Billable weight
Carriers bill the greater of what the scale says and the dimensional weight of the box: length × width × height in inches ÷ 139. A 20 × 14 × 12 in carton carries about 24 lb of dimensional weight no matter what is inside it.
Package pricing
How much does it cost to ship a package?
Between $10.75 for a 1 lb box and $76.04 for a 50 lb box coast to coast — but the number that matters is yours. Everything in the tables below was quoted through the SMKlog calculator on 2026-07-24. The prices are all-in — the carrier label plus what SMKlog charges — and nothing is added at checkout.
Live parcel ratesReal quotes, datedTracking included
Every number here is a real quote
Prices on this page came out of the SMKlog calculator on 2026-07-24 for the exact boxes and routes listed. Run yours for today's rate.
Five real boxes, one lane
| Box and weight | USPS | UPS | FedEx | Cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 × 6 × 4 in, 1 lb | $11.05 Ground Advantage | $10.75 Ground Saver | not offered | $10.75 UPS Ground Saver |
| 12 × 9 × 6 in, 5 lb | $8.94 Ground Advantage | $13.35 Ground Saver | $16.97 Smart Post | $8.94 USPS Ground Advantage |
| 16 × 12 × 10 in, 10 lb | $20.86 Ground Advantage | $17.56 Ground Saver | $21.87 Smart Post | $17.56 UPS Ground Saver |
| 18 × 14 × 12 in, 20 lb | $33.44 Ground Advantage | $23.00 Ground Saver | $26.52 Smart Post | $23.00 UPS Ground Saver |
| 24 × 18 × 18 in, 50 lb | not offered | $45.01 Ground | $58.93 Smart Post | $45.01 UPS Ground |
Five ordinary cartons, one lane, every carrier that returned a rate. Read down the weight column, not across price lists on other sites: the same pound of goods prices differently depending on the box it sits in.
The same boxes, coast to coast
| Box and weight | USPS | UPS | FedEx | Cheapest |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9 × 6 × 4 in, 1 lb | $13.00 Ground Advantage | $11.75 Ground Saver | not offered | $11.75 UPS Ground Saver |
| 12 × 9 × 6 in, 5 lb | $14.16 Ground Advantage | $16.88 Ground Saver | $19.29 Smart Post | $14.16 USPS Ground Advantage |
| 16 × 12 × 10 in, 10 lb | $30.09 Ground Advantage | $25.51 Ground Saver | $24.69 Smart Post | $24.69 FedEx Smart Post |
| 18 × 14 × 12 in, 20 lb | $55.71 Ground Advantage | $35.06 Ground Saver | $35.03 Smart Post | $35.03 FedEx Smart Post |
| 24 × 18 × 18 in, 50 lb | not offered | $76.04 Ground | $88.09 Smart Post | $76.04 UPS Ground |
Distance is the second lever. The 50 lb box costs $45.01 to Chicago and $76.04 to Los Angeles — $31.03 more for the same carton, same day, same carriers.
What actually moves the number
Box tier, not just pounds
In the run above the 5 lb carton quoted below the 1 lb one on USPS — $8.94 against $11.05. Carrier price tables are not linear in weight, which is exactly why a printed price chart is worse than quoting the box you actually have.
Route and zone
Every carrier prices by zone. Two states over is a different product from coast to coast, and no table on the internet can answer for your ZIP pair.
Common questions
How much does it cost to ship a package in the U.S.?
On 2026-07-24, a 9 × 6 × 4 in 1 lb box from New Jersey to Chicago quoted $10.75, a 16 × 12 × 10 in 10 lb box quoted $17.56, and a 24 × 18 × 18 in 50 lb box quoted $45.01. Coast to coast the same boxes cost more — see the second table. Those are real quotes for those exact boxes, not averages.
What is the cheapest way to send a package?
For small and medium boxes USPS Ground Advantage usually wins; above roughly 20 lb UPS Ground took the lead in our run. The honest answer is that it flips by weight, box size, and lane, so compare all three for your own box.
Do I need a scale to get a price?
No. Describe the item and SMKlog estimates the packed box and weight, or enter the dimensions yourself if you already have them. You can correct the numbers before paying, and a confirmed box is what prevents a carrier adjustment after delivery.
Why is the price different from the Post Office counter?
Labels bought online use commercial rates, which run below the retail counter price for most services. The quote you see here is the price you pay — label plus what SMKlog charges — with no separate add-on at checkout.
What if my package is too big for a parcel label?
Past roughly 108 inches in length or 130 inches in length plus girth, or past 150 lb, carriers stop treating it as a parcel. SMKlog routes those to a freight review with a human instead of selling a label that would be repriced or refused.