E-commerce international shipping sounds like a growth hack, until you're knee-deep in customs declarations and shipping calculations.
If you’re an Aussie e-commerce seller, the world is your market. Kiwi buyers love Australian-made products, and so do customers in the US, UK and Southeast Asia.
But getting those orders from your garage or warehouse (or 3PL) into their hands can feel like playing freight roulette — with too many couriers, unclear costs, and one wrong HS code away from a rejected delivery.
That’s where this guide comes in. We’ll show you how to take the guesswork — and the grunt work — out of international shipping:
- How to compare couriers like AusPost, TNT, DHL and Asendia
- What actually affects your costs (hint: size matters more than weight)
- Why customs paperwork doesn’t need to be a nightmare
- And how to streamline it all with Zappy’s free shipping software
If you’re growing your e-commerce business beyond Australian borders, especially to NZ and other close export markets, you’ll learn how to scale without losing control or margin.
Zappy is free to use with no subscription fees or hidden costs. Get started today.
Why international shipping is so tricky for AU sellers
On paper, international e-commerce sounds like a no-brainer: sell your products overseas, grow your margins, and watch the orders roll in.
But for many Australian sellers, the shipping part quickly turns into a tangled mess of zones, surcharges, delays, and dead ends.
Aussie businesses face a unique set of challenges:
- Distance and zone-based pricing: The longer the trip, the higher the price, and Australia is in the high zone for just about everywhere.
- Rural delivery surcharges: Shipping from or to regional areas? Couriers like StarTrack, Couriers Please, and Australia Post often tack on extra fees.
- Long gaps in tracking: Once your parcel leaves the country, tracking often goes dark — especially with budget couriers.
- Time zone lag: Overnight support tickets turn into 2-day waits. Urgent delivery issues become hard to escalate across borders.
- Limited SME leverage: Most small businesses don’t have time (or bargaining power) to wrangle competitive rates from multiple couriers.
And even if you do get the price right, international customers won’t tolerate late deliveries or unclear tracking updates. That’s why delivery management platforms are becoming essential not just for cost savings, but for customer experience, too.
How international shipping costs stack up — and how to lower them
International shipping doesn’t just feel expensive — it is expensive, especially if you’re unknowingly tripping into the same cost traps as everyone else.
You don’t need to cut corners or ship like a logistics expert to fix it. Most Aussie e-commerce businesses are overpaying for simple reasons — and all of them are fixable.
Volumetric weight traps
This one catches nearly every first-time international seller: you’re charged based on whichever is greater — the actual weight or the volumetric (dimensional) weight of the package.
So while your product might be light, if it ships in an unnecessarily large box, it could cost 2–3× more than expected.
Here’s how to calculate volumetric weight:
(Length × Width × Height in cm) ÷ 5000 = Volumetric weight in kg
Let’s say you’re shipping a 4kg product in a 60 × 40 × 30 cm carton.
Volumetric weight = 14.4kg — and that’s what you’ll be billed for.
Zappy helps you avoid these traps by suggesting right-sized packaging based on your past shipments.
You get smart packaging guidance, less wasted space, and lower shipping costs — automatically.
Customs and duties missteps
Every country has its own customs rules, and the moment you ship overseas, you're playing by that country’s rules. If your customs declaration is incomplete, inaccurate, or uses the wrong product codes, your parcel could get delayed, rejected, or hit with extra charges.
DIY-ing this often means:
- Googling Harmonised System (HS) codes you’re not 100% sure about
- Copy-pasting data into generic forms
- Hoping nothing gets flagged by border control
Zappy makes this easy by providing customs declaration forms, assigning the correct HS codes, and factoring in country-specific compliance, so your parcels clear faster, with less stress, fewer delays, and a better customer experience.
Not comparing rates = risk of overpaying
Courier pricing is dynamic. StarTrack might be cheapest to Auckland today, but tomorrow it could be DHL or Asendia — and you’ll never know if you’re only checking one provider.
Zappy provides discounted rates from multiple international couriers, including Australia Post, TNT, Aramex, FedEx, Couriers Please, DHL, and more — giving you real-time visibility on:
- Who’s cheapest
- Who’s fastest
- And who’s best for that particular parcel
Choose the best international courier based on parcel size, destination, and urgency.
How Zappy helps you ship globally without the hassle
Zappy brings the tools, couriers, and automation you need into one simple platform that’s free to use. Whether you're shipping across the ditch to New Zealand or reaching customers in the US, UK, or Asia, Zappy makes international e-commerce shipping feel effortless.
One platform for domestic and international couriers
As a courier aggregator, Zappy gives you instant access to the best rates from Australia Post, Couriers Please, StarTrack, TNT, Aramex, FedEx, DHL, and Asendia in one place.
Book shipments, print labels, track in real time, and manage claims without needing to learn five different courier systems.
Free software, real savings
There’s no subscription fee or even “premium” features locked behind a paywall. Zappy is 100% free to use and you only pay for what you ship.
