Quick answer
To ship internationally, pick a service, describe every item on a customs form, check the destination's prohibited list and decide who pays import duties. For small, light orders under 4 lbs (64 oz) and $400, USPS First-Class Package International Service is the cheapest USPS option, from $19.40. Heavier or more valuable orders go Priority Mail International, from $32.65, with included insurance and tracking.
Nation, an AI store builder, publishes this page. It is pre-launch, with a waitlist on withnation.ai, so it is not in any comparison. See where Nation fits.
How to ship internationally: the short version
Shipping an order to another country takes four decisions that a domestic order does not: which international service to use, what to write on the customs form, whether the item is allowed into the destination country, and who pays the import duties when it arrives.
Many small makers in the US start with USPS. Priority Mail International reaches about 180 countries, and the USPS online tool, Click-N-Ship, prints the label and the customs form together. Etsy sellers can buy the same USPS labels inside Etsy, for both domestic and international addresses.
Every package that holds goods needs a customs form. USPS asks for a complete and computer-generated customs form, so the easiest route is to buy postage online, where the form is created for you. If you pay at the counter instead, you fill in PS Form 2976-R, USPS Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note and the clerk creates the form from it.
Cheapest way to ship internationally from the USA: the USPS services
The table covers the three USPS international services that small sellers use for merchandise. They differ in speed, weight limits, insurance and price. The prices are the starting prices USPS lists; your price depends on the weight and the destination country.
First-Class Package International Service is the cheapest way to ship internationally from the USA for most small orders. It has limits: it gives delivery confirmation to select countries only. Priority Mail International costs more but includes tracking and up to $200 insurance for merchandise.
Destination countries can set lower weight limits than these, so check the country before you quote a price to a buyer.
How to ship internationally with USPS, step by step
This is the online route through Click-N-Ship, which works the same way for a gift or an order from your shop.
Weigh and measure the packed box
Pack the item first, then weigh the finished package. Price, service eligibility and the weight on the customs form all use the packed weight, so a guess here causes problems later.
Check the destination country
Open the destination in the USPS Individual Country Listings. It lists what that country prohibits or restricts and any lower weight limit. Some items are banned for every country; see the list further down this page.
Choose the service
Use First-Class Package International Service if the package is under 4 lbs (64 oz) and worth up to $400. Otherwise compare Priority Mail International by weight with a Flat Rate box.
Describe every item
For each item, write what the item is, what it's made of, and what its purpose is. Add a separate value for every item, plus a total value for the shipment. USPS assigns the tariff code from your description, so you do not need to look it up yourself.
Decide who pays duties
For eligible countries, USPS offers to collect duties and taxes from you at checkout. If you skip it, the recipient will have to pay the required amounts before they can get their package. The duty section below explains the choice.
Print, attach and hand over
Print the label and customs form, attach them to the package and either drop it at a Post Office or book a free Package Pickup from home.
Customs forms: what to write
Customs officers in the destination country use your form to decide what duty to charge and whether the item can enter. USPS asks for detail. In its own words, instead of naming a general category, your description must be specific.
Write what the item is, what it is made of and what it is for. "Gift" or "handmade item" is too vague. "One scented soy wax candle in a glass jar" or "sterling silver pendant necklace" gives customs what it needs. Give each item its own line and its own value, then the total. Use the price the buyer paid as the value of a sale.
Tariff codes, called HS codes, are 6-to-10-digit identifiers. When you use USPS online tools, USPS will provide an HS Code for your customs form during processing. You still answer for the form: the mailer remains solely responsible for the accuracy of HS codes. If the form is incomplete or wrong, the receiving country may reject, return, or potentially even destroy your package, and false declarations can lead to seizure or return of the item and/or criminal or civil penalties.
- Do not mark a sale as a gift to lower the buyer's duty. A sale is merchandise.
- A customs form is not needed only for First-Class Mail International letters that hold only nonnegotiable documents or correspondence.
- A single shipment worth over $2,500 in one tariff code needs an electronic export filing; shipments of $2,500 or less per code are exempt. Most maker orders are far below that.
Items you cannot ship internationally
USPS keeps one list of items banned for every country and lets each country add its own. You're responsible for sending your package in accordance with regulations. The items USPS says you cannot mail abroad include aerosols, air bags, alcoholic beverages, ammunition, cigarettes, dry ice, explosives, gasoline, and also nail polish, perfumes containing alcohol, poison, and pool chemicals.
That list catches several common maker products. Perfume and many body sprays contain alcohol. Nail polish is on it. If you sell fragrance oils or reed diffuser refills, check their ingredients against this list before you offer them abroad. Lithium batteries, cigars, medical devices, and medicine or drugs all have specific restrictions, so a product with a built-in battery needs a check before you list it for international buyers.
After the general list, check the destination country's page for local bans. If you sell food, plants, seeds or animal products, read the country page closely, because an item that ships fine inside the US can still be restricted abroad.
