Cycling regularly can make people feel 10 years younger in terms of health benefits. So it makes you want to continue this habit and bring your bicycle with you across the country. And it also makes sense to wonder how much to ship a bike across the country since it won’t be for free, unless you have a bike rack on your car and you can take it with you this way. Nevertheless, it’s still cheaper than shipping a motorcycle. That said, let’s see how to ship a bike across the country and the costs associated with different transport modes"
Factors Influencing Bike Shipping Costs:
Cross country bike shipping cost ranges from $10 to $1,500 depending on what mode of shipping you choose. Amtrak’s carry-on bike charges range from $10 to $15 while UPS or FedEx usually charge $128 to $971. If you bring the bike on an airplane as checked luggage, it can cost $1,000+. You can also ship using vehicle transport companies, especially if it’s a heavier mountain bike and that can cost $100 to $150+.
Lastly, some buses allow you to bring your bike with you and cost only $10 to $30 per bicycle. However, if you want, you can buy a car rack for $40 to $60 and bring the bicycle with you as well and avoid shipping.
Now you might be wondering why there’s so much difference in costs to ship a bicycle. Well, that’s because of these factors:
- Total distance between the pickup (origin) and drop-off (destination) points impacts the cost a lot. For instance, if you’re shipping a bicycle from New York to Florida, expect to pay less than shipping to the other end of the country to California. Longer journeys cost more due to more fuel consumption and higher driver wage from long hours.
- Next, the dimensions and weight of the bicycle also affect the cost. Since the bicycle is not that heavy, the weight doesn’t matter much but the dimensions do, especially larger mountain bikes take more space compared to standard road bikes and so they cost more to haul. If you’re shipping the bike packed in a box, then buying the box for appropriate size and weight will also cost more if it’s a larger and heavier bicycle.
- The chosen shipping method and service level also play a crucial role. Air transport will skyrocket your costs compared to truck or train transport. However, air transport may be the best way to ship a bike across country if time is of the essence. On the other hand, truck or train shipping methods, although slower, are more budget-friendly.
- Then there’s the subject of additional services such as insurance and expedited delivery. You may get GAP insurance for extra protection for your bike and if you need it delivered faster, expedited delivery and pickup can make that happen as well. However, the overall cost will increase because of these addons.
- There’s also the packaging cost as you will have to disassemble and safely pack bike parts into wraps, or sometimes even crates. Check local bike shops or craigslist/ebay for leftover packaging materials to save a few bucks.
- The time of year can also impact bicycle shipping cost because peak seasons like summer increase the cost to transport goods across the logistics industry.
How Much To Ship Bike Across Country - Methods and Cost Examples:
Let’s discuss different modes of shipping your bike across the country and the associated costs to do that.
One such method you can consider is transport by rail, specifically via Amtrak. Amtrak provides two types of transport services. The first is carry-on, where your bike is treated as luggage. They offer a bike rack where you can secure your bike. The fee for this service varies from $10 to $15. The second is the Amtrak Trainside checked service, which handles your bike transport service professionally.
Parcel shippers like UPS and FedEx are good options for shipping bikes. The costs will vary based on the bike’s size and weight.
- Let’s say you’re transporting a bike from Philadelphia to Miami or Los Angeles. This may cost you $204.95 and $250.50. If you get the same service from Chicago to Dallas or from Cleveland to San Diego, you will spend the same.
- However, when you ship a bike from Philadelphia to Miami or Los Angeles through UPS or FedEx, the cost might range between $128.58 and $799.22.
- And for shipping a bike from Chicago to Dallas or Cleveland to San Diego through UPS or FedEx, expect to pay between $174.98 and $971.76.
- The cost variation is evident when shipping a bike from New York to San Francisco. FedEx could charge you from $75 to $175, whereas UPS might cost around $145.
Airlines also provide bike transport services, but their rules, regulations, and potential costs can be challenging. You may have to pay anywhere from $1,000 to $1,500+ to ship over long distances using airfreight. There are better ways to send a bike across the country, especially considering the cost.
Specialized auto transport companies like Easy Auto Ship also offer bike transport services. For example, shipping a bike from New York to Los Angeles in a 54 x 28 x 8" box weighing 30 pounds might cost around $150. The cost of shipping a bike locally with specialized auto transport companies is slightly over $100, making it a competitive option.
If you’re considering self-transport, you can transport your bike using a car’s roof rack, trunk rack, or hitch rack. Any of these racks will cost around $40 to $60. It’s a budget-friendly way to move a bike to another state.
Another self-transport option is using a bus. Pack your bike in protective material and take it on the bus across the country. Services like BoltBus, Arrow, and Trailways allow you to take your bike for free. If there is a fee, it should be within the $10-$30 range.
