There is no FedEx pet shipping cost to look up, because FedEx does not ship household pets. The FedEx Service Guide states that FedEx “does not transport household pets such as dogs, cats, birds, and hamsters,” so moving a pet means paying an airline or a professional pet transport company instead.
FedEx does carry a narrow set of live animals on an exception basis, but only after its Animal Desk approves the shipment and only between businesses. This guide explains what FedEx will and won’t accept, what actually drives the price of moving a pet, and which documents you need before any carrier or airline will take your animal.
Does FedEx Ship Pets at All?
No. FedEx’s terms say it “does not accept animal carcass or live-animal shipments as part of its regular-scheduled service,” and household pets are excluded outright. That rule covers FedEx Express and FedEx Ground, so you can’t book a dog or cat on any FedEx service, at any price.
The reason is practical. A parcel network sorts packages by conveyor, loads them into trailers and aircraft holds, and has no staff to feed, water or check on an animal. Pets need climate control, rest stops and someone who can respond if the animal is in distress, which is why pet moves are handled by airlines and licensed pet shippers rather than by the parcel carriers listed in our overview of FedEx services and shipping options.
Which Live Animals Will FedEx Accept?
FedEx makes limited exceptions, and none of them are household pets. According to the 2026 FedEx Service Guide, FedEx may accept horses, livestock and zoo animals (to and from zoo locations only) when the FedEx Animal Desk approves and coordinates the move. It may also accept non-venomous reptiles, amphibians, live or tropical fish and beneficial insects on an exception basis.
| Animal type | FedEx position | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Dogs, cats, birds, hamsters and other household pets | Not accepted | No exceptions |
| Horses, livestock, zoo animals | Exception basis only | Approved and coordinated by the FedEx Animal Desk; zoo animals to and from zoos only |
| Non-venomous reptiles, amphibians, tropical fish, beneficial insects | Exception basis only | Business-to-business (for example, breeder to pet store); packaging tested and pre-approved by FedEx Packaging Design and Development |
Even when an exception applies, the shipper is responsible for packaging that protects the animal against temperature extremes and rough handling. A private person sending a pet snake or aquarium fish to a friend does not meet the business-to-business condition. If you’re sorting out other restricted items, our guides to FedEx dry ice shipping and whether you can ship human ashes through FedEx cover two other special-handling cases.
What Does Pet Shipping Cost Depend On?
Because FedEx is out, the price you pay comes from an airline or a pet transport company, and each quotes per trip. Quotes swing widely, so it helps to know which factors move them before you ask for one.
| Cost factor | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Size and weight of the pet and crate | Airlines price cargo by the crate’s size and weight, and large breeds need bigger crates and sometimes a dedicated vehicle. |
| Distance and route | Cross-country and international moves add flights, connections and handling. |
| Air vs. ground | Flying is faster; ground transport avoids airline restrictions but takes days. |
| In-cabin vs. cargo | Small pets that fit under the seat may fly with you; larger animals travel as checked baggage or cargo, depending on the airline. |
| Destination country rules | Import permits, rabies titer tests and quarantine add vet visits and fees. |
| Season and temperature | Many airlines restrict animals in the hold during heat or cold, which can force a routing change. |
| Door-to-door service | Full-service shippers handle pickup, paperwork and customs, at a higher total. |
For a broader look at how these quotes are built for different animals, see our guide to how much it costs to ship live animals. Ask every company for a written, itemized quote that lists the crate, the health certificate, airport handling and any customs brokerage, so you can compare like with like.
How Do You Ship a Pet If FedEx Won’t?
You have four realistic options, and the right one depends on the animal’s size, its temperament and how far it’s going.
- Fly with your pet in the cabin: Small dogs and cats in an approved carrier can often travel under the seat in front of you. Each airline sets its own size limits and caps the number of pets per flight, so book early.
- Book the pet as airline cargo or checked baggage: Larger animals fly in a pressurized, climate-controlled hold. Airlines publish their own breed, crate and temperature rules, and some don’t accept pets in the hold at all.
- Hire a professional pet shipper: These companies book flights, supply crates, arrange the health certificate and meet the animal at the destination. Look for membership in the International Pet and Animal Transportation Association (IPATA) and handlers trained on IATA Live Animals Regulations.
- Use ground transport or drive yourself: Ground pet transporters and private car trips avoid airline restrictions and suit animals that don’t fly well, such as snub-nosed breeds.
The USDA’s “Pets on Planes” guidance is a good starting point for air travel, and the airline’s own pet policy is the final word on what it will carry. Whatever you choose, plan around the paperwork, which often takes longer to arrange than the trip itself.
What Paperwork Does a Pet Need to Travel?
