For a 20 × 16 × 14 in box at 20 lb, FedEx Ground Economy asked $49.89 on the Florida-to-Utah lane below.
A real quote: Fender Rumble 100 bass amplifier
“Fender Rumble 100 bass amplifier” is what we typed into the SMKlog calculator on 2026-07-24, with Orlando, FL 32801 to Salt Lake City, UT 84101 as the route. Every value in this section, box through prices, is exactly what the tool sent back.
What we typed
Fender Rumble 100 bass amplifier
Rumble 100 identifies a specific combo, so the box and weight estimates can be specific too. A plain “bass amp” would have gotten a rougher cut.
Packed box it returned
20 × 16 × 14 in
50.8 × 40.6 × 35.6 cm
Packed weight 20 lb (9.1 kg).
Route
Orlando, FL 32801
to Salt Lake City, UT 84101
Orlando to Salt Lake City is priced from live tables at both ends. No packing decision moves a price the way that distance does.
The carton's math (20 × 16 × 14 ÷ 139) says about 32.2 lb; the scale says 20. Carriers bill the 32.2, which makes the box itself the costliest thing to leave unoptimized.
| Carrier | Service | Price | Estimated transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| FedEx | Ground Economy | $49.89 | 9-10 business days |
| UPS | Ground | $50.36 | 5-6 business days |
| UPS | Ground Saver | $66.82 | 8 business days |
| FedEx | Ground | $78.94 | 8-9 business days |
Prices in the table are complete: one checkout amount that folds in the label and what SMKlog earns, with no surprise line afterwards. FedEx Ground Economy edged UPS Ground at $49.89. These figures were true on one July day on one lane; yours deserves its own run through the calculator.
Typical packed size
About 26 × 24 × 18 in once boxed. Firm foam over the speaker grille, a second box around the first so the transformer cannot wrench loose in a drop, knobs immobilized, and corners padded hard, since they take the first hits.
Packed weight
35–75 lb packed for a combo. The billed weight is the higher of the scale and volume figures, and with amps both run high, so measure rather than assume.
What moves the price
Billed pounds, miles, and urgency. Orlando, FL to Salt Lake City, UT crosses most of a continent; shorter hauls rate cheaper and air rates higher for the identical carton. The day's spread on this box was $49.89 to $78.94, which is exactly why one flat amp-shipping price cannot exist.
Shipping a bass amp: common questions
What box size do I need to ship a bass amp?
Plan on 26 × 24 × 18 in packed. The grille needs firm foam, not soft wrap; the amp needs double-boxing so its transformer cannot tear free when dropped; and the knobs and corners need their own padding, corners first.
How much does a bass amp weigh packed for shipping?
Combos land between 35–75 lb packed. Weigh the finished box and take its measurements before you quote, because the carrier bills the greater of actual and computed dimensional weight and will correct an underestimate after the fact.
Why is a bass amp heavier to ship than a guitar amp?
Bass amps use larger transformers and bigger, heavier drivers to reproduce low frequencies, so a comparable combo weighs noticeably more. That extra mass pushes it into a higher parcel weight tier.
Should I remove the tubes before shipping?
If it's a tube amp, remove the power and preamp tubes, wrap them individually, and pack them separately. Tubes rattle loose and shatter in transit; solid-state bass amps have no tubes to pull.
How much does it cost to ship a bass amp?
Billed weight, distance, and speed. Packed to 26x24x18 inches, an amp computes to 81 lb of dimensional weight against 55 lb actual, and carriers charge the higher one, so it prices as an 81 lb package before zone and service even enter. The SMKlog calculator runs your exact route and box against live USPS, UPS, and FedEx tables.
What is the cheapest way to ship a bass amp?
Ground with UPS or FedEx; at 55 lb in a 26x24x18 box the amp sits far outside the small-parcel range where USPS Ground Advantage competes. Buy the label online at commercial rates, which usually undercut the counter by 20-40% for the same service, and squeeze the box wherever possible, because it bills at 81 lb dimensional and every trimmed inch counts.