How to Ship Moving Boxes: 10 Ways to Ship Boxes Across Country

When moving an entire household full of furniture, appliances, electronics, kitchen items, clothes, books, and all kinds of things across the country, you need a large moving truck and a few reliable moving helpers. You can hire professional movers or rent a truck and ask several good friends for help, but that’s about it – you can’t do without an appropriate vehicle and adequate manpower.

When moving without furniture or other larger household items, though, things become much simpler and your moving options increase exponentially. If you only have a few boxes to relocate, you can get them shipped to your new home in a number of different ways – by mail, by train, by bus, by freight, etc. Each method has its own benefits and is more appropriate in some cases than in others.

So, how to ship moving boxes? What is the best way to ship personal belongings across country?

It depends on your specific needs and requirements – compare all box shipping options, weigh their pros and cons, consider the costs, and find the best solution for you.

Option 1. Hire a moving company

There is no doubt that the best way to ship your stuff across the country is to use the services of a professional moving company. The experts have the specialized equipment, technical know-how, and rich experience to take proper care of your items and deliver them to your new home intact and unscathed.

The pros will pack your boxes (if you wish so), load them on the moving truck, transport them to your final destination, and unload the shipment for you. You will have nothing to worry about and your move will go smoothly and completely stress-free.

Hiring professional movers to relocate just a few dozen boxes, however, doesn’t make much sense – especially when moving long distance. Cross country movers use big trailers to transport household goods, not small moving vans – your boxes won’t be enough to fill the entire truck, so your move would be very cost-ineffective. Besides, most full-service moving companies won’t be willing to accept such a small job at all.

Hiring a moving company is the best option for larger moves.

Option 2. Take advantage of shared load moving

In order to achieve maximum efficiency, long distance movers use large trucks and try to fill them to their maximum capacity – so, they take as many loads going along the same moving route as possible. This consolidation of shipments, known as shared load moving, allows customers to share moving truck space and, therefore, share the transportation costs.

So, when shipping boxes across country, one of your best options, both logistically and economically, is to rent space on a large moving truck going in the direction of your final destination – your items will be handled by experienced professionals and you will only pay for the space your boxes take up in the moving vehicle.

Keep in mind though that most moving companies have minimum shipment requirements or minimum weight requirements, so you may need to pay the minimum charge even if your boxes weigh less or you don’t need this much space. Besides, you won’t get a guaranteed delivery date and it may take a while for your boxes to arrive (as the truck will have to stop at many different locations and wait until the shipments are loaded or unloaded).

Option 3. Use freight shipping services

In addition to traditional moving companies, you can also use freight companies to ship boxes to another state. You will be required to palletize the shipment (to put your boxes on a wood pallet and shrink wrap everything) and label it clearly (so it is easily identifiable). The freight company will send a truck to your home and, once you’ve loaded the palletized boxes, will transport your goods to your new address.

Bear in mind that freight companies provide transportation only – it will be up to you to prepare the shipment and load and unload it. You’ll probably need a liftgate (a mechanical device at the back of the truck that lifts the pallet from the ground to the height of the truck’s tailgate and brings it down from the tailgate to the ground) and a pallet jack to move the palletized boxes, so make sure you request the necessary equipment (there will be an additional charge).

The cost to ship moving boxes with a freight company is based on the distance to the final destination and the freight class of the goods (determined by their weight, value, and susceptibility to damage).

Option 4. Use a portable moving container

Portable moving containers are great for shipping moving boxes across country – a small container is dropped off in front of your home and, once you’ve loaded your boxes in it, the pod is picked up by the pod moving company and transported to your new address. Simple and easy as that.

The cost to move with a pod is quite affordable too – it is based on the relocation distance and the size of the container, and since you’re going to need a small container when shipping boxes only, your moving cost will be small too.

All in all, using a pod moving service is an extremely convenient and cost-efficient way to ship boxes to another state – as long as you have enough boxes to fill an entire container, of course.

You can find more detailed information about moving containers and pod moving companies here.

Option 5. Ship your boxes with Amtrak Express Shipping

Amtrak – the national railroad passenger corporation – offers shipping services too. With Amtrak Express Shipping, you can take advantage of unused space on a train bound for your new city to cheaply ship your belongings across the country.

