How much it costs to ship a PS4 depends on its billable weight, the distance and the service you choose. A packed PS4 usually weighs about 7 to 10 pounds in a 16 x 14 x 6 inch box, and it ships most economically by USPS Ground Advantage or UPS Ground. For an exact price, enter your box dimensions, weight and ZIP Codes into a rate calculator that compares UPS and USPS side by side.
This guide breaks down the factors that set the price, which PS4 model you have and what it weighs, the right box size, which services fit, and the battery rules that apply to the DualShock 4 controller.
What Determines the Cost to Ship a PS4?
Four things set the price: billable weight, box size, distance (the carrier’s zone) and service level. Insurance adds to it if you declare more value than the coverage already included.
- Billable weight: the greater of the packed weight and the box’s dimensional weight. USPS and UPS both calculate dimensional weight as length x width x height ÷ 139.
- Box size: USPS only applies dimensional weight above 1 cubic foot (1,728 cubic inches), while UPS can apply it to any box. Keeping the box under 1 cubic foot often changes which carrier is cheaper.
- Distance: prices rise with each zone between the origin and destination ZIP Codes, so a cross-country PS4 costs more than a regional one.
- Service: ground services cost the least. Priority Mail and UPS air services buy speed.
- Declared value: USPS Ground Advantage, Priority Mail and UPS each include up to $100 of coverage. A used console is usually worth more than that.
You can see live prices for your exact package in the ParcelPath rate calculator, which compares UPS and USPS services at once. ParcelPath’s discounted shipping rates run up to 85% off UPS and up to 89% off USPS retail prices, and the service is 100% free, with no subscription, per-label fee or minimums.
How Much Does a PS4 Weigh for Shipping?
A PS4 console weighs between 4.6 and 7.3 pounds before packing, depending on the model. Check the model number on the label at the back or bottom of the console (CUH-1000 to 1200 for the original, CUH-2000 for the Slim, CUH-7000 for the Pro).
| Model | Console weight | Console dimensions | Suggested box (inches) |
|---|---|---|---|
| PS4 original (first generation) | 6.2 lb (2.8 kg) | About 12 x 10.8 x 2.1 inches | 16 x 14 x 6 |
| PS4 original (later revision) | 5.5 lb (2.5 kg) | About 12 x 10.8 x 2.1 inches | 16 x 14 x 6 |
| PS4 Slim | 4.6 lb (2.1 kg) | About 11.3 x 10.4 x 1.5 inches | 16 x 14 x 6 |
| PS4 Pro | 7.3 lb (3.3 kg) | About 12.9 x 11.6 x 2.2 inches | 18 x 16 x 7 |
A controller, power cable, HDMI cable and packing material add roughly 1.5 to 3 pounds, which puts most packed PS4s at 7 to 10 pounds. A 16 x 14 x 6 inch box is 1,344 cubic inches, below the USPS 1-cubic-foot line, so USPS bills it on actual weight. At UPS, the same box has a dimensional weight of 10 pounds (1,344 ÷ 139 = 9.7, rounded up). The larger 18 x 16 x 7 box that a PS4 Pro needs is 2,016 cubic inches, which bills as 15 pounds with either carrier.
What Supplies Do You Need to Ship a PlayStation 4?
You need a sturdy corrugated box, cushioning and good tape. Each piece matters, because a console shifting inside an oversized box is the most common way PS4s get damaged in transit.
- Box: a new or rigid 32 ECT single-wall box about 1.5 to 2 inches larger than the console on every side. The original retail box works best as an inner box placed inside a shipping box.
- Cushioning: anti-static bubble wrap or foam around the console, plus air pillows or crumpled kraft paper to fill the gaps. Avoid loose peanuts touching the vents.
- Tape: 2-inch pressure-sensitive packing tape across every seam, using the H-tape method.
- Small bags: for the controller and cables, so they can’t scratch the console finish.
If you’re new to packing electronics, our guide to how to ship electronics covers anti-static protection and data wiping.
How Do You Pack a PS4 for Shipping?
- Back up and reset the console. Sign out of your PlayStation Network account, deactivate it as your primary PS4, and run a full initialization if you sold it.
- Remove discs and accessories. Eject any disc, unplug every cable and bag the accessories separately.
- Wrap the console in two or three layers of anti-static bubble wrap and tape the wrap closed.
- Cushion the bottom of the box with 2 inches of air pillows or crumpled paper, center the console, then fill the sides and top until nothing moves when you shake the box.
- Seal, label and photograph. Tape every seam, put the label flat on top, and photograph the packed contents as evidence in case you file an insurance claim.
Our step-by-step guide on how to ship a package properly covers labeling and drop-off once the box is sealed.
Which Shipping Service Is Best for a PS4?
