How To Ship Products To Customers: Online Shipping in 2025

You put a lot of attempt into making sure your customers have a great encounter: You approve the product pics, tweak your web store design, write the marketing emails—all with the objective of leaving your customers joyful.

But you may still inquire yourself: What are the best ways to ship your products to customers? Ecommerce shipping is a key part of your business—it’s the point where a customer finally experiences your product in person. Fulfillment and shipping logistics can also represent a major outlay in your business, depending on your ecommerce shipping schedule.

In this navigator, we’ll leave over best practices in shipping schedule, product packaging, using popular carriers, tracking and insurance, reducing your shipping costs, and ecommerce shipping integration options.

How to easily ship products to customers

1. Design your packaging materials.
2. Package your order.
3. Print your shipping label.
4. Drop off orders at your preferred shipping facility.

1. Design your packaging materials

Your product packaging can have a large impact on whether customers profit for upcoming purchases, which is why you’ll desire to spend period thinking about how to package your products. 

The packaging materials you may desire to consider creating distinctive designs for are:

• Boxes/bags
• Tissue document/filler
• Tape
• Stickers
• Business cards
• Branded promotional materials
• Customized notes

The more distinctive your packing materials are, the more they’ll stick in your customers’ minds. You can also consider adding customizable “thank you” cards to each of your packages.

Focus on your packaging design before you even commence selling your first product so you can commence wowing your spectators correct from the get-leave.

2. Package your order

Now it’s period to package your order—or place all ordered items into a box to ship to your customer. Make sure you insert your package filling before gently and securely placing the products in the box.

Place any additional packing materials in the box, like stickers, a business card, a thank you card, or a personalized note. Then seal your package and get it ready to ship.

3. Print your shipping label

Once you get an order in your Shopify online store, log into your Shopify dashboard to access your shipping label. This will include all pertinent information for your customer, including name and mailing address. 

Place the shipping label correct on top of your sealed package and place it off to the side while you work through packaging any other orders you may have.

4. Drop off orders at your preferred shipping facility

Once you’ve finished packaging all of your orders, it’s period to receive them to the shipping store! As we’ve mentioned, there are a number of available options, from USPS or FedEx to UPS or DHL Express.

Pack all of your orders up into your car and receive them down to your local shipping facility. You’ll also desire to get tracking numbers so that your customers can view when to expect their delivery.

Or, receive advantage of an ecommerce fulfillment warehouse

Turn our four-step navigator into a two-step navigator and don’t worry about shipping products yourself. By using an ecommerce fulfillment warehouse, all you require to do is design your packaging materials, then send those and your products to the fulfillment center.

After that, anytime your business gets a recent order, all you have to do is collect their remittance. The fulfillment center will be notified of the purchase, gather the order items, package it, and ship it all for you.

Ecommerce shipping schedule 101

There are some basics that set a foundation for shipping products to your customers. While you can arrive back and transformation each of these as you discover more, these are the key decisions and steps that make up your high-level shipping schedule.

Your shipping rates and methods

Are you going to pass the packed expense of shipping on to your customers or will you propose free or flat-rate shipping to absorb some or all of the expense? How will you get orders to your local customers? By the complete of this post, you’ll have more information on how to make this selection for your business.

Product weights

To streamline the procedure of shipping ecommerce orders, assess and update the weight of each product you sell. Having this information about your ecommerce shipments set up will assist you get a excellent sense of your total shipping costs, and pass along accurate prices to your customers.

Choose your preferred packaging

It’s significant to figure out what kinds of packaging are correct for your products. For example, the way you’d ship a hat is very different from how you’d ship an art print. Once you’ve selected the packaging types that make the most sense for your products, you can add that information to Shopify. Then you’ll be all set to compute accurate shipping prices.

Source your packaging

You can order free packaging from some carriers such as USPS, UPS, or DHL, or invest in branded packaging if that’s part of your schedule.

