this as one example and pull a live quote for your own route.
Other versions, same route
| Bag | Packed box | Cheapest FedEx | Cheapest overall |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20-inch hardside carry-on suitcase, boxed | 22 × 15 × 9 in 8 lb packed | $30.76 FedEx Smart Post | $30.07 UPS Ground Saver |
What FedEx's own page says can never go inside
Per fedex.com, checked 2026-08-18, FedEx's how-to-ship-luggage page confirms the basic yes: “You can ship luggage, suitcases, or travel bags through FedEx by packing them in a sturdy box or having them packed at a FedEx location.” The same page then lists what it treats as dangerous goods even when packed inside ordinary travel gear, and states: “We cannot ship any package, including luggage, that contains Dangerous Goods.” Named on that list: cigarette lighters or matches, nail polish and nail polish remover, aerosols such as hairspray cans, and loose lithium or spare batteries.
Pull loose batteries out
A spare phone battery or a power bank rattling in a side pocket is a dangerous-goods hold, not a shipping delay. Carry it, or ship it under lithium battery rules on its own.
2 to 3 inches of cushioning, H-taped
FedEx's own packing steps: loosefill, bubble wrap or air-cellular cushion filling the gap around the bag, then the H taping method across every seam and flap.
Where these rules come from
- FedEx, How to Ship and Package Luggage — the box-it confirmation, cushioning and H-taping steps, and the dangerous-goods list for luggage. Read 2026-08-18.
FedEx revises its packing pages without notice. Treat the wording above as what it published on the date shown and re-check anything you plan to pack in the same box.
Common questions
Can I ship a suitcase with FedEx?
Yes. FedEx's own how-to page confirms it: you can ship luggage, suitcases or travel bags by packing them in a sturdy box or having them packed at a FedEx location. A boxed 29-inch checked suitcase quoted $77.59 on Smart Post, FedEx's cheapest tier in the example on this page, captured 2026-08-18. UPS Ground came in lower on that lane at $65.38.
What can't I leave inside a suitcase I ship with FedEx?
FedEx names the usual toiletry-bag contents as dangerous goods it will not carry: cigarette lighters or matches, nail polish and nail polish remover, aerosols such as hairspray, and loose lithium or spare batteries. FedEx states it cannot ship any package, including luggage, that contains dangerous goods.
How should a suitcase be boxed for FedEx?
FedEx calls for a sturdy box with 2 to 3 inches of cushioning space around the bag, loosefill peanuts, bubble wrap or air-cellular cushion filling the empty space, and the box sealed with the H taping method: tape across every seam and flap, plus a strip down the center of both the top and bottom.
How much does it cost to ship a suitcase with FedEx?
$30.76 to $77.59 on Smart Post, FedEx's own cheapest tier for each of the two boxed suitcases quoted on this page, both from Berkeley Heights, NJ to Austin, TX on 2026-08-18. FedEx Ground ran to $103.93 on the checked case. A carry-on prices at the low end; a full-size checked case at the high end.
Does a smart suitcase with a built-in battery ship with FedEx?
Not with the battery left inside unmarked. FedEx's dangerous goods rule against loose lithium or spare batteries reaches a suitcase's own removable power bank; take it out and ship it separately under the lithium battery rules, or check that the model has a battery you can remove before boxing the case.