What we typed
Pair of Monroe front struts for a 2016 Honda CR-V
Year, make, and part name are what narrow the estimate. Say struts and nothing else and the tool reaches for a category average instead of this CR-V pair.
Auto parts
How much does it cost to ship a set of shocks and struts?
A pair of shocks or struts ships in a long box around 28 × 12 × 10 inches at 20–50 lb, the spread depending on whether they are bare shocks or loaded assemblies with springs and mounts. That length can trip a dimensional or oversize surcharge, and a full set of four heavy loaded struts often prices better as freight. After that it is a question of lane, service, and the box you actually seal.
Live parcel ratesFreight review pathTracking included
A real run, not a range
This page rests on one quote: 31 × 10 × 10 in at 33 lb, $33.29 with UPS Ground across the lane below.
A real quote: Pair of Monroe front struts for a 2016 Honda CR-V
The line we gave the calculator on 2026-07-24 was “Pair of Monroe front struts for a 2016 Honda CR-V”, shipping Philadelphia, PA 19103 to St. Louis, MO 63101. Everything printed here is the reply as it arrived, with no weighing, no measuring, and no cleanup.
Packed box it returned
31 × 10 × 10 in
80 × 25 × 25 cm
Packed weight 33 lb (15 kg).
Route
Philadelphia, PA 19103
to St. Louis, MO 63101
Philadelphia across to St. Louis, live on two real ZIPs. Zone distance leans on this total harder than the packaging does.
The scale leads on this one: 33 lb actual against about 22.3 lb dimensional (31 × 10 × 10 ÷ 139), so the quotes below track real weight. Dense parts in a tight box are the one case where padding out to a larger carton would cost you.
| Carrier | Service | Price | Estimated transit |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPS | Ground | $33.29 | 4-5 business days |
| UPS | Ground Saver | $40.50 | 5 business days |
| FedEx | Smart Post | $43.21 | 4-5 business days |
| FedEx | Ground | $47.17 | 4-5 business days |
Every figure is the whole checkout amount, label and SMKlog's charge in one, with nothing added later on. UPS Ground led this run at $33.29. Carrier tariffs change on their own timetable and no two lanes behave alike, so read this as one worked run and price your own ZIPs today.
Typical packed size
Roughly 28 × 12 × 10 in boxed. Each shock or strut gets strapped or wrapped so the rod cannot pump in and out while the box is thrown around, and the bare metal ends get padding. Loaded assemblies still under spring tension have to sit stable and cushioned, never resting against a box wall.
Packed weight
20–50 lb for a set, depending on what is still attached. Since the bill follows the greater of scale and dimensional weight, keep the carton close to the parts; empty space is charged like steel.
What moves the price
Distance zone, service speed, and what the sealed box weighs and measures. Philadelphia, PA to St. Louis, MO is a mid-length haul; short hops rate lower and air service rates far higher. The same box on one day produced answers from $33.29 to $47.17. A single flat price would have to ignore that, which is why the calculator rates your own lane.
Shipping a set of shocks and struts: common questions
What box size do I need to ship a set of shocks and struts?
Plan around 28 × 12 × 10 in packed. Immobilize each shock or strut so the rod cannot slam in and out while handlers move the box, and pad the exposed metal ends. A loaded strut still under spring compression has to be stable and cushioned so nothing can shift into the box wall.
How much does a set of shocks and struts weigh packed for shipping?
Typically 20–50 lb packed for a set. The bill follows whichever is larger, actual weight or dimensional weight (length × width × height divided by a carrier divisor), so weigh and measure the taped-up box before you quote. Under-declare it and the carrier trues the number up after delivery.
Why do shocks and struts sometimes cost more to ship?
Length is the culprit. A long box can trigger a dimensional or oversize length charge even when the weight is ordinary, and loaded strut assemblies pile on real pounds as well.
Should a full set of struts go parcel or freight?
A pair is comfortable as a parcel. Four heavy loaded struts get long and heavy at once, and putting them on a pallet for LTL freight often beats paying an oversize charge four separate times.
How much does it cost to ship shocks and struts?
Actual weight leads on this item. At 28x12x10 inches and 35 lb the box is dense enough that the scale, not the size, sets the bill, since carriers charge the greater of actual and dimensional weight and a compact carton keeps the dimensional figure underneath. Distance zone and ground-versus-expedited speed decide the rest. Put your route and packed size into the calculator for live USPS, UPS, and FedEx pricing.
What is the cheapest way to ship shocks and struts?
35 lb sits in the middle of UPS and FedEx ground territory; USPS Ground Advantage tends to lead on small parcels under about 5 lb, not on dense metal. Where the parts allow it, one strong box beats several small ones because each label carries its own base charge, and labels bought online at commercial rates typically land 20-40% below walk-up counter prices.