Per-order shipping cost by destination region and service tier.
Inputs
For duty estimation
Approximate; varies by product
Estimated cost breakdown
Shipping
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Customs / clearance
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Duty
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Total to deliver—
Comparison across destinations (1 lb standard)
Destination
Shipping
Customs
% of $80 order
About this calculator
International shipping economics are dramatically worse than domestic. Where domestic shipping might be $5-8 per order, international runs $15-50 — sometimes more than the contribution margin on the product itself. The calculus of expanding to international markets often comes down to whether shipping economics work, not whether demand exists.
Three cost components matter. First, the carrier shipping cost (DHL Express, FedEx, UPS, USPS — varies by service tier and destination). Second, customs clearance/processing fees ($5-25 per parcel typical, charged by carrier). Third, duties and import taxes (varies by HS code and destination — 0% to 25% common, depends on category and trade agreements).
The biggest UX trap is DDU shipping (Delivered Duty Unpaid) where the customer gets surprised by duties at delivery. Refusal rates spike, chargebacks follow. DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) where you collect duties at checkout and remit eliminates this — slight platform complexity, much better customer experience. Shopify Markets supports DDP natively as of 2024.
For most DTC brands, international shipping costs make sub-$80 AOV orders unprofitable. Either set a higher international AOV threshold (free shipping at $150 minimum) or charge international shipping as a flat fee that subsidizes the difference. Pair this with the Currency Conversion Margin and VAT/GST Impact calculators for the full international economics picture.
Frequently asked questions
What's the typical international shipping cost?
For 1lb / 0.5kg parcel: Canada $12-25, Mexico $15-30, EU $18-35, UK $15-30, Australia $20-40, Asia $25-50. Express service (3-5 day) costs 2-3× standard. These are pre-2026 baselines — check current rates with your carrier as fuel surcharges shift.
What's DDP vs DDU?
DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) — you collect duties/taxes at checkout and remit; customer pays one bill, smooth experience. DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid) — customer pays duties on delivery, often as a surprise fee, leading to refusals. DDP is universally preferred for B2C; complexity is worth it.
Should I offer free international shipping?
Almost never at small AOV. International shipping costs ($15-40) often exceed your contribution margin on sub-$100 orders. Free-ship thresholds at $150-200 work better internationally — high enough that the order can absorb shipping cost, low enough that it lifts AOV vs alternative.
How do customs delays affect economics?
Beyond the direct shipping cost, customs holds (1-7 days) increase customer-service burden, refund requests, and chargebacks. Build a 5-10% returns/refunds reserve into international economics that doesn't apply domestically.
Which carriers work best for ecommerce international?
For volume: DHL Express, FedEx International (premium service, premium price). For mid-volume: UPS Worldwide, USPS (cheaper but less reliable customs handling). For dropshipping: many brands use platforms like Easyship/ShippyPro that aggregate carriers and auto-pick by price/speed combo.