How to Ship an eBike (Shipping Method, Cost, Restrictions)
I first started to wonder if I could ship my eBike when I finally decided to move across the country. So I did some research to determine if eBikes can be shipped, what shipping method I could use to ship my eBike, and the cost of each shipping method. Which shipping method is cheaper, by plane or by ground? I have compiled my answers to these questions and the step-by-step process I used to ship my eBike.
1. Weigh Your eBike
On average, shipping companies charge you for shipping based on the weight of your package, regardless of the shipping method. Therefore, it is better to weigh your eBike before packing it to figure out how much shipping it will cost.
The easiest way to weigh your e-bike yourself is to use a handheld scale, like the ones you can use to weigh your luggage. Most electric bikes weigh about 50lbs, so you can use a cheap handheld scale, like the Etekcity Luggage Scale for $11, with a weight limit of 110lbs.
You can also get a bike scale to weigh your e-bike, but these are more expensive than luggage scales even though they operate similarly. We recommend the Venzo Bike Digital Electronic Balance, which costs about $41, so it is a little more of an investment than a luggage scale.
2. Disassemble Your eBike Into Smaller, Packable Parts (If Possible)
As a general rule, it is easier to ship a disassembled eBike. It will be easier for you to find an appropriate box to ship your eBike in three or four smaller parts than when your eBike is in one large piece.
While you cannot disassemble some eBikes, if yours can be taken apart into smaller parts, we highly recommend shipping your eBike this way. We recommend removing the seat, handlebars, and wheels. (or at least the front wheel). That way, it will be easier for you to find a suitable box to ship your eBike in smaller parts, as smaller boxes are easier to come by than electric-bike-sized boxes.
If you cannot disassemble your eBike, don’t worry; you will still be able to ship your eBike safely. However, it may be more challenging to find a box in the size and shape of a fully assembled eBike. Still, there are several sites from which you can order boxes specifically for eBikes, like Shipbikes.
3. Remove the Battery from Your eBike (If Possible)
On average, you should remove your eBike’s battery from your e-bike before shipping if possible. You will want to remove the battery from your eBike when shipping your eBike to ensure it does not power on during shipment. You will want to pack your battery in the same box as your eBike.
The rules to ship an e-bike battery are strict because most batteries are lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries, if damaged, can catch fire or explode, thus making them potentially dangerous. However, most major shipping providers do not classify lithium-ion batteries, or e-bikes in general, as hazmat products.
While it is a good idea to remove your e-bike battery from the bike itself while shipping your electric bike, we do not recommend sending the battery in a separate box. The shipping process becomes more expensive and a bit more confusing if you ship your battery separate from your e-bike, so we recommend you just dismount it from your eBike (if possible) but still ship them together.
Check out the USPS guidelines for shipping Lithium and Lithium-Ion batteries for more detailed information on how to mail your eBike with a battery.
4. Drain Your Battery to 30% Or Below
As a whole, if you are shipping your battery by air, it is best to drain your eBike battery to a charge of 30% or below. This is not only best practice; it is also the law. According to the IATA, or the International Air Transport Association, failure to comply with this regulation may result in a fine of up to $27,000.
While the rules are less strict when shipping your eBike battery via ground shipping or cargo ship, it isn’t a bad idea to drain your eBike battery to 30% in either of these cases. Draining your battery to 30% limits its combustibility, which reduces the risk of your battery catching fire during the shipping process.
“We all know how dangerous these batteries can be–they ignite…”
IATA Director General Willie Walsh
5. Remove Any Keys from Your eBike and Power the Battery Off
As a general rule, it is essential to ensure you remove any keys from your eBike and power the battery off before shipping it. You do not want to risk your battery turning on during transport, so make sure you take every step you can to ensure it will not turn on.
It may seem like a no-brainer, but it is crucial to ensure your eBike battery does not turn on during the shipping process. As previously mentioned, if your eBike battery does turn on, this poses a significant fire hazard to whoever is carrying your eBike. In addition, you never know what your eBike may be traveling alongside and to what degree the items aboard are flammable.
Turning your e-bike battery off during the shipping process will significantly reduce the risk of it catching fire. You may even want to take an extra measure to ensure your battery cannot turn on mid-transport, like placing electrical tape around the on-off switch to hold it in place.
If you decide to take an extra precaution to ensure your eBike battery does not turn on during the shipping process, make sure you use non-combustible, fire-retardant materials designed for batteries or other heat conductors, like electrical tape.
