How much does it cost to ship a guitar? [Complete price breakdown]

Whether you’re sending a vintage Gibson or a shiny new Yamaha, understanding guitar shipping costs can feel like a guessing game.

Which carrier is the most affordable? Which box is right? Should you get insurance?

The questions may seem overwhelming.

With more than 12 years of fulfillment experience, we understand all factors that affect guitar-shipping fees. We know what drives up the cost and how to avoid pricey mistakes.

In this guide, we’ll compare costs by guitar size, shipping distance, and carrier. Plus, we’ll share five tips to reduce the transport fees while keeping your guitar safe in transit.

TL;DR:

Quick overview of typical guitar shipping costs

A ¾-size guitar costs $31.75 to $101.11 to ship

A full-size guitar costs $69.85 to $167.7 to ship

The cost of shipping a guitar internationally starts at approximately $100.

What you’ll learn

Average guitar-shipping fees across different carriers and distances

Key variables affecting the total costs of shipping a guitar, including the transport distance and coverage

Carrier shipping costs by guitar size and shipping distance

Additional costs, from packing material and boxes to insurance.

Five cost-saving strategies for shipping guitars

PRO TIP: Guitars are awkwardly shaped and bulky, which is precisely the type of product Red Stag Fulfillment specializes in. Contact us today for a custom quote.

Guitar-shipping costs–the basics

The average cost to ship a guitar locally is $56, while the average costs for interstate and international shipping are $142.64 and $132.84, respectively.

The table below shows the average guitar shipping fees for major carriers across different distances: local, interstate, and international. Each cost represents the average of two separate rates: one for ¾ guitars and another for full-size guitars. The lowest average cost for every distance is bolded.

NOTE: The average prices don’t include added costs, like packaging, enhanced shipping, insurance, etc.

Carrier shipping costs compared by guitar size and distance

When calculating these estimates, we’ve made assumptions and approximations about your guitar shipment, including:

Local shipment is within Los Angeles.

Interstate shipment is from Los Angeles to New York.

International shipment is from Los Angeles to Westbank, Canada.

The size classes are approximately the same for acoustic, classical, and electric guitars. For example, a ¾-size guitar is assumed to be 36” long, regardless of the type.

The guitar is shipped in a case, which is packaged in a shipping box. The packaging specs for ¾ and full-size guitars are below.

¾-size guitar packaging = 45” x 18” x 6” box, 14 lbs.

Full-size guitar packaging = 50” x 20” x 8” box, 16 lbs.

The declared value* for both guitars is $100.

Use the carrier calculators to find the exact shipping fees for your guitar:

USPS shipping cost calculator

FedEx shipping cost calculator

UPS shipping cost calculator

NOTE: The declared value is your assessment of the shipment’s worth. It represents the amount you’d pay to replace or repair the guitar. It’s also the carrier’s maximum liability if they lose or damage your instrument.

Additional costs of shipping a guitar

The actual cost of shipping a guitar goes beyond the base shipping rates. It includes additional costs like boxes, packaging materials, and coverage/insurance. The table below shows the approximate ranges of the potential added costs.

Let’s break down each additional cost.

Cost of the shipping box

A guitar-shipping box costs between $14 and $35.

On the lower end of that price range is the standardized guitar box from FedEx, which measures 50” x 20” x 8”. It’s slightly oversized and fits most guitar cases. We’ll talk about optimizing the box size in the money-saving tips.

On the upper end of the price range are guitar-shipping boxes from Amazon, which typically measure 45” x 18” x 6”. These boxes are best suited for smaller guitars because the cases of full-size guitars are often taller than 6”.

Cost of packing and shipping materials

The cost of packing materials ranges between $5 and $50+, depending on what you have on hand.

If you already have packing tape, some bubble wrap, and packing paper, the material used will only cost a few dollars. If you need to buy all the packing supplies, the investment can add up to over $50.

You might need some or all of the following:

Packing paper

Foam sheets

Bubble wrap

Acid-free glassine paper

Packing tape

Special stickers, like “Fragile” or “Handle with care”

You can source all packing supplies from Amazon.

