How to Ship from the US to Israel: Complete 2026 Guide

Israel is a smaller market than Western Europe, but it punches above its weight in e-commerce demand. A tech-savvy population with high disposable income, strong appetite for American brands, and a free trade agreement with the US that eliminates duty on many product categories make it an attractive destination for US sellers. The shipping logistics are a bit different from what you'd expect with European destinations, though, and understanding the specifics can save you real money.

Choosing the Right Carrier

The right carrier depends almost entirely on package weight. The cost curve shifts dramatically at certain weight thresholds, and what's cheapest at two pounds may be the most expensive at fifteen.

For lightweight packages under four pounds, USPS First-Class Package International Service is the clear winner. Rates start around $15 to $20, and while transit takes 10 to 21 days, the price is hard to beat. USPS tracking works within the US but tends to go dark once the package enters Israel Post's system, so set customer expectations accordingly. Priority Mail International picks up where First-Class stops, handling packages up to 70 pounds with 6-to-10-day transit for about $42 to $65 depending on weight. USPS flat-rate boxes work for international shipments and can be a genuine bargain for heavy, compact items.

In the 4-to-10-pound range, USPS Priority Mail flat-rate boxes are usually still the best deal. A Medium Flat Rate Box ships to Israel for the same price regardless of weight, which gives you a significant advantage when shipping dense items like books, cosmetics, or small electronics. Above ten pounds, DHL Express Worldwide becomes competitive. DHL has a strong presence in the Middle East region and their transit times to Israel (typically 2 to 4 days) are consistently faster than other carriers at similar price points. For the 10-to-30-pound range, expect rates between $80 and $180 depending on exact weight and dimensions.

UPS and FedEx both serve Israel reliably, with transit times of 2 to 5 days for their expedited services. UPS Worldwide Expedited runs roughly $85 to $200 depending on weight, while FedEx International Priority is comparable. Both carriers offer business account discounts that can knock 40 to 50 percent off published rates if you ship regularly. For packages over 30 pounds, UPS Worldwide Expedited typically offers the best rates, especially with volume pricing.

The US-Israel Free Trade Agreement

The US-Israel FTA, one of the oldest bilateral trade agreements the US has, eliminates or significantly reduces import duties on a wide range of products. Industrial goods, electronics, machinery, and most chemicals enter Israel duty-free. Textiles and agricultural products qualify for reduced rates, though not always zero.

To claim FTA benefits, three conditions must be met. The product must be of US origin, meaning it was substantially manufactured or transformed in the United States. It must be shipped directly from the US to Israel — routing through a third country can void the preference. And the commercial invoice must include an origin statement declaring that the goods qualify under the FTA. This isn't a separate form; a simple line on the invoice stating "These goods are of US origin and qualify for preferential treatment under the US-Israel Free Trade Agreement" is sufficient.

The savings can be substantial. Without the FTA, general merchandise entering Israel faces duty rates of 8 to 12 percent of declared value. Electronics that would otherwise carry 8 percent duty enter free. On a $500 shipment, that's $40 saved just from the trade agreement — enough to meaningfully affect your pricing strategy.

Israeli Customs and VAT

Israel's import rules have a few quirks worth knowing. Personal imports valued under 75 USD (about 270 ILS) are exempt from both duty and VAT. This threshold matters if you're selling lower-priced items — your customers can receive them without any additional charges at the door. Between 75 and 500 USD, VAT applies at 17 percent and any applicable duty is charged. Above 500 USD, the shipment may require a customs broker, which adds both cost and time.

Israel's VAT rate is 17 percent on virtually all imported goods. Unlike the UK, Israel doesn't currently require foreign sellers to register for and collect VAT at the point of sale (though this may change). That means your customers will typically pay VAT upon delivery or collection, charged by the customs authority. Make sure your product pages mention this clearly — nothing annoys a customer more than an unexpected $50 charge when their package arrives.

Customs declarations should include detailed product descriptions in English. Hebrew isn't necessary on the customs form since Israeli customs officers work with English-language documentation regularly. Include the HS code, unit value, quantity, and total value for each item. Vague descriptions slow down clearance. "Men's cotton t-shirt, size L, quantity 3" clears faster than "clothing."

Unique Considerations for Israel

Israel observes Shabbat from Friday evening through Saturday evening, during which postal and delivery services don't operate. Israel Post doesn't deliver on Saturdays, and many businesses are closed from Friday afternoon through Saturday night. Plan your shipping timelines accordingly — a package that arrives in-country on Thursday might not get delivered until Sunday.

Israeli addresses use a mix of English and Hebrew transliterations that can confuse automated address validation systems. Street names might appear as "Rothschild Blvd" or "Sderot Rothschild" depending on the source. City names are generally consistent (Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Haifa), but smaller cities might have variant spellings. When in doubt, include the postal code — Israel's 7-digit postal codes are more reliable than street addresses for routing.

During Jewish holidays — particularly Rosh Hashanah, Yom Kippur, Sukkot, and Passover — expect delivery delays. These holidays can close government services including customs for several consecutive days. If you have Israeli customers ordering in September or October (when many of these holidays fall), build an extra three to five days into your delivery estimates.

Getting the Best Rates

The most reliable way to find the cheapest option for any specific shipment is to compare rates in real time across all carriers. Weight, dimensions, and speed requirements all interact to determine which carrier is cheapest for that particular package. atoship lets you compare USPS, UPS, FedEx, and DHL rates side by side for any shipment, automatically applies any business discounts you've negotiated, and handles the customs documentation that international shipping requires. For regular Israel shippers, the rate comparison alone typically saves 15 to 25 percent compared to defaulting to a single carrier.