6. Pack Your eBike in a Secure Box with Padding
As a general rule, you will want to pack your eBike in a secure box with a lot of padding. To protect your e-bike against scratches or any unnecessary damage during the shipping process, you may want to include extra, non-conductive, non-flammable padding inside the shipping box.
When preparing to ship your e-bike, you can pack it in two types of enclosures: a cardboard box or a case. However, despite the package you choose to ship your electric bike, you will want to make sure you surround your e-bike with extra padding. Packing your e-bike with extra padding will lower the possibility of damage as your eBike is shipped.
We recommend using several of the following supplies to pad the box in which you ship your eBike:
- Non-conductive foam
- Extra cardboard
- Zip ties
Using Non-conductive Foam as Packaging for Your eBike
If you are shipping your eBike with its battery in the same box, we highly recommend using non-conductive packing materials. We recommend non-conductive foam over regular foam because regular foam can produce static, making it dangerous to pack in the same box as a lithium-ion battery.
We recommend using this non-conductive foam which costs around $16.99 for 100 12” x12” sheets, which will be more than enough to pack your e-bike. In addition, we recommend wrapping your e-bike frame and handlebars in foam to protect them from scratches or any other damage that can occur during the shipping process.
Using Extra Cardboard as Packing for Your eBike
If you are shipping your eBike in a cardboard box, it will likely have some room to move around, even after being wrapped in protective materials.
Therefore, we recommend lining the bottom of your box with several cardboard sheets and placing folded pieces between the gaps inside your parcel. This will prevent your eBike from moving around within the package during shipment, further preventing any damage that could occur.
To use extra cardboard as packing material, simply cut or fold any cardboard around your home into pieces that keep your e-bike in a safe position inside its box.
Using Zip Ties as Packaging for Your eBike
You can use zip ties to secure the extra padding in place around your eBike. In addition, you can use zip ties around the parts of your e-bike that you have padded with foam to make sure the foam does not slip out of position, like your e-bike’s frame and handlebars.
Whether you disassemble your eBike or not, it is a good idea to use zip ties to secure the tires in one position on the wheel. If left alone, the tires will spin inside the box, putting them in unnecessary danger of catching on other components within the box, like packing material.
7. Choose a Shipping Method (Air or Ground Courier)
On average, there are two ways to ship your eBike: by plane or ground. Your choice will depend on the weight of your electric bike, the Watt-hours of your battery, the shipping destination, and the cost of shipping. E-bikes shipped by plane are subject to your airline’s rules about checked luggage.
Pros and Cons for Shipping by Air Courier
| Pros | Cons |
| Can check your e-bike as luggage while traveling. | Costs an average of $100 more than shipping your e-bike through ground shipping. |
| Don’t have to wait for your e-bike to arrive at your destination after you do. | You can only take a battery with 100Wh capacity or lower on a plane (so you probably won’t be able to take your e-bike’s battery on your flight). |
| If the battery for your e-bike does not detach, you will not be able to fly with your e-bike as cargo. |
Pros and Cons for Shipping by Ground Courier
| Pros | Cons |
| More straightforward method for shipping a lithium-ion battery under 300Wh. | Most major shipping companies will charge a “special handling fee” for shipping a lithium-ion battery |
| Most carriers offer insurance which you can purchase for your package to ensure you get your money back if it gets damaged. | For a battery with a 300Wh capacity or higher, you will need special hazmat certification for your package. The battery will need to be packed and shipped by hazmat-certified shipping personnel. |
| Requires less research for the user, as most couriers will take care of the process of shipping a lithium-ion battery for you as long as you pay the money. |
8. Choose a Shipping Provider (If Ground Shipping)
In general, if you are shipping your e-bike using ground shipping, you need to choose a shipping provider to ship your e-bike. In the United States, you can choose from UPS, FedEx, or the United States Postal Service. Each differs in cost, battery guidelines, and international mailability.
It is also worth mentioning that the site Shipbikes.com offers an all-inclusive service where they will send you a box, packing materials, and a shipping label for you to pack and ship your e-bike. This is a relatively new service, but it has excellent user reviews. In addition, it is more cost-effective, as the average price of sending an e-bike one way is only $100.