So, provided that both your current city and destination city are serviced by Amtrak, you can ship your boxes by train. You’ll need to abide by the railroad company’s rules (weight limits, size limits, and logistic restrictions) and prepare your shipment accordingly:

• You are not allowed to ship any electronics or fragile items;
• Your boxes cannot be larger than 36”x36”x36” and cannot weigh more than 50 pounds;
• Each box must be labeled with your name, address, and phone number. It is a good idea to wrap your boxes in plastic wrap or packing tape to keep them protected from the elements;
• Your shipment cannot weigh more than 500 pounds, so you may need to split up your boxes and spread out your shipments over multiple days;
• Upon arrival, you have 2 days to pick up your shipment – if you’re late, you’ll have to pay $3 per box for every extra day.

Needless to say, when shipping moving boxes by train, you need to find a way to get your stuff to and from the Amtrak station.

As to the crucial question “How much does Amtrak shipping cost?”, using Amtrak Express Shipping is probably the cheapest way to ship boxes across country – it costs $40-$80 for the first 100 pounds, and then 40-80 cents for each additional pound over 100 lbs. You need to, however, factor in the cost of transporting your boxes to and from the Amtrak terminals.

Good to know: Since October 1, 2020, Amtrak has temporarily suspended its shipping service. If you’re considering shipping your boxes by train, be sure to call the company (at 1-800-377-6914, 8 am – 8 pm ET, Monday through Friday) for information about if and when the service will resume.

Option 6. Ship your boxes by bus

Buses travel everywhere throughout the country – and, more often than not, their luggage compartments aren’t completely full. It is only logical then to make use of the extra space to ship boxes between states. That’s exactly what services like Greyhound Package Express and Busfreighter offer. It’s another good option to consider when looking for the best way to ship boxes to another state.

When shipping boxes via Greyhound or Busfreighter, you need to keep in mind that:

• There are size limits and weight limits – boxes can be no larger than 30”x47”x82” and no heavier than 100 pounds (so they can fit in the luggage compartment under the bus);
• It is not a good idea to ship electronics and other fragile and/or sensitive items by bus – the ride can be quite bumpy and the bus companies don’t offer insurance for your belongings (though you’ll get coverage on the present day declared value of your items);

• There are many prohibited items that cannot be sent on a bus, so be sure to check the list before you start packing;
• Your boxes will most likely need to be inspected before they’re allowed on the bus, so it’s advisable to leave them unsealed. You’ll be able to tape the packing containers after they’re inspected (it will be best to warp the entire box in packing tape or plastic wrap);
• It will cost you about $1 per pound to ship a box through Greyhound Package Express and about 85 cents per pound to ship via Busfreighter. The cheapest option is to drop off your boxes at the bus station they’ll be shipping out of and collect them at a bus terminal in your new city, but for an extra fee (about $45 for five boxes), you can have your shipment picked up at your old home and delivered to your new address (door-to-door);
• Cross-country shipments (over 1,000 miles) can take 7-14 days, depending on the distance between the origin city and the destination city. For distances of less than 500 miles you can expect delivery in up to 4 days.

To learn more about the bus companies’ shipping terms, rates, and schedules, visit their official websites: shipgreyhound.com and busfreighter.com

Option 7. Ship your boxes with USPS

Shipping boxes by mail is one of the most obvious solutions when moving small loads across the country – it is also one of the most beneficial options available.

If you have only a few boxes to relocate, you can send them with the United States Postal Service as domestic packages. There are some size and weight requirements you need to comply with (your shipment cannot exceed 70 lbs.) and some prohibited items you cannot send via mail, but using the services of the USPS can be an extremely convenient and quite affordable way to ship boxes to another state.

The cost of your shipment will depend on the distance it will travel and the mail service you choose (USPS offers a variety of services with different delivery speeds, package sizes, insurance options, etc.). The cheapest option – USPS Retail Ground – starts at $7.35 per package. It is only available at the post office and delivery can take up to 8 business days. Priority Mail – the most popular choice -comes with flat rate pricing (from $8 to $21 depending on the size of the box). Priority Mail packages ship in 1-3 business days depending on the origin and destination locations. Your boxes, however, must be no more than 108” in combined length and girth. Priority Mail Express, which is delivered overnight, starts at $25.50 per package.

Good to know: If you’re shipping books long distance, your cheapest option is media mail – a special type of mail service allowing you to send DVDs, CDs, books, and other printed media across the country for a very low price.

In addition to the affordable price, shipping moving boxes via USPS offers a couple other benefits as well – you can easily set up the service online and may be able to get free package pickup (depending on the service level).

There are, however, a few things to bear in mind when shipping boxes with USPS:

• Boxes must be packed in such a way that they close flat and don’t bulge anywhere;
• All packages must be sealed with packing tape – as using string, cord, or twine creates a risk for the containers to get caught in the automated mail-processing equipment;
• Packages must be addressed correctly – both the origin and destination addresses (including the ZIP codes) must be written with a permanent marker on the same side of each box;

• When second-hand boxes are used to send stuff via USPS, old labels, addresses, logos, etc. must be covered or blacked out.

