The run to a US address is a normal domestic parcel. Everything past the border belongs to somebody else.
The three USPS international products
USPS publishes starting prices for each of these on its own product pages, and the figures below are copied from them. A starting price is the cheapest destination group at the lightest weight, so treat it as a floor rather than a quote.
| Service | Stated delivery | Published starting price | Weight ceiling | What USPS says is included |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| First-Class Package International Service | USPS states delivery varies by destination | Retail prices start at $19.40 | Maximum 4 lb (64 oz) | Electronic delivery confirmation to selected destinations when shipped online |
| Priority Mail International | 6 to 10 business days to many major markets | $32.65 for a Flat Rate Envelope, or from $43.55 priced by weight | 4 lb for the Flat Rate Envelope and small box, 20 lb for medium and large boxes, 70 lb by weight | USPS states coverage up to $200 for merchandise and $100 for document reconstruction |
| Priority Mail Express International | 3 to 5 business days | $62.70 Flat Rate, or $64.25 priced by weight | Maximum 70 lb for mailing boxes | USPS states coverage up to $200 for merchandise and $100 for document reconstruction |
USPS is unambiguous about the paperwork attached to all of it: a customs form has to be completed to ship a package to another country, and the express and package international products require a complete, computer-generated form rather than a handwritten one. The mechanics of filling one in are covered in our guide to customs forms and classification codes.
What the two couriers offer
FedEx and UPS both sell export services directly. Neither publishes a simple starting price the way USPS does, because commercial international pricing is quoted against an account, a service and a destination. What they do publish is the service ladder and the commitments attached to it.
| Carrier | Service | What the carrier states |
|---|---|---|
| FedEx | FedEx International Next Flight | Described as their fastest international delivery, 24/7/365 |
| FedEx | FedEx International First, International Priority Express, International Priority | 1, 2, or 3 day delivery |
| FedEx | FedEx International Economy | Time-definite 2 to 5 day delivery |
| FedEx | FedEx International Connect Plus | 2 to 5 days |
| FedEx | FedEx International Ground to Canada | Coverage to 100% of Canadian business and residential addresses |
| UPS | UPS Worldwide Economy | Described as a budget-friendly solution. No delivery commitment was stated on the page we read |
FedEx also states the practical point about documentation, which is that commercial invoices and certificates of origin submitted online speed up clearance and reduce delays. That is the difference between a shipment that moves and one that sits in a customs queue, and it is entirely within the sender's control.
The relay leg, priced live
A large share of overseas orders never leave the country on the seller's label at all. The buyer supplies a United States address belonging to a forwarder or a friend, the seller ships to it as an ordinary domestic parcel, and the border crossing is arranged separately by whoever receives it. For Canada, the UK, Germany and Australia that detour is now optional, since checkout sells those crossings itself; for everywhere else the relay remains the road, and its first leg looks like this.
| Carrier | Service | Price | Transit window returned |
|---|---|---|---|
| USPS | Ground Advantage | $8.48 | 8-9 business days |
| UPS | Ground Saver | $13.12 | Not supplied |
| FedEx | Ground Economy | $13.18 | 6-7 business days |
| UPS | Ground | $13.38 | 2-3 business days |
| UPS | 2nd Day Air | $21.96 | 2-3 business days |
Set $8.48 for that domestic run against a $19.40 international floor and the reason the forwarder model exists is obvious. It is not a loophole and it is not something we arrange, it is simply how a lot of cross-border consumer trade works. What SMKlog does in that chain is one label to a US address, bought without an account — plus, on the four online lanes, the crossing itself. SMKlog sells parcel labels only and does not arrange pallet or freight shipments.
Three things that catch sellers out
Starting prices are floors, not quotes
Every international figure on this page is the cheapest weight into the cheapest destination group. A four pound parcel to a distant country will not resemble it, and the only number worth planning around is the one the carrier returns for the actual destination.
The weight ceilings are low on the cheap tier
First-Class Package International Service stops at 4 lb, and the Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelope and small box stop there too. A lot of ordinary orders exceed that, which pushes them straight into a much more expensive tier.
Somebody pays duty at the far end
Import charges are assessed against the recipient in most arrangements, and a buyer who was not warned treats that bill as a dispute. Saying so at checkout costs nothing and prevents the argument.
International shipping, answered
Does SMKlog sell international labels?
To four countries, yes: Canada, the UK, Germany and Australia sell at our checkout, on courier rates, with the customs declaration completed before payment. The USPS products on this page are not among them — postal international labels are bought from USPS, and nothing on this page can be bought from us. SMKlog's online international labels cover Canada, the UK, Germany and Australia; other destinations are not sold here.
What does USPS international shipping start at?
USPS publishes retail prices starting at $19.40 for First-Class Package International Service, $32.65 for a Priority Mail International Flat Rate Envelope with weight-based pricing from $43.55, and $62.70 for Priority Mail Express International Flat Rate with weight-based pricing from $64.25. All were read on 2026-07-28.
How long does USPS take to deliver overseas?
USPS states 3 to 5 business days for Priority Mail Express International and 6 to 10 business days to many major markets for Priority Mail International. First-Class Package International Service carries no day range at all, with USPS saying only that delivery varies by destination. Customs delays sit outside every one of those figures.
Do I need a customs form?
Yes, for any package leaving the country. USPS states that a customs form must be filled out to ship a package to another country, and its express and package international products require a complete, computer-generated form rather than one written out by hand.