| Shipping Provider | Cost (standard shipping of 50lbs. from L.A., CA to Miami, FL) | Ships Lithium-ion Batteries | Cost of Shipping Lithium-ion Batteries (avg. li-ion battery is 5lbs., from L.A., CA to Miami, FL) | Ships Lithium-Ion Batteries Internationally | International Shipping Cost (standard shipping of 50lbs from L.A., CA to Paris, France) |
| FedEx | $115.12+Dangerous Goods Surcharge: $54.50=$169.62 | Yes, with “Class 9” label and UN number (either UN 3480 or 3481) | $21.21+Dangerous Goods Surcharge $54.50=$75.71 | Yes | $712.32+Dangerous Goods Surcharge: $85.50+=$797.82 |
| UPS | $44.80+Dangerous Goods Surcharge: $46.50=$91.30 | Yes, with “Class 9” label and UN number (either UN 3480 or 3481) | $27.65+Dangerous Goods Surcharge: $46.50=$74.15 | Yes | $734.26+Dangerous Goods Surcharge: $72.00+=$806.26 |
| USPS | $120.60+$0 Dangerous Goods Surcharge=$120.60 | Sometimes-only if the lithium-ion battery is packed inside your e-bike. Read more instructions here. | Cannot ship separately unless it is in “the originally sealed packaging.” | No | Doesn’t Ship internationally |
You will be able to find specific information about shipping your e-bike from your shipping provider’s website. For example, if you choose to ground-ship your e-bike via FedEx, you can consult the shipping requirements on their website here.
Shipping Your E-Bike Through FedEx
When shipping your eBike through FedEx, expect to pay about $170 for domestic shipping or $800+ for international, making it the least expensive international shipping option but the most costly domestic shipping option. These prices were calculated using the shipping method that will take the longest, so expect to pay more for either domestic or international shipping if you need to expedite the process.
If you are going to ship your e-bike battery, there are some stipulations you should know about. When shipping through FedEx, you can only send a lithium-ion battery up to 300Wh without full hazmat certification.
So, if your eBike battery is above 300Wh, you need to fill out the necessary documentation and find a hazmat certified shipper to pack and ship the package which contains your e-bike battery. This is the case for all shipping couriers in the United States.
If your battery is >100Wh and <300Wh, you can ship it without hazmat certification. However, in visible lettering, you must write “Lithium Batteries Forbidden For Transport Aboard Aircraft or Vessel” on the package. You must also attach a Lithium Class 9 label onto the box and a UN3480 or UN3481 label on your package. If your battery is shipped separately from your eBike, you need a UN3480 label. If you send your battery in the same box as your eBike, you need a UN3481 label.
If you would like to read more detail about shipping Class 9, inaccessible dangerous goods, you can find the guidelines here on FedEx’s website.
Shipping your E-Bike Through UPS
When shipping your eBike through UPS, expect to pay about $90 for domestic shipping or $805+ for international shipping, making it the least expensive domestic shipping option but the most expensive international shipping option. These prices were calculated using the shipping method that will take the longest time to get to the end destination, so expect to pay more for either domestic or international shipping if you need to expedite the process.
If you are going to ship your e-bike battery, there are some stipulations you should know about. First, when shipping through UPS, you can only send a lithium-ion battery up to 300Wh without full hazmat certification.
So, if your eBike battery is above 300Wh, you need to fill out the necessary documentation and find a hazmat certified shipper to pack and ship the package which contains your e-bike battery. This is required with all shipping couriers in the United States.
If your battery is >100Wh and <300Wh, you can ship it without hazmat certification. However, in visible lettering, you must write “Lithium Batteries Forbidden For Transport Aboard Aircraft or Vessel” on the package. You must also attach a Lithium Class 9 label onto the package and a UN3480 or UN3481 label on your package.
If your battery is shipped separately from your eBike, you need a UN3480 label. If you ship your battery in the same package as your eBike, you need a UN3481 label.
If you would like to read more detail about shipping Class 9, inaccessible dangerous goods, you can find the guidelines here on UPS’s website.
Shipping your E-Bike through USPS
If your eBike battery is not detachable or if you decide to pack it in the same package as your eBike, you can ship it through USPS for $120. You can only ship your eBike through USPS if you are shipping domestically.
If you are going to ship your e-bike battery, there are some stipulations you should know about. When shipping through USPS, you can only send a lithium-ion battery up to 270Wh without full hazmat certification. So, if your eBike battery is above 270Wh, you have to fill out the necessary documentation and find a hazmat-certified shipper to pack and ship your eBike and its battery. These are the requirements for all shipping couriers in the United States.
If your battery is >100Wh and <300Wh, you can ship it without hazmat certification. However, in visible lettering, you must write “Lithium Batteries Forbidden For Transport Aboard Aircraft or Vessel” on the package. You must also attach a Lithium Class 9 label and a UN3481 label onto the package since the USPS will only ship your battery in the same box as your eBike.
