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Retail and e-commerce · how to ship

How to ship electronics

The right mode, how to prepare it, what drives the price and the mistakes that cost money. Best modes: LTL, Parcel, Air freight, Dry van truckload.

Short answer: Ship single units parcel, pallets of boxed electronics LTL, and high-value or urgent loads by air or a dedicated truck. Shrink-wrap pallets in opaque film, avoid brand markings that invite theft, declare lithium batteries, and add insurance: carrier liability on electronics is limited.

Updated November 3, 2026 · By the GetShippingRates team at Armstrong Transport Group

Step by step

Preparing electronics for shipping

  1. Keep original packaging with foam inserts.
  2. Build pallets square and shrink-wrap in black or opaque film.
  3. Declare lithium batteries (shipped in or with equipment) per hazmat rules.
  4. Buy cargo insurance for high-value freight.
  5. Use a guaranteed or exclusive-use service for time-critical loads.
Cost

What drives the price

  • Value and insurance
  • Lithium battery hazmat rules
  • Guaranteed and expedited service
  • Security: exclusive use or team drivers for high value

Freight class: Boxed electronics commonly estimate at class 92.5 to 150 by density; carriers may also apply a higher class for value. Check yours with the free freight calculators; the carrier’s NMFC item sets the final class.

For real prices see pallet shipping cost, the freight rate index and reefer shipping cost.

Avoid these

Mistakes that cost money

  • Relying on carrier liability for high-value freight.
  • Undeclared lithium batteries.
  • Branded boxes that advertise what's inside.

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Frequently asked questions

Is shipping electronics by LTL safe?

Yes when it's palletized, wrapped and insured. For very high value, consider a dedicated truck so the freight isn't cross-docked.

Do I need insurance?

Carrier liability is often a few dollars per pound, far below the value of electronics. Buy cargo insurance.

How do I ship lithium batteries?

They're regulated hazmat. Package, mark and document them to DOT and IATA rules, and declare them when you quote.

More shipping cost guides

  • Shipping cost calculator — Billable weight for parcel, LTL, truckload, air and ocean, the mode that fits, and a dated LTL price range.
  • Pallet shipping cost — What 1 to 12 pallets cost to ship by LTL, by distance, from 97,000+ real shipments.
  • Freight shipping rates — How each mode is priced, and LTL price per 100 lb by weight and distance from real shipments.
  • LTL vs truckload — Where LTL stops making sense: pallet counts, weight, linear feet and transit, with real LTL prices.
  • Air freight rates — How air cargo is priced: chargeable weight, weight breaks, surcharges and door-to-door charges.
  • Ocean freight rates — FCL vs LCL, container sizes, revenue tons and every charge on an ocean freight quote.
  • Freight rate index — Median all-in truckload price per mile by equipment, distance and city, from hundreds of priced lanes.
  • Reefer shipping cost — What refrigerated LTL and reefer truckloads cost, from real quotes on 16 lanes.
  • White glove delivery cost — Curbside to white glove with assembly: what the two-person delivery leg costs in 16 US cities.
  • Broker vs. carrier direct — When a direct carrier contract beats a broker, and when it doesn't.
  • Volume LTL vs. partial truckload — The 6-to-18-pallet gray zone: how each is priced and handled.
  • Where to get a freight quote — Carrier sites, marketplaces, brokers and instant-rate platforms compared.
  • How to ship anything — Mode, packaging, freight class and cost drivers for furniture, machinery, produce, hazmat and more.
  • Shipping to Mexico — Cross-border freight: border crossings, the documents each side needs, and the US leg's real cost.
Live quote

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Pick the mode, enter the lane and freight, and see live rates in seconds where the mode supports it. Armstrong Transport Group's team handles the rest.

Prefer to talk? Call 877-240-1181 or email info@getshippingrates.com. Shipping several modes? Request a free multimodal shipping review.

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