USPS Laptop Shipping (Can You Ship It, Price, Steps + More)

USPS is one of the most popular choices for consumers’ shipping needs and is well-known for being a great option for shipping more uncommon items such as guitars or dry ice.

But can USPS safely ship laptops- and how much does it cost? Here is all you need to know!

USPS Laptop Shipping

USPS does ship laptops and offers a variety of shipping services, such as Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, and Retail Ground, which will all ship laptops at various costs/delivery windows. While Priority Mail Express is the most expensive option, it comes with a 1-2 day delivery window, insurance coverage of $100 at no extra charge, and a built-in tracking feature.

If you’re interested in seeing a more in-depth comparison of the different USPS shipping services, prices, and how to safely ship your laptop, be sure to read the rest of the article!

What USPS Shipping Services Can You Use To Ship a Laptop?

USPS provides a myriad of shipping services for consumer use, but not all of them are very well-suited to shipping an item as delicate and expensive as a laptop.

The two safest options for shipping a laptop are Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express.

However, if you’re looking to save money and are not concerned about delivery windows, you can also use Retail Ground, although it’s likely in your best interest to purchase additional insurance and/or a tracking number in case anything happens.

Priority Mail Express is a great option for shipping your laptop as it comes with several built-in features, such as a tracking number and insurance coverage up to $100 at no additional cost, as well as a delivery window of 1-2 days.

Priority Mail is another good option for shipping your laptop that’s cheaper than Priority Mail Express.

Priority Mail also comes with a built-in tracking feature. However, it delivers in 2-3 days and only offers built-in insurance coverage of up to $50.

Retail Ground is your third-best option, with a lower price than both Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express but with no built-in features or insurance coverage and a delivery window of 5-7 days.

If you choose to use Retail Ground to ship your laptop, it’s recommended to purchase additional features like a tracking number and additional insurance, which can sometimes bring the price up to about what it’d cost to use a Priority option.

How Much Does It Cost To Ship a Laptop With USPS?

How Much Does It Cost To Ship A Laptop With USPS?

The cost of shipping a package with USPS depends largely on the weight and distance traveled of a package.

The average weight of a laptop is around 5 lbs, so by using this average weight, we can get an approximate price calculation for each service available through USPS.

Priority Mail Express is the most expensive option, coming in at around $70. However, it comes with extra features that are extremely useful for shipping an expensive and delicate item, like tracking and built-in insurance coverage up to $100 and delivers in 1-2 days.

Priority Mail is another great option for shipping laptops that comes at a price point starting at around $20 while still including features like tracking and built-in insurance coverage up to $50, with a delivery window of 2-3 days.

In case you’re looking to save as much money as possible and the delivery window isn’t as important to you, you can also use USPS Ground Retail.

Shipping an average-sized laptop with Ground Retail would cost around $18 and have a delivery window of about 5-7 days.

When shipping an item that’s as delicate and expensive as a laptop, it’s always a good idea to purchase additional coverage in case damage occurs in transit.

You can purchase additional insurance coverage of up to $600 for your laptop for $10.35 extra when using any USPS shipping service.

Keep in mind that all of these prices are approximate values based purely on weight, not including the distance a package will travel, which also plays a critical role in the ending price of shipping.

How Do You Ship a Laptop With USPS?

The first priority when shipping a laptop is to be sure you’ve packaged everything safely and correctly to prevent any damage that may occur in transit.

It’s critical to understand that static electricity can damage electronics, so you’ll want to choose static-resistant packing materials like static-free packing peanuts.

It’s recommended to use a screen protector on the screen of your laptop to prevent scratches and then to add bubble wrap or foam sheets between the screen and keyboard.

Next, close your laptop and wrap it again in a couple of layers of bubble wrap or thick foam sheets, typically about 2 inches thick, to ensure that your laptop is protected from any bumping or jostling that can happen in transit.

Make sure to put any accessories that you’re shipping with the laptop, such as the charging cord, in a clear plastic bag, and then add a layer of bubble wrap or foam sheeting around the plastic bag.

Once you’ve completed these steps, place everything in the shipping box you have handy and look for any extra, unfilled space in the box.

Fill in those empty spaces with your static-free packing peanuts, bubble wrap, or foam sheeting to make sure your laptop moves as little as possible while it’s being transported.

Once you’ve secured your laptop in place, seal your box well with high-quality packing tape to prevent bursting and give a little shake test to make sure nothing’s moving too much inside your package.

After your package is sealed, you can continue the shipping process as you typically would- by dropping off the package at your local post office or a dropbox.

To find out more, you might also be interested in reading up on whether or not USPS ships to Canada, whether you can ship shoes through USPS, and whether you can ship clothes through USPS.

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Marques Thomas

Marques Thomas graduated with a MBA in 2011. Since then, Marques has worked in the retail and consumer service industry as a manager, advisor, and marketer. Marques is also the head writer and founder of QuerySprout.com.

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