If you would like to read more detail about shipping Class 9, dangerous goods through USPS, you can find the guidelines here on their website.
9. Pay for Your Shipping Method and Send Your eBike
As a general rule, you will pay to ship your eBike when you print a shipping label from your shipping provider. When you ship your eBike, either you can send it from your shipping provider’s retail location, or you can schedule a shipping courier to pick it up from your home.
The final step in the process of shipping your eBike is to pay for the shipment, print the shipping label, and send it on its merry way! At this point in the process, you have covered every step, thought of every possibility, and are prepared for the worst (but hoping for the best).
As a final precautionary measure, it might be a good idea to purchase insurance on your package. You will need to read the fine print for the actual damages your shipping provider will cover in the event your electric bike is damaged in transport.
Can You Ship Electric Bikes?
As a general rule, you can ship electric bikes. As long as you follow the necessary precautions for packing and shipping your electric bike’s battery, your experience sending your eBike will be generally hassle-free.
Every major U.S. courier will ship your electric bike domestically. However, if you wish to ship your eBike internationally, you can send it through FedEx, UPS, or check it on an airplane.
You will have to follow some laws when shipping your electric bike with its battery. If you send your electric bike without its battery, you will just ship the frame like you would ship anything else of similar size and value.
However, if you are shipping your eBike with its battery, there are some stipulations to the shipping process. First, you can only send a battery below 300Wh. So, if your battery is above 300Wh and you would like to ship it, you have to sign several documents and have your battery packed and shipped by a hazmat-certified shipper.
Also, if you are shipping your electric bike with its battery, you will need to print a couple of labels to affix to the outside of the package to denote the dangerous goods inside the box. These labels are a Class 9 label and a UN3480 or UN3481 label.
Keep reading to discover more information about these labels and the stipulations to shipping an eBike battery.
Can You Ship an eBike Battery?
On average, you can ship an eBike battery through ground shipping if its capacity is below 300Wh without much hassle. If it is above 300Wh, you need to fill out hazmat documentation and contact a hazmat-certified shipper to pack your battery.
However, if you plan to ship your eBike battery by plane, it must be under 100Wh. Any lithium-ion batteries above 100Wh cannot be taken on a plane, as they pose a significant risk to the passengers and other cargo.
The leading shipping couriers in the U.S. will only ship lithium-ion batteries over 100Wh inside the contiguous United States. So if you need to get an eBike battery over 100Wh to Alaska, Hawaii, or an international destination, we highly recommend just buying a new one at your destination. A 100Wh battery will not last very long on your eBike, and you will probably end up charging your electric bike more than you ride it.
You can ship a lithium-ion battery with 300Wh capacity domestically through any shipping courier, as long as it has the required labels on the outside of the package. However, if your eBike battery is more than 300Wh, things start to get a little more complicated.
If you would like to ship a lithium-ion battery over 300Wh domestically, you need to have your battery checked, packed, and shipped by a hazmat-certified shipper. Additionally, you need to be approved by your chosen shipping courier at the beginning of this process. Approval will likely require an appointment at a retail location. You should bring your government-issued forms of identification and the items you wish to ship (eBike frame, eBike battery, etc.).
Then, you will have to fill out some forms for them to keep on file about your shipment. Then, once you have filed your documents, your shipping courier will have a hazmat-certified employee check, package, and ship your eBike battery.
The rules, forms, and regulations vary depending on which shipping courier you choose, so make sure to contact a retail location for whichever courier you choose to clarify the process with that particular shipper.
How Do I Ship My eBike?
As a general rule, you will want to follow a few steps in the process of shipping your eBike. First, weigh your eBike, pack it appropriately in a large box or case, choose a shipping provider, pay for the shipment, and send your eBike to its destination.
The most important aspect of shipping your eBike is to make sure you follow every necessary precaution when packing it. If you are packing your eBike separate from its battery, this process is much easier; you just put your eBike in a box, make sure it is secure in the box, print a label, and send it.
However, if you are shipping a battery with your eBike, you will first need to decide if you will ship it separately from your eBike or ship them together. Neither method is better than the other; it just depends on what is permitted by the shipping provider you choose. For example, USPS will not ship a lithium-ion battery separated from the device it powers.
If you are shipping your eBike battery in the package with your eBike, you will want to ensure you print the required labels, like the dangerous goods Class 9 label and the UN3480 or UN3481 label. You can find more specific instructions regarding these labels in the eighth step of the numbered list above.
