Australia’s eCommerce market has taken off in the last couple of years and is showing promise in the Asia-Pacific region. Around 70% of Australians engage in eCommerce and shop online. Australia’s eCommerce revenue was estimated at $18.6 billion in 2018 but jumped to $21.5 billion in 2019. This makes Australia a prime market when shopping and shipping from the US to Australia.
When it comes to shipping from the US to Australia, there is a lot we need to consider. You may wonder how much shipping costs from the US to Australia, how to ship from the US to Australia, and how to avoid customs in Australia. We’re going to break everything down for you so you can easily ship from the US to Australia, and Forwardme will be there to help along the way.
What you need to know about shipping to Australia
When shipping from the US to Australia, it’s probably one of the furthest destinations you can think of when leaving the United States. It can take anywhere from 5 to 10 business days for your shipment to reach Australia from the US by air freight. If you decide you want to ship by sea, you’re looking at around 2 to 3 weeks, depending on the state you’re shipping from.
Each carrier has its own unique timeline regarding how long it takes to ship from the US to Australia. Below are some examples of how long it could take for your shipment to arrive, depending on the carrier:
- UPS Worldwide Saver: 5-7 business days
- UPS Worldwide Expedited: 5-7 business days
- USPS Priority Mail Express International: 3-5 business days
- USPS Priority Mail International: 6-10 business days
- FedEx International Economy: 8-10 business days
- FedEx International Priority: 5-7 business days
Shipping costs from the US to Australia
Due to where Australia is located in comparison to the United States, shipping can be expensive when shopping online. There are a variety of key factors that go into shipping from the US to Australia as well. Factors like:
- Package weight: The heavier your shipment is, the more money it will cost you to ship. It also may affect how long it takes your package to arrive.
- Package dimensions: Dimensions are another huge component when it comes to shipping because of how much room it takes up on a ship/plane/truck. Items with weird shapes or dimensions will have added fees that can rack up your cost.
- Delivery time: The fastest you want your package, the more money it will cost.
The worst thing is being surprised when it comes to the cost of shipping. With Forwadme, you don’t have to worry about unknown costs.
You can use our rate calculator to get an estimated price of what your package will cost to ship from the US to Australia. Below are some average costs you can expect when shipping from the US to Australia.
Forwardme offers shipping to Australia, with prices starting as low as $30.96.
Customs and Taxes in Australia
Since you’ll be bringing items in from a different country, there are a few things you need to do. Australia is strict on their customs documents, and you need to make sure the description and value of the package match your invoice, or you may face a delay. Furthermore, imported goods that are $1000AUD or less may be hit with GST. This charge will happen at the point of sale and not at the border.
Double-check that you are shipping items that are allowed into the country as well. There are things that Australia doesn’t allow in and are strictly prohibited to protect the country. A few items to keep in mind are:
- Meats and fruits
- Painting equipment
- Chewing tobacco
- Cosmetics
If you’re unsure if your item will be allowed into the country, you can check out Forwardme’s website to see a list of what is prohibited in Australia.
Australia is also picky about the packaging that your items arrive in. To avoid any issues, make sure you don’t ship with any of the following:
- Egg cartons
- Wooden boxes
- Cardboard boxes that have been used to hold fruits, vegetables, or meats
- Straw material
- Dried plant material
When you ship, make sure the package is in a new, sturdy, double-walled cardboard box that is durable and suitable for making a trip across the country. Materials like bubble wrap and newspaper are also allowed to protect fragile items.
Shipments are also subjected to duty and other taxes that may be applied. There is a 10% GST on the price of the product that is under $1000AUD. You may be able to defer payment if you’re an importer and registered for GST. If you’re sending personal items to Australia, you may also get away from duty and taxes if:
- Personally owned and used goods for at least 12 months before shipping to Australia
- Have arrived and intend to arrive in Australia
- Are you a permanent resident or are you a first-time migrant from a place outside Australia taking up permanent residency?
These are items like clothing, furniture, rugs, books, and bicycles.
How Forwardme can help?
This might seem like a lot of information, but with Forwardme, we have your back. We will give you a free US address and after you’re finished shopping online, your package will arrive at Forwardme. Once we have it, we will ship the item directly to your Australian address with no stress.
Our personal shoppers can help get your shipments to you easily and quickly, taking the time to make sure all customs documents are done and you won’t be surprised with taxes or duties before your package arrives. We will also make sure that no prohibited items will ship to Australia to make sure you don’t get charged additional fees.
Shipping from the US to Australia might seem like a stressful process, but with the help of Forwardme, you can seamlessly shop and ship from the US to Australia easily.