Set your ecommerce shipping rates and methods

Before you can commence shipping ecommerce orders, you’ll first require to decide your pricing schedule for shipping. There are several ordinary methods, but your selection should always be informed by the underlying financials of your business.

propose free shipping

Offering your customers free shipping is one of the best ways to reduce shopping cart abandonment. However, as you might suspect, shipping is never free. Someone always has to pay. To make free shipping work, you have a few options.

1. boost product prices to cover costs for shipping (customer pays).
2. You pay the packed worth of shipping out of your margins (you pay).
3. boost prices of products slightly to cover partial costs of shipping (you and your customer pays).
4. propose a discount code to sure customers for free shipping.

Additionally, you can also try offering free shipping on a minimum order amount. This schedule can assist offset the costs of shipping by helping to boost your average order size, but you’re still the one paying for it out of your margins. Therefore, it’s not always the best shipping answer for online sellers.

fee real-period carrier rates

Another effective shipping schedule is to fee real-period carrier rates for shipping. If you’re using Shopify as your ecommerce platform, you can use Shopify’s ecommerce shipping integrations that work in real-period with various carriers like USPS and Canada Post (among others) to generate shipping options and live pricing from various carriers. This allows your customers to choose and pay for the exact service they desire.

fee a flat rate

A popular alternative is to propose flat rate shipping. The best habit for this alternative is to try and make sure that you don’t drastically undercharge or overcharge your customers. Flat rate shipping works best when you have a fairly standard product line of items that have similar sizes and weights. Flat rate shipping tends to become complicated and less effective if you sell a wide variety of products with different sizes and weights.

propose local delivery

Another way to consider is local delivery. This is a great alternative for tiny businesses looking to propose a straightforward and reliable next-day delivery way to their local customers. When you set up local delivery, you can customize your delivery area using a radius or a list of zip/postal codes. Customers who are within your defined delivery area will be able to select “local delivery” as a shipping way at checkout. Offering local delivery for free over a sure order amount, or offering it for a low expense can assist you cut down on shipping costs and get more local customers. In some cases, you can do it all yourself without using an ecommerce shipping provider. 

Calculating ecommerce shipping rates

All shipping couriers base shipping rates on a variety of factors including:

• Package size
• Package weight
• Origin address
• goal address
• Tracking
• Insurance

It can be challenging to contrast services as they all propose slightly different options, and every business will have their own distinctive variables.

Below we have compiled a list of shipping calculators with ecommerce shipping rates for some of the largest and most popular shipping couriers so that you can commence comparing pricing and options. If you’re based in the US or Canada, you can pay for USPS, UPS, DHL Express, Canada Post, and Sendle Shopify shipping options and receive pre-negotiated rates. view example rates here.

• USPS – Shipping Calculator
• Canada Post – Shipping Calculator
• UK Royal Mail – Shipping Calculator
• Australia Post – Shipping Calculator
• UPS – Shipping Calculator
• FedEx – Shipping Calculator

Consider your margins

To be successful at ecommerce, you always require to keep an eye on your returns margins. Shipping represents a significant outlay for merchants, so if you don’t do your research, you could complete up losing money on shipping.

Before you finalize your pricing and schedule for your ecommerce store, you should use a chart like the one below to chart out all ecommerce shipping solutions and costs associated with getting your products into your customers’ hands. Many of the best ecommerce entrepreneurs are shocked by how the little charges add up for shipping ecommerce orders. Don’t get caught in the same trap.

Here’s a quick example of how you could compute your total worth to include the expense of ecommerce shipments.

Packaging and marketing

As the globe of ecommerce develops so do the expectations of customers who buy online. People are looking for shipping, packaging, and showcase to be a part of the ecommerce encounter.

This expectation means that for many businesses, competing effectively means going above and beyond to impress customers and exceed their expectations by delivering an encounter, not just a product.