You can find more detailed information about the shipping services offered by USPS and their conditions and prices here.

Option 8. Ship your boxes with a courier

Courier companies, such as FedEx, UPS, and DHL, also provide a good option for shipping a few boxes across country. Because of the higher price, courier shipping services aren’t the best choice for moving dozens of boxes or shipping large and bulky moving containers, but they can be a great solution for shipping smaller, fragile or valuable items to another state. With a courier service, your belongings will be carefully handled and you will be able to insure the shipment for its full value – and tracking will be quite reliable, too.

The cost of shipping moving boxes to another state with a courier will depend on the size and weight of the boxes, the level of service you choose, and the distance to the final destination. If you’re considering using courier shipping services, be sure to get price quotes from at least two of the big companies to see how their rates compare.

Option 9. Take advantage of rideshare opportunities

Similarly to long-distance movers, truckers who have unused space on their rigs are quite willing to take extra loads traveling in the same direction.

So, when wondering how to ship boxes to another state, you can use online marketplaces like Roadie and uShip to find rideshare opportunities – to connect with drivers going in the direction of your destination who will be happy to take your boxes on the journey they’re already making.

All you need to do is post your shipment requirements on the online marketplace – what you want to ship (the exact number, weight, and dimensions of your boxes), where to (specific pickup and delivery locations), and when (dates or time-frames of pickup and delivery). Truck drivers can view these details and, if interested, bid on the job. It’s up to you to vet the offers and choose a shipping partner.

Good to know:

• There are no restrictions on what you can ship – it depends on what the driver is willing to take;
• There’s no guarantee that you’ll get a bid or that the cost will be cheaper than other options for shipping moving boxes across country. It depends on how popular the route is – the more trucks there are going along that route, the more bids you will get and the lower the price will be;
• The cost is negotiable but it will be based on the size of your shipment and the travel distance;
• It’s important to research the carriers before making a commitment – look at their transport history, safety records, and customer reviews so you can find an experienced and reliable shipping partner.

Option 10. Ship your boxes in your car

If you’re shipping your car to your new state, you have yet another cost-efficient option for shipping your boxes across the country – inside the car.

Most auto transporters allow for 100 lbs. to be shipped inside the vehicle without charging additional fees. So, you may be able to take advantage of this opportunity and ship your boxes to your new city without incurring any extra costs.

Keep in mind, though, that additional weight will likely cost extra – or may just not be allowed. Many car shipping companies have weight limits – and there may also be restrictions about the number of boxes or the type of items you can put in the vehicle.

Some auto shippers may even not allow shipping within the car at all.

So, when shipping your car across country and looking to ship your boxes with it, you’re advised to check the policies of different auto transporters and see if you can find a company that will suit not only car shipping requirements, but your box shipping needs as well. This would be the cheapest way to ship boxes to another state.

To put it in a nutshell:

How to ship moving boxes across country? -You have a number of good options to choose from – hiring a moving company, using shared load moving, using freight shipping services, using a moving pod, shipping via USPS, shipping your boxes by train, shipping your boxes by bus, using courier shipping services, shipping your boxes in a truck traveling to your new city, shipping your boxes in your car, etc. You can even fly with your boxes (as checked baggage), even though it will cost you a pretty penny.

What is the best way to ship boxes when moving? – It depends on how many boxes you have for moving and what’s inside them:

• When shipping boxes containing fragile or valuable items, courier shipping services are your best bet;
• If you have a lot of boxes to relocate, your best option is to use shared load moving or freight shipping services;
• If you’re moving only a few boxes, USPS is your best choice.

What is the cheapest way to ship moving boxes? – The cheapest way to ship boxes across country depends on the size of the shipment and the particular circumstances in each relocation case:

• The cheapest way to ship a big number of boxes is to use freight shipping services;
• If both your current city and your destination city are serviced by Amtrak, shipping your boxes by train will be your most economical option;
• Provided that there are many trucks departing from or passing through your current city and traveling in the direction of your final destination, the cheapest way to ship to your boxes to your new city will be to post your shipment requirements on the uShip marketplace and choose a trustworthy shipping partner who has offered a low bid;
• In case you’re shipping boxes to a town that is not serviced by Amtrak and is not located on a popular route, Busfreighter will likely be your cheapest option;

• When it comes to shipping books or other media, USPS provides the cheapest solution;
• If you’re shipping your car across the country, the most cost-efficient way to relocate your boxes will be to ship them inside the car.

Must-read: Moving small loads