If your goal is simple—send a cheap parcel to Andorra without guessing—start with a side-by-side rate check. Track.Global’s Delivery Calculator compares courier services by price and delivery time, so you can choose the best balance of cost, speed, and tracking.
Whether you’re shipping documents, gifts, or e-commerce orders, the cheapest option usually comes down to three things: weight, dimensions (dimensional weight), and service level (economy vs express).
Tip: Re-measure after packing—small changes in size can change the billed weight and the final price.
|
Carrier |
Typical speed (international) |
What it’s best for |
Trade-offs |
|
USPS |
Economy postal shipping (PMI) and faster express (PMEI) |
Budget-friendly shipping, flat rate envelopes/boxes |
Slower than couriers; some tracking limits may apply by destination/service |
|
FedEx |
Economy vs Priority options |
Time-definite delivery + customs clearance |
Typically higher cost than postal options |
|
DHL Express |
Time-critical express delivery |
Fast global delivery + proof of delivery |
Premium pricing for speed |
|
Passport |
Cross-border carrier solution for e-commerce |
DDU/DDP-style cross-border experience (by market), end-to-end visibility |
Often used via merchants/brands (not always a walk-in retail choice) |
Source notes for the table:
|
Feature |
FedEx International Economy® |
FedEx International Priority® |
|
Typical delivery time |
2–5 business days |
1–3 business days (many 1–2) |
|
Positioning |
Cost-saving option when you’re not in a hurry |
Faster, time-definite international service |
|
Customs clearance |
Included |
Included |
|
Max weight (per parcel) |
68 kg |
68 kg |
|
Size limits |
Up to 274 cm length; 330 cm length + girth |
Up to 274 cm length; 330 cm length + girth |
|
Restrictions |
No dangerous goods; no perishables/cut flowers |
“None” listed on the service page; dangerous goods supported |
|
Best for |
Cheaper courier delivery with predictable timing |
Urgent shipments, higher time sensitivity |
Source notes: FedEx service pages list delivery times, size/weight limits, and restrictions for International Economy and International Priority.
When you compare services in calculators or shipping software, you may see long USPS labels like “Machinable ISC …” or “ISC Single-piece.” These are typically back-end descriptors (processing/labeling terms). The customer-facing choices are still Priority Mail International (PMI) and Priority Mail Express International (PMEI) using Flat Rate packaging or priced-by-weight parcels.
|
USPS service name (as listed) |
What it is |
Pricing style |
Max weight (general rule) |
Typical time |
Best for |
|
USPS Priority Mail International Machinable ISC Padded Flat Rate Envelope |
PMI – Padded Flat Rate Envelope |
Flat Rate |
4 lb |
6–10 business days |
Small, dense items needing padding (books/clothing/jewelry-sized items) |
|
USPS Priority Mail International ISC Flat Rate Envelope |
PMI – Flat Rate Envelope |
Flat Rate |
4 lb |
6–10 business days |
Documents, paperwork, passport applications |
|
USPS Priority Mail International Machinable ISC Small Flat Rate Box |
PMI – Small Flat Rate Box |
Flat Rate |
4 lb |
6–10 business days |
Compact small goods and accessories |
|
USPS Priority Mail International ISC Single-piece |
PMI parcel (not flat rate) |
By weight |
Up to 70 lb* |
6–10 business days |
When your box doesn’t fit flat rate or you’re optimizing by weight |
|
USPS Priority Mail International Machinable ISC Single-piece |
PMI parcel (machinable category) |
By weight |
Up to 70 lb* |
6–10 business days |
Similar to above; “machinable” typically indicates qualifying shape/handling |
|
USPS - Priority Mail International |
PMI (service family) |
Flat rate or by weight |
Up to 70 lb* |
6–10 business days |
Cheapest non-urgent parcel option in the USPS lineup |
|
USPS - Priority Mail Express International |
PMEI (service family) |
Flat rate or by weight |
Up to 70 lb* |
3–5 business days |
Faster delivery when timing matters |
|
USPS Priority Mail International Machinable ISC Medium Flat Rate Box |
PMI – Medium Flat Rate Box |
Flat Rate |
20 lb |
6–10 business days |
Heavier/dense items that fit the box |
|
USPS Priority Mail International Machinable ISC Large Flat Rate Box |
PMI – Large Flat Rate Box |
Flat Rate |
20 lb |
6–10 business days |
Multiple items packed tightly (within weight limit) |
*USPS notes that some destination countries may have lower weight restrictions.
Source notes for USPS times & limits: USPS PMI and PMEI pages list typical delivery times and the 4 lb / 20 lb / 70 lb limits used above.
DDU vs DDP (simple):
After you ship, Track.Global helps you keep visibility in one place—especially useful when parcels move from an international carrier to local last-mile delivery.
It depends on your package size and urgency. For non-urgent parcels, start by comparing economy services (often USPS PMI or courier economy). For urgent deliveries, compare FedEx International Priority and DHL Express—they’re typically faster but cost more.
USPS lists 6–10 business days for Priority Mail International (actual time can vary by route and customs).
FedEx lists 2–5 business days for International Economy and 1–3 business days for International Priority (many destinations 1–2).
No—Passport here refers to Passport Shipping, a cross-border parcel carrier solution used by many e-commerce brands.
For goods shipped internationally, yes—expect customs declarations/commercial invoices, and provide detailed item descriptions.
Enter the from/to country and postal codes, choose a category, add weight and dimensions (L×W×H), select carriers (e.g., USPS/UPS/FedEx/DHL), then click Calculate. You can sort results by cost or by delivery time and switch currency (USD/EUR).
For the best shipping quote, use:<br /> - Origin + destination postal/ZIP codes<br /> - Weight including packaging<br /> - Box dimensions (length, width, height)<br /> - Shipment type/category (especially helpful for international or restricted goods)
Yes. Select multiple couriers to get a shipping price comparison in one results list and quickly see which carrier/service wins on price or speed.
Both. Carriers often bill by the greater of actual weight or dimensional (volumetric) weight. Small/heavy parcels usually price by weight; large/light boxes can price by dimensional weight.
Dimensional weight reflects the space your box takes up. If your package is bulky, carriers may charge more even if it’s light—so accurate dimensions are key for a reliable shipping rate estimate.
Yes—results typically include service options plus an estimated delivery window. Use sorting by delivery time to find the fastest shipping quote.
They’re estimates based on the details you enter and current carrier pricing. Final charges can differ if the carrier measures a different weight/size, applies residential/remote/oversize surcharges, or updates rates.
Flat Rate can be cheaper when your item is dense/heavy but fits in a Flat Rate box/envelope. By-weight is often cheaper for light parcels, especially to nearby zones—compare both for the best shipping cost.
Yes. Choose the destination country (and postal code when available), then compare international services across carriers. Keep in mind that customs rules and service availability depend on destination and item type.
Shipping rates usually cover transport/postage only. Duties/taxes (international) are typically not included, and your own handling/packaging fees depend on your business process—add those separately if you’re calculating total landed cost.
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