To ship luggage, empty and clean the bag, pack it tightly, wrap it or put it in a corrugated box, weigh and measure it, then buy a label for UPS Ground or USPS Ground Advantage and drop it off a few days before you travel. Most suitcases fit within USPS’s 70-pound limit, and anything heavier or larger can go UPS, which accepts packages up to 150 pounds.
Shipping a bag ahead of a trip, a move or a semester at college means no airport bag drop, no carousel wait and no dragging a heavy case through a terminal. The steps below cover packing, carrier limits, timing and international shipments.
Which Carriers Ship Luggage?
Both USPS and UPS accept suitcases, duffels and trunks as ordinary parcels, so you don’t need a specialty luggage service. The right service depends mostly on the bag’s weight and size and how many days you have before you need it.
| Service | Typical delivery | Weight limit | Size limit | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| USPS Ground Advantage | 2–5 business days | 70 lb | 130 in. length + girth | Carry-ons and medium bags with time to spare |
| USPS Priority Mail | 1–3 business days | 70 lb | 108 in. length + girth | Lighter bags that need to arrive sooner |
| UPS Ground | 1–5 business days | 150 lb | 108 in. length, 165 in. length + girth | Heavy checked bags, trunks and golf or ski bags |
| UPS 3 Day Select / 2nd Day Air / Next Day Air | 3, 2 or 1 business day | 150 lb | Same as UPS Ground | Last-minute trips with a fixed arrival date |
Length plus girth means the longest side plus twice the width plus twice the height. A large 28-inch checked suitcase that measures 28 x 20 x 12 inches comes to 28 + 40 + 24 = 92 inches, which fits every service in the table. If you’re new to buying labels, our guide on how to ship a package covers the basics.
How Do You Ship Luggage Step by Step?
1. Empty, clean and de-tag the bag
Remove every old airline tag, barcode sticker and shipping label. Sorting machines can read an old barcode and send your bag the wrong way. Check the wheels, handle and zippers for damage you’ll want to know about before it travels.
2. Pack the contents tightly
Fill empty space with clothing or packing cubes so nothing shifts, and wrap anything fragile. Heavy items such as textbooks belong at the wheel end of the case; our guide on how to ship books explains how to keep dense loads from bursting a box.
3. Leave out what carriers won’t take
Don’t pack aerosols, flammable toiletries, loose lithium batteries, fuel or anything else that counts as hazardous material. Toiletries and other liquids need sealed caps and a plastic bag; the rules are in our guide on how to ship liquids safely. Keep medication, passports, cash and jewelry with you.
4. Box it or wrap it
A corrugated box gives the best protection and avoids extra handling charges. UPS applies an Additional Handling charge to packages whose outer surface is canvas, leather, hard plastic or soft plastic, or that have exposed wheels, handles or straps, which describes most bare suitcases. If no box fits, wrap the bag fully in heavy cardboard and stretch film; our guide on how to ship a large item without a box shows the method.
5. Lock it, label it and add a copy inside
Close zippers with a TSA-approved lock or zip ties. Put a sheet with your name, phone number and destination address inside the bag in case the outer label is torn off, and attach the shipping label to the largest flat surface.
6. Weigh, measure and buy the label
Use a luggage or bathroom scale and round up to the next pound, then measure each side in inches and round up. Carriers bill large, light boxes by dimensional weight, so a snug box often prices lower than an oversized one. Enter the numbers in the ParcelPath rate calculator to compare UPS and USPS side by side.
7. Drop it off or schedule a pickup
Ship at least five business days before you need the bag for ground services, and add a day or two of buffer around holidays. USPS picks up at your door for free, and UPS Store locations and Post Offices can scan a label from your phone if you don’t have a printer.
How Much Does It Cost to Ship Luggage?
The price depends on four inputs: the billable weight (actual or dimensional, whichever is higher), the distance between ZIP Codes, the service speed, and any handling charges for unboxed or oversized bags. Prices also change every year, so a quote for your exact bag and route is the only reliable number.
Shipping luggage costs less when you choose a ground service, ship early, box the bag snugly and use discounted rates instead of retail counter prices. ParcelPath is free to use, with no subscription or per-label fee, and offers up to 85% off UPS and up to 89% off USPS. Our guides to the cheapest shipping rates and the cheapest way to ship a package explain more ways to cut the bill, and the shipping calculator guide walks through how carrier quotes are built.
If you only need to move clothes, a box can be cheaper than the suitcase itself, since the bag adds weight. Our guide to the cheapest way to ship clothes compares the options.
Should You Insure Shipped Luggage?
USPS Ground Advantage and Priority Mail include insurance up to a declared value of $100, and UPS liability is limited to $100 unless you declare a higher value. A packed suitcase is often worth more than that, so declare the real value or add coverage. ParcelPath offers Shipsurance coverage when you buy the label.
Photograph the bag and its contents before you seal it. If anything arrives damaged, those photos and the original packaging support a claim.
How Do You Ship Luggage Internationally?
International luggage shipments need a customs declaration listing the contents and their value, because a shipped suitcase is treated as a parcel, not as checked baggage. Describe items specifically (“used clothing, personal effects”) and check the destination country’s rules on batteries, food, medicine and electronics before you pack.
USPS Priority Mail International typically delivers in 6–10 business days and accepts up to 70 pounds for most countries, although the weight limit is lower for some destinations. UPS Worldwide Express and Worldwide Saver arrive faster, usually within 1–3 business days to major markets. Compare both for your destination in the rate calculator before you book. If your trip is domestic, our guide to shipping for less and the domestic shipping hub cover more ways to save on U.S. shipments.
What About Golf Bags, Skis and Other Sports Gear?
Golf bags and ski bags ship the same way as suitcases, but they’re long, so they hit the length limits sooner. A hard travel case avoids most damage, and UPS’s 108-inch length limit gives you more room than USPS. Our guide on how to ship golf clubs covers packing clubs and heads.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you ship luggage without a box?
Yes, USPS and UPS will accept a bare suitcase if the label sticks and the bag is closed securely, but it is riskier and can cost more. UPS applies an Additional Handling charge to packages with canvas, leather or plastic exteriors or exposed wheels and handles. Wrapping the bag in cardboard and stretch film, or using a box, protects it and avoids that charge.
What is the weight limit for shipping luggage?
USPS accepts suitcases up to 70 pounds with Ground Advantage or Priority Mail. UPS accepts packages up to 150 pounds, with a maximum length of 108 inches and up to 165 inches in combined length and girth. Heavy checked bags, trunks and sports cases over 70 pounds therefore need to go UPS rather than USPS.
How far in advance should I ship luggage?
Ship ground luggage at least five business days before you need it, because UPS Ground takes 1–5 business days and USPS Ground Advantage takes 2–5. Add one or two days around holidays and to remote areas such as Alaska and Hawaii. If you’re short on time, UPS 2nd Day Air or Next Day Air sets a fixed delivery date.
Is it cheaper to ship luggage or check it on a flight?
It depends on the bag’s weight, the distance and how soon you need it. A light bag on a ground service shipped early can compare well with checked-bag fees, while a heavy bag sent overnight usually costs more. Enter your bag’s weight and size in a rate calculator and compare the quote with your airline’s baggage fee before deciding.
Sources
- USPS Ground Advantage service details
- USPS Priority Mail service details
- USPS Priority Mail International
- UPS weight and size limits
- UPS Terms and Conditions of Service (Additional Handling, declared value)
Part of our Shipping Terms and Definitions guide.
