The cost to ship cargo to Puerto Rico from the continental USA can vary greatly depending on where exactly you are sending it from, what service you use and how much you need to send at any given time. Worse, shipping prices can rise quickly for those who need to make multiple shipments, send heavier freight, or both.

The distance of the island, its status as a Commonwealth, and many other factors make the supply chain to and from PR seem more complicated than it should be, but that is why Puerto Rico Express Shipping Services (PRESS) wants to make it easier for you the find the cheapest way to ship from the mainland U.S. to the island. Keep reading below to see what price ranges you should expect and what impacts them:

Shipping Services to Puerto Rico & Their Costs

There are several different shipping methods for sending goods to Puerto Rico and different services that fulfill them. Which one works best for you depends heavily on what you need to send, and you will find a large variety of different vendors from the Post Office to corporate delivery carriers to budget economy third-party shippers.

Express Carriers

1. USPS: The United States Postal Service provides the most cost-effective way to ship to PR for individual packages. This is because USPS delivers to Puerto Rico at domestic U.S. rates, but the bad news is that it limits package weight to 70 lbs. Flat rates for boxes start at about $10 for Priority Mail and increase as the size goes up as well as by which Zone the Post Office designates (typically $5 to $10 more).

2. FedEx, DHL or UPS: FedEx, DHL and UPS (United Parcel Service) are the better options for those who need to send packages of up to 150 lbs. and need to send them fast. All of these carrier services provide express shipping that include one- or two-day deliveries. However, Puerto Rico is considered international territory for most big brand carriers and shipping is priced accordingly, with prices ranging from about $20 to over $2500 with all fees and insurance included.

3. Budget Economy: Many of the brand name carriers as well as other third-party shipping services provide economy-class delivery rates for sending goods to Puerto Rico. These arrive much slower than express methods but are priced much cheaper as well. If you need to ship small goods then UPS or DHL usually have similar lower costs to a third-party vendor; however, for larger amounts or heavier items (typically 10 lbs. or move), budget economy shipping services deliver more competitive rates the bigger the cargo.

Special Carriers

4. Ocean Container Shipping: If you are a business with a more substantial amount of goods to ship or just heavier cargo (such as a car) that needs to be transported overseas to Puerto Rico, container shipping is often your best bet. This is usually more cost-effective for bulk shipments, but requires more planning to get the best quote. A FCL (Full-Container-Load) shipment at maximum capacity sent from Florida can cost about $3000 to $9000 per load, for example.

5. Freight Forwarder or Broker: Freight forwarders and logistics brokers are third parties that coordinate and facilitate shipping requests for customers with. These companies can often negotiate better rates for larger shipments and pass the savings onto you, as well deliver other value-added services such as providing insurance on each load. This is typically done by consolidating your cargo with less-than-full or empty pallets, which can cost anywhere between $100 to $200 depending on the service.

6. LTL or LCL: Dedicated LTL (Less-Than-Truckload) and LCL (Less-Than-Container-Load) services work to consolidate shipments from multiple customers into a either a single truck or container, respectively. This reduces costs by allowing you to “piggyback” on those existing shipments that still have room. Since this is a large part of the value-added freight forwarding and brokerage services, prices will be about the same.

Ultimately, the cheapest shipping service from the mainland USA to Puerto Rico will depend on your specific needs, so be sure to thoroughly research your options:

· Request quotes whenever you can, or work with a broker that you help you compare rates

· Review existing feedback online from reviews and other sources

· Look around for discounts and special offers like promotions, etc.

The Cheapest Ways to Ship to Puerto Rico

If you are looking for the cheapest way to ship to Puerto Rico, then you will need to navigate the market a little or work with a trusted third party who knows the current field. To get the best possible deal when shipping from the mainland USA to the island, you should at least follow these tips:

Consolidate Your Shipments: Combining multiple items into one shipment is the most consistent way to reduce costs when you do have a FCL worth of goods to send. Working with a logistics broker, you an take advantage of empty space remaining and “rent” a pallet for your cargo for a deeply discounted price.
Ship Freight by Ocean: As Puerto Rico is an island, you are limited to overseas delivery services that ship by ocean or air. Choosing the former is the more cost-effective option and allows you to take advantage of LCL shipments.
Choose Economy Shipping: Opting for economy shipping will save you money if your delivery is not time-sensitive. While most carriers have express options like same-day or two-day, these are usually much more expensive and become astronomically pricey for heavier loads.
Utilize Freight Forwarding: Freight forwarding to Puerto Rico is a good choice if you have a larger shipment, and your freight forwarding service can help navigate the process more efficiently.

Cost-Effective Shipping Services for Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico Express Shipping Services is committed to making sure you get the best deal on your shipments to and from the island. PRESS is a trusted partner for simplifying logistics needs and streamlining your process when you need to ship to PR. Get in touch us and see how we provide you with discounted shipping rates, custom logistics solutions and the reliability you need in your supply chain.