Quoted live on 2026-08-19 for the exact box and route shown. A different kit or route changes the number.
One kit, five rates
| Carrier | Service | Price | Estimated transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPS | Ground Saver | $19.78 | 4 business days |
| FedEx | Ground Economy | $22.93 | 5-6 business days |
| USPS | Ground Advantage | $23.16 | 4-5 business days |
| UPS | Ground | $23.54 | 4-5 business days |
| UPS | 3 Day Select | $32.22 | 4-5 business days |
UPS Ground Saver led by a clear margin on this box. The kit itself weighs little; it is the 22 x 14 x 8 in carton that decides most of the rate, because sprues, a body shell and a hardware bag pack loosely rather than densely.
What moves an RC kit quote
Box the kit, not just the parts
The manufacturer's box is a shelf box, built to survive a retail display, not a conveyor belt. Wrap it in an outer carton with padding around the corners, and give a clear polycarbonate body shell or canopy extra cushioning of its own.
No battery, no hazmat step
An unassembled kit sold without a motor, radio or battery pack is ordinary cargo. Describe it plainly, RC car kit or RC plane kit, and the checkout prices it like any other boxed hobby item.
A battery changes the shipment
Buying the kit and a LiPo pack together, or shipping a partly-built model with the battery installed, moves the parcel into lithium battery rules. That is a separate declaration, covered on its own page.
Common questions
How much does it cost to ship an RC model kit?
$19.78 on UPS Ground Saver for a boxed 1/10 scale RC car kit, 22 x 14 x 8 in, 9 lb, Berkeley Heights, NJ to Chicago, IL, quoted live on 2026-08-19. USPS Ground Advantage and UPS Ground both landed a few dollars higher on the same box.
Does an RC kit need a box, or does the manufacturer's box work?
The manufacturer's box holds the sprues and decals in a shop, not a sorting belt. Wrap it in an outer shipping box with padding on the corners, especially for a kit with a molded body shell or a clear polycarbonate canopy, which crack before anything else in the box does.
Do I need to declare a battery if the kit doesn't include one?
No. An unassembled kit sold without a battery pack, motor or radio system ships as an ordinary parcel. Describe it as what it is, for example a Tamiya TT-02 RC car kit, so the checkout rates it correctly.
What if the kit does include a LiPo battery or a radio system?
A LiPo or lithium-ion battery pack shipped inside the kit changes the rules, not just the description. See our lithium battery shipping guide for how that gets declared and packed.
Is USPS or UPS cheaper for a boxed RC kit?
On the kit quoted for this page, UPS Ground Saver at $19.78 beat USPS Ground Advantage at $23.16 and UPS Ground at $23.54. That order can flip on a different weight, box or route, so quote the kit you actually have.