Shipping to Australia from US: Complete International Shipping Guide

US to Australia Shipping Overview

Australia represents a significant market for US e-commerce, but distance and customs regulations present unique challenges. Understanding GST requirements, prohibited items, and carrier options is essential.

Australian GST Requirements

Since July 2018, US sellers must:

Threshold	Requirement
$75,000 AUD annual	Register for Australian GST
All B2C sales	Collect 10% GST at checkout
Below threshold	Optional registration

GST Collection Process

Step	Action
1	Register for Australian GST (if over threshold)
2	Collect 10% GST at checkout
3	Report quarterly to ATO
4	Pay collected GST

Low-Value Goods (≤ $1,000 AUD)

Element	Treatment
GST	Collected at checkout
Customs duty	Usually not applied
Processing	Simplified entry

High-Value Goods (> $1,000 AUD)

Element	Treatment
GST	Charged at import
Customs duty	Applied based on product
Processing	Formal customs entry

Carrier Rate Comparison

Standard Shipping (1-5 lbs)

Weight	USPS Priority Intl	UPS Worldwide	FedEx Intl	DHL Express
1 lb	$52.80	$75.40	$72.50	$68.80
2 lbs	$62.50	$85.20	$82.80	$78.50
3 lbs	$72.40	$95.80	$92.50	$88.20
5 lbs	$92.80	$118.50	$112.40	$108.50

Economy Options

Weight	USPS First-Class Intl	DHL eCommerce	Australia Post (returned)
1 lb	$22.50	$18.20	Varies
2 lbs	$28.40	$22.80	Varies
5 lbs	$45.80	$36.80	Varies

Atoship Commercial Rates

Weight	USPS via Atoship	DHL eCommerce	UPS via Atoship
1 lb	$42.50	$14.80	$58.50
2 lbs	$50.20	$18.40	$68.20
5 lbs	$74.40	$29.80	$92.50

Transit Time Comparison

Service	Transit Time	Tracking	Reliability
USPS First-Class Intl	14-28 days	Limited	Variable
USPS Priority Intl	6-10 days	Full	Good
DHL eCommerce	12-22 days	Partial	Good
DHL Parcel Direct	8-15 days	Full	Very Good
UPS Standard	8-12 days	Full	Excellent
UPS Expedited	4-7 days	Full	Excellent
FedEx Intl Economy	5-8 days	Full	Excellent
FedEx Intl Priority	2-4 days	Full	Excellent

Australian Duty Rates

Product Category	Duty Rate	Combined (Duty + GST)
Clothing	5%	15%
Electronics	0%	10%
Footwear	5-10%	15-20%
Jewelry	5%	15%
Books	0%	0%
Cosmetics	0-5%	10-15%
Sporting goods	0-5%	10-15%

Prohibited and Restricted Items

Absolutely Prohibited

Item	Reason
Drugs/narcotics	Illegal
Weapons	Illegal
Protected wildlife	CITES
Certain food items	Biosecurity

Requires Permit/Inspection

Item	Requirement
Food products	Biosecurity inspection
Plant materials	Phytosanitary certificate
Wood products	ISPM-15 treatment
Animal products	Permit required
Medicines	TGA approval

Biosecurity Considerations

Australia has strict biosecurity laws:

All packages may be inspected
Food items often require fumigation
Plant materials may be destroyed
Fees for inspection apply

Carrier Recommendations

Best for Economy Shipping

DHL eCommerce via Atoship

Transit: 12-22 days
Cost: $14.80-$36.80 (1-5 lbs)
Tracking: Milestone tracking
Best for: Non-urgent, price-sensitive

Best for Standard Shipping

USPS Priority International via Atoship

Transit: 6-10 days
Cost: $42.50-$74.40 (1-5 lbs)
Tracking: Full tracking
Best for: Balanced cost/speed

Best for Express Shipping

FedEx International Priority

Transit: 2-4 days
Cost: $72.50-$112.40 retail
Tracking: Real-time
Best for: Time-critical orders

Packaging for Australia

Distance Considerations

Factor	Recommendation
Long transit	Extra cushioning
Multiple handlers	Reinforced corners
Climate variations	Moisture protection
Customs inspection	Easy-open packaging

Recommended Materials

Item Type	Packaging
Fragile	Double-box, 3" cushioning
Electronics	Anti-static, foam
Liquids	Sealed bag, absorbent
Soft goods	Poly mailer acceptable

Documentation Requirements

All Shipments

Document	Required
Commercial invoice	Yes
Packing list	Recommended
HS codes	Required
GST status	If registered

Commercial Invoice Must Include

Detailed product description
Quantity and value (AUD and USD)
Country of origin
HS tariff code
Seller's ABN/GST number (if registered)

Returns from Australia

Method	Cost	Transit
Australia Post	$25-$45	10-20 days
UPS Return	$55-$85	7-12 days
DHL Return	$45-$75	6-10 days

Return Strategy Recommendations

Item Value	Strategy
< $30	Refund without return
$30-$100	Return label at customer cost
> $100	Prepaid return label

Time Zone Considerations

Australia spans multiple time zones:

City	Time vs US ET
Sydney	+15-16 hours
Melbourne	+15-16 hours
Brisbane	+14-15 hours
Perth	+12-13 hours

Impact: Customer service timing, order cutoff times

Seasonal Considerations

Season	Impact
Dec-Jan (Summer)	Holiday delays, beach season
June-Aug (Winter)	Normal operations
Black Friday	High demand from US sales
Boxing Day	Major Australian sales event

Atoship Australia Features

Multi-carrier comparison: All major carriers
Commercial rates: 20-40% savings
GST documentation: Proper labeling
Biosecurity guidance: Avoid restricted items
HS code lookup: Correct classification

Start Shipping to Australia

Create your Atoship account for commercial Australia shipping rates.