The reasons for cost variation among providers are manifold. It may be distance, weight of the bike, the packing method, or even the pricing policies of the provider. It is important to consider all of this when figuring out how to ship a bicycle across the country.
| Shipping Method | Description | Cost Range |
|---|---|---|
| Amtrak Carry-On | The bike is treated as luggage, secured on a bike rack on the train. | $10 - $15 |
| Amtrak Trainside Checked | Professional bike transport service provided by Amtrak. | Not specified, likely variable |
| Parcel Shippers (UPS/FedEx) | The bike is transported as a parcel (typically in a box) via UPS or FedEx; cost depends on the total shipping distance and bicycle dimensions. | $128.58 - $971.76 (variable) |
| Airlines | The bike is shipped using airfreight with airlines, which can be expensive and complex. | $1,000 - $1,500+ (estimated) |
| Specialized Auto Transport | Specialized auto transport companies transport the bike. | $100 - $150+ (local), varies (long) |
| Self-Transport (Car Racks) | The bike is transported using a car roof, trunk, or hitch racks. | $40 - $60 |
| Self-Transport (Bus) | The bike is packed and taken with you on a bus. Some bus companies allow bikes for free or for a small fee. | $10 - $30 (if there’s a fee) |
Considerations for Packing and Assembling:
Importance of Proper Packaging to Prevent Damage During Transit:
Packages getting damaged is a common occurrence in goods logistics. In fact, just last year, over 85 million packages arrived damaged. Therefore, when you transport your bike across the country, do not compromise on the packaging please. It’s your bike’s primary line of defence. Proper packaging ensures the bike doesn’t shift, shocks are absorbed by packing material, and scratches or other structural damages are avoided.
And make sure to put fragile labels on your bicycle crate or box. This helps a lot more than you think. In fact, A Dutch bicycle company VanMoof dropped 80% of bicycle damages during logistics just with a change in packaging.
What they did was put an LCD image on the bicycle box so handlers automatically assumed it was a fragile item and the damage rate dropped significantly. Now you might not have a box with LCD on it, but put a few fragile stickers around the box.
Steps for Disassembling a Bike for Safe Shipping:
Always disassemble your bike before shipping as it’s a standard, industry-wide practice and recommended by the logistics giants such as FedEx. Disassembly helps reduce shipping space, and also helps you better pack and protect the bike’s individual parts. It’s easier to disassemble your bike than it might seem. Here’s how to do that when shipping your bike across the country:
Remove Front Wheel: Check the release mechanism of the front wheel.
- If it’s quick-release, open the lever by pulling outward and then unscrew the adjustment nut on the opposite side until the wheel comes out.
- If it’s a thru-axle wheel, use an appropriate tool like a 5 or 6mm allen key to unscrew the thru axle and slide out the wheel.
- For bolt-on wheels, use a 15mm wrench to loosen axle nuts on both sides and remove the wheel.
Remove Handlebars: If there are stem bolts clamping the handlebars, loosen them using 4-6mm Allen key to loosen the handle bar. Rotate the bar 90 degrees parallel to the bike’s frame to entirely remove it.
Remove Pedals: Use a pedal wrench or a 15mm box end wrench to remove pedals. The right one has standard threads, so turn counterclockwise to loose. The left pedal has reverse threads to turn clockwise to loosen it.
Remove or Lower Seat: Loosen the seatpost clamp either via a quick-release lever or allen bolt depending on the bike model. Before removing the seatpost, mark the height with tape for easy reassembly later. Pull the seatpost up and out of the frame. If the seat is adjustable on the post, you can also lower it to the lowest possible height instead of removing it.
Remove Accessories: Take out every accessory including front basket, lights, bottle cages, computers, bags, mirrors, phone mounts etc. Also disconnect and remove the derailleur if it extends far, using an Allen-key.
Make sure to take lots of pictures of wire routing, nuts, joints, accessories positioning before removing them so you can easily reassemble later. Consulting with the manufacturers’ manual is the best way to go about reassembly so ship it with the bicycle.
Tips for Acquiring Suitable Packaging:
It’s crucial to obtain the right packing materials when shipping your bike. The best way to do so is to get the bike-specific box from your local bike shop. Make sure to measure the bike’s dimensions and weight after disassembly and then get a suitable box.
For instance, if the disassembled bike measures 43" x 11" x 32" (LxWxH) and weighs 90 pounds, get a box that suits this.
But that’s just the outer covering, you need something for padding to ensure nothing gets damaged in case of shifting during the transit. Use bubblewrap and foam paddings to wrap the bike’s frame, wheels, seat, handlebar, derailleur, and other disassembled parts carefully.
Using Zip Ties to Tightly Secure Parts into Place:
After wrapping each part, use zip ties to gently but tightly secure them into the frame. Removing empty space in packing reduces shifting, which in turn, reduces chances of damage. So, fasten the pieces to each other using zip ties.
For instance, you can attach the handle bars to the frame or secure pedals to the seat post. This way, even if the box shakes during the transit, the parts will stay stationary.
Remember, the use of bubble wrap, foam wrap, and zip ties is crucial in ensuring the parts stay in their place and can absorb impact shocks because impact testing reveals that packages can experience up to 75 units of gravitational force during regular shipping which is equal to a 7-foot drop.
Parting Words:
Knowing how much it costs to ship a bike across the country is not enough, you also need to know how to safely ship the bicycle to avoid spending money on repairs if the bike arrives damaged. Remember, disassembly of important parts, secure packaging, and space elimination in the packaging are key to a safe bike shipping experience..