Carrier coverage vs. third-party guitar insurance

Cost of carrier coverage

The carrier coverage is not insurance.

It’s capped by the declared value of the guitar and limited by the carrier’s terms and conditions. For example, you might not receive compensation if a natural disaster or inadequate packaging causes the damage or loss of your guitar.

All carriers offer free coverage up to $100 and add surcharges for higher declared values. The surcharge is typically between 1% and 2.5% of the guitar’s worth.

Example: FedEx charges $31.75 to ship a guitar within LA if the declared value is $100. In contrast, the charge for the same shipping distance will be $47.75 if the declared value is $1,000. In this example, the added cost is $16, which is 1.6% of the guitar’s worth.

Cost of third-party guitar insurance

Third-party shipping insurance typically costs between 0.5% and 5% of the guitar’s worth.

Higher insurance packages, though more expensive, extend to scenarios exempt by carrier coverage, such as natural disasters or improper packaging.

How to get insurance

Carriers don’t typically sell insurance. You can get it through specialized websites like Shipsurance, U-PIC, or InsureShip.

UPS Capital’s “Insure Shield” is an exception to the rule. It’s a third-party option available through UPS.

NOTE: You can only get third-party shipping insurance before the package is in transit. You buy the shipping label from a carrier, go to the insurance provider’s website, enter the package details, and pay the insurance premium–all before dropping off the package.

Cost-saving strategies

Below are five money-saving strategies that might lower the shipping costs when transporting your guitar.

Standard ground shipping is by far the cheapest option for shipping guitars.

For example, shipping a full-size guitar from Los Angeles to New York with UPS Ground will cost $177.58. In contrast, shipping the same guitar over the same distance with UPS Next Day Air will cost $688.06.

That cost difference buys you a used Fender Stratocaster.

Avoid shipping around Christmas and Black Friday.

The demand surge around peak seasons spills over to transport costs. Heavier trucks consume more fuel, and greater volumes increase labor costs. The carriers pass on the added costs to shippers as surcharges.

PRO TIP: You can potentially avoid the seasonal surcharges or get a discount by scheduling and paying for shipping ahead of time. When you book in advance, the carrier specifies the shipping time frame, which is typically within the next seven to 14 days. For example, if the guitar is a Christmas gift, you might save money by creating the shipping label on December 15 and dropping off the guitar on December 20.

Choose a box that fits your guitar case tightly. An inch or two of empty space is enough for padding.

If the shipping box is too large for your guitar, cut the cardboard down to size. This makes the package smaller, lowers the shipping fees, and mitigates the risk of shifting damage.

NOTE: Guitar-shipping fees are typically based on the dimensional weight of the package instead of the actual numbers on the scale. Dimensional-weight pricing is a way for carriers to charge for shipping based on bulk instead of weight. It typically applies to items that are relatively large for their weight, like guitars. To learn more and calculate the applicable weight for your package, use our dimensional weight calculator.

Use online platforms like Parcel Monkey to compare shipping rates across different carriers and service types.

Sometimes, these comparison platforms negotiate discount deals with the carriers. This means you might pay less by booking through the platform than you would by going directly to the carrier.

Shipping aggregators, like uShip, are platforms that connect carriers to shippers. You list a shipping job, and local moving companies or truckers bid on it.

However, these platforms are mostly used for oversized items. But if a trucker has some extra space, they might offer you a good deal. They also might transport your guitar faster than the major carriers.

Need a reliable partner to ship guitars?

If you’re selling guitars online, joining forces with a trusted 3PL company like Red Stag Fulfillment can be a turning point for your business.

We’re an award-winning fulfillment provider that specializes in bulky and fragile items, guitars included. We have the know-how, the people, and the infrastructure to solve all your fulfillment problems so you can focus on growth.

Moreover, we understand what a single damaged guitar means for your profit margins, which is why we offer unmatched guarantees.

Contact us today for your custom quote.