That means you can start shipping internationally today, without committing to expensive software or courier contracts. It’s ideal for startups, side hustles, and growing brands.
Branded tracking experience
International shipping shouldn’t mean sacrificing your brand’s voice or your control of the customer experience.
With Zappy, you can create branded email templates, customising your email and SMS order tracking updates with your logo and brand voice — so customers stay informed and associate the delivery experience with your business, not just the courier.
It’s thoughtful touches like this that build trust and reduce “where’s my order?” messages that quickly soak up your team’s time.
Integrations that just work
Zappy integrates with most e-commerce platforms, including Shopify, WooCommerce, and marketplaces like eBay, so your orders sync automatically, and tracking info flows back to customers — no manual input needed.
Speak to someone who gets Aussie shipping
Ever tried asking a global tech giant why your parcel’s stuck at customs? Good luck. With Zappy, you don’t get bounced into a helpdesk queue — you get a local team who actually speaks your language. Literally.
Our Australian support team is multi-lingual, and they know the ins and outs of Aussie e-commerce.
You can ring us, email us, or chat with someone who understands what it’s like running a business here, not someone in another time zone who’s never heard of Couriers Please.
If you’re working with a local 3PL or sending orders between AU and NZ, we’re here to guide you through it.
“Excellent customer service – this is critical, they sort problems out immediately. Initial training on the system was very helpful, and I find the process easy. I want to make my customers happy – their service helps that to happen. Three words to describe Zappy: Reliable. Fast. Friendly." – Sue Motorcycle gears
International e-commerce shipping FAQs
What’s the cheapest way to ship internationally from Australia?
The most cost-effective way is to use a multi-courier shipping aggregator like Zappy. Instead of committing to one carrier’s fixed pricing, Zappy compares live rates across couriers like Australia Post, Couriers Please, StarTrack, TNT, FedEx, Aramex, and Asendia. You get the best price for each shipment, without spending hours shopping around or signing courier contracts.
Do I need a courier account to use Zappy?
No, Zappy manages accounts, billing, and courier relationships for you. That means no monthly courier minimums, no setup fees, and no binding agreements. You simply log in, book a shipment, and only pay for what you use. Perfect for smaller or scaling e-commerce businesses.
Can I get international tracking with Zappy?
Yes. Most of Zappy’s couriers provide live tracking updates (via email or SMS) for international shipments. You can also brand the entire tracking experience with your own logo, colours, and tone — keeping your customers informed while reinforcing your brand post-purchase.
How do I simplify customs declarations?
Zappy takes the complexity out of cross-border paperwork. Our platform helps you:
- Automatically generate CN22/CN23 forms when required
- Assign the correct Harmonised System (HS) codes
- Flag when Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) or other declarations are necessary
- Avoid delays caused by incorrect or incomplete forms
If you’re exporting goods valued over AUD $2000, Zappy will guide you through the export declaration process required by the Australian Border Force.
What are volumetric weight charges, and how can I avoid them?
International couriers charge by whichever is higher: actual weight or volumetric (dimensional) weight. That means a feather-light item in a large box can cost more than a dense product.
Here’s the formula:
(L × W × H in cm) ÷ 5000 = volumetric weight in kg
Zappy helps you optimise packaging by analysing previous shipments and recommending right-sized parcel options to avoid shipping “dead space”.
What’s the weight limit for international shipments?
Zappy’s partner couriers typically allow up to 30kg per item, and 500kg per consignment. You can still split larger orders into multiple packages, and Zappy’s system will automatically generate the correct labels and documentation.
Are rural or remote surcharges a factor?
Yes, international carriers apply remote area surcharges, both for outbound and destination zones. Zappy provides a breakdown of all taxes and surcharges within the total quote for shipping.
You can also compare carriers that handle rural freight more affordably.
Can I ship from my 3PL with Zappy?
Absolutely. Zappy is widely used by Australian sellers who store inventory with third-party logistics providers (3PLs). Our system integrates with your e-commerce platform, allowing your 3PL to fulfil orders using Zappy — while you retain full oversight of orders, tracking, and courier selection.
I’m a Chinese-speaking business owner, can I get support in Mandarin?
Yes. Zappy has bilingual customer service, fluent in both English and Mandarin. This is especially valuable for Chinese-Australian e-commerce sellers. Our support team understands both the language and the local shipping landscape, and we’re based in Australia.
What if I need help — can I talk to a human?
Definitely. Zappy has a real, local support team — no offshored call centres or 48-hour ticket queues. You can pick up the phone and talk to someone who actually knows how international shipping from Australia works, including how to resolve courier issues quickly.
Can I use Zappy even if I’m just starting out?
Yes, Zappy is ideal for startups, side hustles, and scaling e-commerce brands. You don’t need to hit minimum volumes, and you’ll get the same tools and discounted rates that bigger businesses use. There’s no lock-in and no subscription — just smart shipping from day one.