Packaging inserts and showcase can be effective ways to set your business apart. In a globe where sealed factory bags and a black-and-white order receipt are considered standard, it’s the tiny details that leave a long way in making an exceptional impression on customers.

Consider how you can provide a better customer encounter through your packaging, and how you can use packaging as an extension of your brand.

Packaging options

Before you can ship your products, you’ll require to package them for secure transport. So what ecommerce shipping options do you have in this regard? There are a few ordinary options for packaging, including boxes or envelopes (padded or unpadded).

For many businesses and products, you’ll use a box as well as some other packaging materials to safely ship your products.

You may also desire to try thinking outside of the box (no pun intended) and look at other packaging options. For example, some ecommerce shipping providers propose poly mailers as a way to mail products that don’t require a lot of structure or cushioning, like clothing.

Poly mailers propose multiple benefits. They’re lightweight, which reduces your shipping costs, and they can adjust to different volumes and weights depending on what’s included in the order. For example, the same size of poly mailer could accommodate one pair of socks, or five, and you wouldn’t be overpaying on packaging weight or dimensions for the single pair.

Some other large packaging suppliers you may desire to consider are ValueMailers, quick-Pack, and eSupplyStore. Additionally, many carriers like USPS, DHL, and UPS propose free packaging in different types and sizes.

discover more: Eco-amiable Packaging: 6 Sustainable Packaging Ideas for 2024

Keep it light and tiny

Because the expense of most shipping options is based on size and/or weight, do your best to keep your packaging as tiny as feasible. This will not only assist you save on your ecommerce shipping rates and what your customer pays for shipping, but will also keep packaging costs from eating away your returns spread.

Depending on your business and product line, you may desire to consider carrying a variety of package sizes and packaging materials.

Insurance and tracking

Depending on what you’re selling and its worth, shipping insurance and tracking can propose a great deal of safety. With most ecommerce shipping companies, insurance and tracking is relatively inexpensive and provides you recourse should one of your packages get lost or damaged. Some shipping services like UPS and USPS Priority Mail include complimentary coverage for up to $100.

Consider purchasing insurance on large-ticket items so that, in the rare cases when a package does get lost, you’ll be covered. Keep in mind that some shipping services have insurance already built into the worth, so consider this when you are comparing various courier prices.

discover more: Everything You require to recognize About ePacket Shipping

Customs declarations and forms

For international shipping, you’ll require to include the proper customs documentation. These are available online through Shopify shipping options or at your local post office or shipping retail location. These forms inform the customs officers at the country of import what is in the package, how much it costs, and whether it is a gift or merchandise.

Check with your country’s postal service to discover out exactly which forms you’ll require to attach to your package. These forms should be completed honestly and clearly to prevent your package from getting held up.

Tariffs, taxes, and duties

If there are any additional customs fees due when a package reaches its goal, your customer will be responsible for them at the period of delivery. It’s always a excellent concept to make sure to include this information in your shipping policy page so customers aren’t surprised by unexpected fees. 

Here’s an example of how one store prominently displays information regarding additional charges on their ecommerce shipping policy page to ensure customers are aware of feasible charges:

discover more: How to make and Communicate Your Shipping Policy (With a Template and Examples)

Customs declaration information

For more information on customs declaration and the required forms and policies, please view the resources below when shipping for ecommerce:

• USPS Customs Information
• UPS
• DHL Express
• Canada Post Customs Information
• UK Royal Mail Customs Information
• Australia Post Customs Information

Once you have decided on the carriers you desire to use, consider setting up business accounts. Business accounts propose a variety of services including discounts, better outlay tracking, and a whole host of online tools to more efficiently manage the shipping aspects of your business.

For USPS, UPS, and DHL Express services in the United States and Canada Post services in Canada, sign up through Shopify Shipping for preferred rates and discounts.