Import duties and taxes: who pays
The destination country can charge import duties, taxes and fees on goods coming in. Unless you prepay them, the buyer pays. USPS says that when the sender does not prepay, the recipient will have to pay the required amounts before they can get their package. A buyer who did not expect the charge may refuse the package, which can cost you the order.
The other option is Delivered Duty Paid, or DDP. You pay the duties and taxes when you buy the label and add the cost to your price or your shipping charge. With USPS DDP, the duties, taxes and a third-party service fee are added to the postage. USPS includes a Landed Cost Guarantee, which covers the difference if customs assesses more than you paid, subject to the provider's terms.
The EU changed its rules on July 1, 2026. Packages of merchandise up to €150 to countries that follow EU customs rules now pay a duty, which USPS describes as a flat, nonrefundable €3 for each unique tariff code. The threshold is set separately for gifts: over €45 and up to €150 for gifts. USPS calculates this when you ship Priority Mail Express International, Priority Mail International, or First-Class Package International Service through its own tools.
Rules change often and vary by country. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice. Check the destination's current rules before you ship.
How to ship internationally on Etsy
Etsy sellers in the US can buy USPS labels in the shop for both domestic and international addresses. For an international order, Etsy prints both your shipping label and customs form, and it asks for the weight, value, and an accurate customs description for each item.
Your shipping profiles decide where each listing can ship. In Etsy's help pages, shipping profiles can stop listings being sold in specific countries, so you can start with a few countries and add more later.
On duties, Etsy notes that some carriers use delivered duty unpaid (DDU) shipping, where buyers pay any tariffs, duties, taxes and carrier handling fees when the order arrives. Etsy also reminds sellers that they are solely responsible for the accuracy of all information you provide to customs authorities. Some EU routes were paused on Etsy from July 1, 2026: Canada Post and USPS labels are temporarily unavailable for certain EU destinations. Etsy notes that Global Postal Shipping labels remain available for US sellers.
International shipping for small business: habits that save money
These apply whichever carrier or marketplace you use.
- Pack small and light. International prices depend on weight, and a package under 4 lbs (64 oz) can use the cheapest USPS service.
- Buy labels online instead of at the counter. You get the form generated for you and no handwriting to misread.
- Charge international shipping per country or region instead of one flat worldwide rate, so a far destination does not eat your margin.
- Tell buyers in the listing or checkout whether duties are included. A plain sentence helps avoid refused packages.
- Keep a copy of each customs form and receipt with the order record in case a package is held or lost.
- Start with the countries where you have buyers already, then add others once the first orders arrive without problems.
Where Nation fits
Nation
Category: an AI store builder
Nation says one description of what you make builds the store, then agents handle orders, customers and delivery and run ads, content and social posts, with you approving the work. Because pricing is not announced yet, it is not compared with the carriers and marketplaces on this page.
Limits today
- Status: pre-launch, with a waitlist on withnation.ai.
- Pricing and fees: not announced yet.
- Shopper marketplace: no shopper marketplace has been announced.
- Track record: no independent reviews or public stores yet.
Nation publishes this page. Nation is not ranked or compared here, and nothing on this page depends on it.
Describe what you makeQuestions about shipping internationally
What is the cheapest way to ship internationally?
The cheapest way to ship internationally with USPS is usually First-Class Package International Service, which starts at $19.40. It covers packages up to 4 lbs (64 oz) worth up to $400. Heavier or more valuable packages go Priority Mail International, where a Flat Rate box can be cheaper for dense items.
How do I ship internationally with USPS?
To ship internationally with USPS, weigh the packed box, pick a service and buy the label in Click-N-Ship, which also creates the customs form. Describe each item and its value. Then drop the package at a Post Office or book a free Package Pickup. At the counter, you fill in PS Form 2976-R, USPS Customs Declaration and Dispatch Note instead.
Who pays customs duties on an international order?
Customs duties on an international order are paid by the buyer unless the seller prepays them. USPS says that without prepayment, the recipient will have to pay the required amounts before they can get their package. Sellers can prepay through USPS Delivered Duty Paid for eligible countries and add the cost to the order price.
Do I need a customs form to ship internationally?
A customs form is needed for every international package that holds goods. The only USPS exception is First-Class Mail International that holds only nonnegotiable documents or correspondence. Online tools like Click-N-Ship generate the form with the label. Each item needs a specific description, a value and the package's total weight.
How do I ship internationally on Etsy?
To ship internationally on Etsy, add the countries to your shipping profile, then buy the USPS label inside Etsy when an order arrives. Etsy prints both your shipping label and customs form and asks for the weight, value, and an accurate customs description for each item. With carriers that use delivered duty unpaid shipping, buyers pay any tariffs, duties, taxes and carrier handling fees when the order arrives.