What is the most expensive thing to ship?

Have you been eyeing that new Lamborghini as a gift for yourself? Or maybe you’re in construction, and you’re looking at expanding your equipment fleet? When considering these types of items, it’s important to understand that the shipping cost is an additional cost to think about. 

Factors that influence shipping cost

Dimensional weight

Your shipment’s dimension and weight contribute to how much you will be charged for shipping. It goes without saying that the larger and heavier the item, the more you will pay when it comes to that criteria. 

Shipping distance

Shipping distance is calculated by miles. If your items need to be transported by air or sea first, that is a factor that needs to be considered. Hence, international shipping tends to be more costly than shipping an item locally. 

Delivery times

Need expedient shipping? Unless you have Amazon Prime, you’ll definitely be paying extra. And even with Amazon Prime, there is still a monthly membership fee that is used to cover all your additional benefits.

Surcharges

Surcharges are an additional fee that a shipping company may charge for extra expenses involved in the shipping and handling of your product. This could include delivery area, residential charges, print return label charges or even required signature charges. 

Taxes and duties

Sales taxes and duties are a percentage of the value of the item, and may differ from state to state or country to country. 

What are the top 4 most expensive things to ship?

Expensive cars

Your new pricey wheels could cost a pretty penny to ship to you. Considering the weight and value of cars, it’s really no wonder this made the top of our list. Whether you are shipping a brand new car internationally, or you’re relocating it to a different state, it’s going to cost you. On average, shipping a vehicle can cost anywhere between $700-$1200. 

Shipping containers

That’s right, shipping containers aren’t just magically available to companies to ship products. They have to purchase and ship them to their desired location. These shipping containers are usually transported via cargo ships, and can cost on average $500-$1000 in shipping fees. 

Construction equipment

Cranes, forklifts, tractors, all your heavy construction equipment also have a heavy shipping bill. The average cost to ship construction equipment is between $2.00-$3.00 per mile. 

Yacht

Another vehicle, another expense. We can all agree that yachts are indeed a sign of luxury and wealth, however, the cost to ship them is very close to that of automobiles. Getting your new yacht to your beachfront vacation home can run you up to $500 for short distances and $1000 for longer distances. 

Has any of these shipping prices surprised you, or were you already in the know? 

Whether you’re looking to add a new level of luxury to your life, or you simply need equipment for work, ensure you calculate your estimated shipping costs before going forward. This way, you won’t be surprised by the hefty fees.