What we typed
Alto saxophone in a hard case, double-boxed
The case is the thing being measured. A gig bag needs a bigger outer carton and far more fill to be safe.
Woodwind
How much does it cost to ship a saxophone?
A saxophone rides well when the case rides inside a box, and poorly when it does not. The horn is light for its bulk, so the bill follows the boxed case rather than the brass: our alto in a hard case, double-boxed, quoted between $63.76 and $106.39 from Berkeley Heights, NJ to Los Angeles on 2026-08-08. The price shown already carries SMKlog's charge next to the carrier's, with tracking on every tier.
Live parcel ratesOne horn, one lane, datedTracking included
The case goes in a box
These figures came back on 2026-08-08 for one alto in a hard case, double-boxed. Swap the horn or the destination and the number moves with it.
An alto, coast to coast
We described an alto saxophone in a hard case, double-boxed and asked for Berkeley Heights, NJ to Los Angeles. The reply arrived as five services on one box, and here it is whole.
Packed box it used
30 × 16 × 13 in
76 × 41 × 33 cm
17 lb once the case sits inside an outer carton with padding.
Route
Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922
to Los Angeles, CA 90012
A full cross-country zone. A regional hop prices well under this.
| Carrier | Service | Price a customer pays | Transit window returned |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPS | Ground | $63.76 | 8-9 business days |
| FedEx | Ground Economy | $74.59 | 8-9 business days |
| UPS | Ground Saver | $85.83 | About 7 business days |
| FedEx | Ground | $99.89 | 6-7 business days |
| UPS | 3 Day Select | $106.39 | 4-5 business days |
The cheapest row is also the slowest, and the fastest ground tier costs about two-thirds again as much for a few days saved across the country. On a shorter lane every row drops, so treat this as one dated example and pull a quote for your own two ZIPs before you box the horn.
What the packing decides
Double-box the case
The case is a handle, not a shipping container. Slide it into a carton with two inches of fill all round so no drop lands on a latch or a hinge, and the horn never feels the outside of the box.
Break the horn down
Neck off, mouthpiece off, each wrapped on its own. Stuff the bell lightly so the pads and rods carry no load, and the low keys along the bottom bow arrive as straight as they left.
Size sets the tier
An alto boxes to roughly 30 by 16 by 13 inches. A tenor case is longer and deeper and a baritone longer still, so each quotes a step up the ladder even though the brass adds little weight.
Common questions
How much does it cost to ship a saxophone?
A boxed alto ran $63.76 to $106.39 from Berkeley Heights, NJ to Los Angeles on 2026-08-08, across all five services below. A shorter lane lands lower, and a tenor or baritone in its larger case sits a tier above an alto.
Does a saxophone case count as a shipping box?
No. A gig bag or a hard case protects the horn day to day, but a carrier treats a bare case as the parcel, and its latches, straps and hinges take the handling. Put the cased sax inside a rigid carton with padding on every side.
Should I take the saxophone apart before packing?
Yes. Detach the neck and the mouthpiece, wrap each one on its own, and cushion the bell so nothing presses against the key work. A loose reed and the ligature ride in a small bag taped inside the case.
Is a tenor saxophone dearer to ship than an alto?
Usually, because the case is longer and deeper. The price follows the boxed size more than the weight of the brass, so a bigger case quotes into a higher tier even when the horn barely moves the scale.
Should I add protection for a vintage horn?
For a collectible or professional instrument, add shipping protection for its replacement value during checkout and ask for signature on delivery where the carrier offers it on the route.