• UK Royal Mail Online Business Account: An online business account with Royal Mail will assist you save period by managing all your shipping outgoings and invoices all in one place.
• Australia Post Business capitalization Account: A Business capitalization Account with Australia Post will allow you to fee many of the ordinary services directly to your account for better management of your outgoings.

Labeling your packages

Once you have figured out your showcase, packaging, profit policy, carrier, and costs, you’ll require to determine how you desire to label your packages. Many recent ecommerce entrepreneurs commence off by writing the ship-to and profit addresses on the package by hand. Although this can be a great way to commence, it tends to be period consuming, tedious, and not scalable as your business grows.

That’s where Shopify Shipping comes in. You can print and pay for multiple shipping labels directly when you use Shopify shipping options.

You can print your labels on plain document using any printer, or to save even more period, you can upgrade to a thermal label printer to print directly on self-stick labels.

Using a fulfillment warehouse

Fulfillment services and warehouses can assist automate and handle shipping for you. When you choose to work with a fulfillment center, you will store your inventory at one of their warehouses. Typically, when a customer’s order comes in, your fulfillment associate will automatically be forwarded the order to pick, pack, and ship orders on your behalf.

There are a number of advantages to using a fulfillment warehouse including:

• Cheaper shipping rates. Because fulfillment warehouses ship such large quantities for multiple vendors, they receive cheaper shipping rates. They also have ecommerce shipping integration capability (usually) with all of the major shipping logistics, giving you easier access to the widest range of shipping options.
• Shorter shipping times. Strategically choosing your fulfillment associate and the warehouse to store your inventory means you can store your inventory closer to the bulk of your customers and meet customer expectations more readily.

Fulfillment warehouses aren’t for everyone, though. There are several disadvantages as well that a business owner should consider, including:

• Branding encounter. Generally, if you use your packaging showcase as part of your branding encounter, you’ll be challenging pressed to discover a fulfillment warehouse that will work with that level of dedication and customization for your brand.
• Less expense-effective. Although you will likely receive better shipping rates working with a fulfillment associate, there are other rates that require to be paid including what are commonly referred to as “pick-and-pack fees” as well as warehouse storage fees. These fees can be determined by order or by monthly fee, so be sure to look into the details and choose what’s best based on your volume.

Best rates, correct away

With Shopify Shipping, businesses in North America automatically get access to pre-negotiated shipping rates with all of the top shipping carriers—UPS, USPS, DHL Express, and Canada Post. Normally you would require to get your own account with each of these carriers and discuss your own discounts (often based on your previous shipping volume).

With these online store shipping rates set, you now have options. You can use these rates to display exact shipping costs at checkout, passing on reserves to your customers. You can also use these rates with Shopify’s label printing. This means every period you fulfill an order, you can print out the corresponding USPS, UPS, DHL Express, or Canada Post shipping label, saving yourself a trip to the post office, a visit to another website, or paying a third event to print labels.

Schedule pickups when you require them

Dealing with a stack of orders is both a blessing and a curse. It’s exciting you’ve made all of these sales, but now you require to get them to your customers. Instead of ordering a rideshare, driving through traffic, and waiting in line, you can now schedule a pickup for USPS, UPS, DHL Express, Sendle, and Canada Post shipments.

Shipping is a fundamental part of your ecommerce business

Here’s the final profit: figuring out how to ship products to customers is a challenging facet for any online product-based business. Every business will have their own distinctive challenges they require to work through and overcome to develop the best and most efficient ecommerce shipping solutions. Like many aspects of building your recent ecommerce site, it will receive period and tweaking to determine what works best.

Understanding all the variables and evolving how you way shipping ecommerce orders is vital to your assignment’s health and achievement. So once you ponder you have ecommerce shipments figured out, don’t let it leave stale. Reevaluate every six months to make sure you’re delivering the absolute best feasible service and encounter for the best feasible worth to your customers.

Thank you to Mike McGuire and Desirae Odjick for their contributions to this post!

Illustration by Rachel Tunstall