For most PS4 shipments, the best choice is USPS Ground Advantage or UPS Ground. Which is cheaper depends on distance and box size, so price both before you buy. Pay for Priority Mail or a UPS air service only when the buyer needs it fast.
| Service | Delivery commitment | Included coverage | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| USPS Ground Advantage | 2–5 business days | Up to $100 | Most PS4s in a box under 1 cubic foot |
| USPS Priority Mail | 1–3 business days | Up to $100 | Faster delivery at a mid-range price |
| UPS Ground | 1–5 business days | Up to $100 declared value | Heavier bundles and long-distance UPS drop-off |
| UPS 2nd Day Air / Next Day Air | 2 business days / next business day | Up to $100 declared value | Urgent sales and replacements |
Our USPS shipping calculator guide explains how USPS prices by weight and zone, and our Priority Mail vs. Ground Advantage comparison helps you choose between USPS’s two main services. For bundles with several games and a second controller, our breakdown of what it costs to ship a 25 lb package shows how heavier shipments are priced.
A PS4 isn’t a good fit for USPS Flat Rate. The Pro doesn’t fit in a Large Flat Rate Box, which measures about 12¼ x 12¼ x 6 inches inside, and the other models fit with almost no room for padding.
Can You Ship a PS4 With the Controller Battery Inside?
Yes. The DualShock 4 has a built-in, non-removable lithium-ion battery, and USPS allows lithium-ion batteries installed in the equipment they power to travel by air or ground within limits. Under USPS Publication 52 Packaging Instruction 9D, each cell must be 20 watt-hours or less and each battery 100 watt-hours or less, with no more than 8 cells or 2 batteries per package. The package must carry a lithium battery mark on the address side. Damaged or defective devices are limited to surface transportation.
A standard controller battery is well under those limits. Ship damaged or swollen controllers separately by ground, or not at all. UPS also accepts consumer electronics with installed lithium batteries under its own lithium battery rules, so read them before shipping more than two controllers in one box.
Do You Need Insurance to Ship a PS4?
Usually yes, if the console is worth more than the included coverage limit of $100. USPS Ground Advantage, Priority Mail and UPS all stop there, so declare a higher value to cover a console, games and accessories. Our guide to how UPS insurance and declared value work explains what UPS covers and how claims are handled. Shipsurance coverage is also available when you buy labels through ParcelPath.
Claims are paid only when the packing was adequate, so the photos you took before sealing the box matter. For a broader look at pricing methods, our guide to estimating shipping costs walks through the full calculation.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to ship a PS4?
It depends on billable weight, distance and service. A packed PS4 usually weighs 7 to 10 pounds in a 16 x 14 x 6 inch box, which USPS prices on actual weight because the box is under 1 cubic foot. UPS bills that box at no less than 10 pounds. Enter your box and ZIP Codes in a rate calculator for an exact price.
What size box do I need to ship a PS4?
A 16 x 14 x 6 inch box fits an original PS4 or PS4 Slim with about 1.5 to 2 inches of cushioning around the console. The larger PS4 Pro, at about 12.9 x 11.6 x 2.2 inches, needs roughly an 18 x 16 x 7 inch box. Use a rigid 32 ECT box and fill all empty space so the console can’t move.
Which carrier is cheapest for shipping a PS4?
It changes with distance and box size. USPS Ground Advantage is often cheapest for a PS4 in a box under 1,728 cubic inches, because USPS skips dimensional weight below that size. UPS Ground can win on longer routes or heavier bundles. Compare both for your exact ZIP Codes before buying a label.
Can I ship a PS4 in its original box?
Yes, but use it as the inner box. Put the original retail box, with its molded inserts, inside a corrugated shipping box at least 2 inches larger on every side, and fill the gap with air pillows or crumpled paper. A retail box shipped on its own invites theft and offers little crush protection.
How long does it take to ship a PS4?
USPS Ground Advantage has a 2–5 business day delivery commitment, USPS Priority Mail 1–3 business days, and UPS Ground 1–5 business days within the contiguous United States. UPS 2nd Day Air and Next Day Air are the fastest options when the buyer needs the console right away.
Sources
- USPS Domestic Mail Manual 283: USPS Ground Advantage dimensional weight
- USPS Domestic Mail Manual 223: Priority Mail dimensional weight
- USPS Ground Advantage service overview
- USPS Publication 52, Packaging Instruction 9D: lithium batteries (domestic)
- UPS Daily Rates and Service Guide: weight, size and declared value
- PlayStation 4 model weights and dimensions (Wikipedia)
Part of our Estimate Shipping Cost guide. Related: How Much Does It Cost to Ship a Bubble Mailer with USPS, Shipping Calculator.