Most pet moves require a health certificate from a USDA-accredited veterinarian, and international trips usually need that certificate endorsed by USDA APHIS. The exact list depends on whether the trip is interstate or international and on the destination’s rules.
- Health certificate: Issued by a USDA-accredited vet. Airlines and many states set a window before travel in which it must be issued, so check the timing with your airline.
- Rabies vaccination record: Required for dogs in almost every scenario, and for cats by many destinations.
- Microchip: Many countries require an ISO-compliant microchip implanted before the rabies shot.
- Destination import paperwork: Permits, titer tests or quarantine bookings, depending on the country. APHIS maintains country-by-country export requirements.
- CDC dog import requirements: Dogs entering or returning to the U.S. must meet CDC rules, which depend on whether the dog was in a high-risk rabies country in the previous six months and where it was vaccinated.
Start with the USDA APHIS Pet Travel pages for exports and state-to-state moves, and use the CDC’s dog import guidance for any dog coming into the country. Rules change, so confirm them shortly before you book.
Do UPS or USPS Ship Pets?
Neither carrier ships dogs or cats. USPS Publication 52 lists warm-blooded animals, including cats, dogs, guinea pigs, hamsters, mice, rabbits, rats and squirrels, as nonmailable, though USPS does accept certain day-old birds, adult birds and some insects under strict packaging rules. UPS likewise does not transport household pets; our guide to UPS pet shipping and what UPS can ship covers its limited live-animal program.
Where the parcel carriers do help is everything around the move: crates, beds, food, medication and vet records that travel separately. If you’re sending those supplies, ParcelPath gives you free access to up to 85% off UPS and up to 89% off USPS, with no subscription or per-label fee. You can compare live UPS and USPS prices for a box of pet supplies in the ParcelPath rate calculator.
How Can You Keep Pet Transport Costs Down?
You can’t change an airline’s tariff, but you can avoid the add-ons that inflate a quote. The biggest savings come from planning early and choosing the simplest routing your pet can safely handle.
- Book early: Health certificates and import permits arranged in a rush often mean extra vet visits.
- Buy the right crate once: An airline-compliant crate that fits your pet avoids a last-minute purchase at the airport.
- Choose nonstop routes: Fewer connections mean less handling and fewer chances of a weather or temperature embargo.
- Travel off-peak: Summer heat and holiday demand narrow your options for animals in the hold.
- Get several itemized quotes: Compare full-service pet shippers on the same list of services, not just the headline figure.
- Ship supplies separately: Sending food and gear ahead by parcel can keep your checked-baggage count down.
For other FedEx costs that do have a price, such as surcharges and service tiers, our breakdown of FedEx shipping fees by service, weight and zone explains how FedEx bills a package, and our guide to FedEx Express Saver covers its three-day option.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does FedEx charge to ship a pet?
FedEx doesn’t charge anything to ship a pet, because it doesn’t offer the service. Its Service Guide says FedEx does not transport household pets such as dogs, cats, birds and hamsters. What you’ll pay instead depends on the airline or pet transport company you hire, the size of your pet’s crate, the route and the paperwork the destination requires.
Can I ship a dog with FedEx Ground or FedEx Express?
No. The household-pet exclusion applies to every FedEx service, including FedEx Ground and FedEx Express. FedEx only considers horses, livestock, zoo animals and certain business-to-business shipments of reptiles, amphibians, fish and beneficial insects, and each one needs approval from the FedEx Animal Desk before it’s tendered.
Who can ship my pet if FedEx can’t?
Airlines carry pets in the cabin or in a climate-controlled hold, and professional pet shippers arrange flights, crates and paperwork door to door. Ground pet transporters are an option for animals that shouldn’t fly. Look for IPATA membership and handlers trained on IATA Live Animals Regulations when you compare companies.
What documents does a pet need to fly?
Most trips need a health certificate from a USDA-accredited veterinarian and proof of rabies vaccination. International trips often add an ISO microchip, an APHIS-endorsed certificate and destination permits. Dogs entering the U.S. must also meet CDC import rules, which depend on where the dog has been in the previous six months.
Sources
- FedEx Service Guide 2026, Terms and Conditions: “Animals, ornamental marine life (including live fish), and animal carcasses” (fedex.com)
- USDA APHIS: Pet Travel
- USDA APHIS: Pets on Planes
- USDA APHIS: Taking a pet from the U.S. to another country
- CDC: Bringing a Dog into the United States (cdc.gov/importation/dogs)
- USPS Publication 52, Section 525: Animals (nonmailable)
This article is part of our FedEx guide; you can find every FedEx topic on our FedEx shipping hub, and our list of the best shipping services and solutions compares carriers for everyday packages. ParcelPath posts shipping tips on Facebook.
Part of our FedEx Shipping Fees guide. Related: FedEx Freight Rates, Discounted FedEx Shipping, FedEx Das.