Check out this video from BikeFlights to learn more about how to ship your eBike.
How to Ship eBike Battery
On average, to ship a lithium-ion battery, you must attach several handling labels to the outside of the package, as stated in the law. The types of labels you need will depend on the Wh of your battery, your shipping provider, and if your battery is separate or in the package with your e-bike.
Before you pack your battery and worry about the required labels and certifications it must travel with, make sure the battery is in good traveling condition. To do this, you must unplug your battery from your eBike, turn it off, and make sure it will stay off during the duration of transportation. Some people use a non-conductive material to ensure it stays in the off position, like electrical tape.
It is also recommended to drain the battery down to 30% before shipping it. An “on” battery can create a fire hazard while it is in transit, but if it is only carrying at a 30% battery charge, the risk of setting fire to other cargo drops significantly.
Lithium-ion batteries qualify as a Class 9 dangerous good in the United States or as an inaccessible, miscellaneous, dangerous item. You must print a Class 9 dangerous good label and attach it to the outside of your box.
According to the IATA (International Air Travel Association), lithium-ion batteries fall under two categories: UN3480 and UN3481. If your battery is contained within your e-bike or the packaging with your e-bike, you must attach a UN3481 label to the outside of its package. On the other hand, if your battery is shipped separately from your eBike, you must attach a UN3480 label outside its package.
Does UPS Ship eBike?
As a general rule, UPS ships eBikes. The average cost of shipping your 50-pound eBike with a battery less than or equal to 300Wh to a domestic location is $92, making it the least expensive shipping courier for your eBike.
UPS is the least expensive courier through which you can ship your eBike and its battery domestically. If you choose to ship your eBike internationally through UPS, it will cost about $800. However, remember that UPS, and any other shipping courier, cannot ship an eBike battery over 100Wh. Violators of this law can be subject to fines up to $27,000.
For example, if you would like to ship your eBike and its 650Wh battery through UPS, you need to book an appointment at a UPS retail location to have your eBike and its battery inspected before shipping. If your eBike and battery pass the inspection, a hazmat-certified shipper will pack and ship your battery.
How Much Does It Cost to Ship an eBike?
On average, it costs about $100-$170 to ship an eBike domestically with standard, ground shipping. It costs about $800+ to ship an eBike internationally. Prices will vary depending on the courier and if the eBike battery is in the package with the eBike.
Shipping couriers calculate the cost of shipping an item based on its weight. If you have an eBike over 50lbs, the total shipping cost may be over $170. If your eBike weighs 50lbs or less, the total shipping cost will be around $170 at most. This cost does not include insurance, which you may want to purchase for your eBike. Insurance can cost $50+ at any shipping courier.
Shipping an eBike can be very costly, especially if you need to ship it internationally. Therefore, we do not recommend sending your eBike internationally unless you are moving or visiting for an extended time during which the use of your eBike will be necessary.
Suppose you plan to ship your eBike internationally. In that case, we also recommend you purchase a new battery at your destination, as it is virtually impossible to send a lithium-ion battery over 100Wh as a civilian.
If you are shipping your eBike domestically, the process can still be a bit pricey. To save some money, we first recommend you ship your eBike with standard delivery time, as expediting the shipping process can add up to $400 to your total.
The best way to save money during the shipping process is to pack your eBike yourself. If you disassemble your eBike, you may be able to fit it into a large box instead of an extra-large box, which will save you some money. You could stop by your local bike shop to see if they have any boxes they could give you that will fit your e-bike. In this scenario, the only thing you would have to buy is packing material and a shipping label.
Can I Ship My eBike on a Plane?
On average, you can ship your eBike on a plane. You need to check your eBike in as if it were luggage. The shipping cost is about $150 or more, depending on the airline and the e-bike’s weight. Your eBike battery can only go on a plane if it is below 100Wh.
If you can remove your battery from your eBike and leave it at home, you will be able to ship your eBike on a plane with no issues. However, if your eBike does not have a detachable battery, you will not be able to send your eBike by plane, assuming your battery is over 100Wh.
In this scenario, you will want to ship your eBike internationally with UPS or FedEx or look into selling your eBike at home and buying a new one at your destination. Selling your eBike and purchasing a new one will be the easier option, and it will probably be cheaper. Even if you lose some money selling a used eBike, the loss will likely be less than what it would cost to ship your eBike with its battery internationally.
If you want to take this as your opportunity for an eBike upgrade, check out our article on the Best Electric Bike Brands (Ranked by Budget Level & Style).
Can eBike Batteries Go on Airplanes?
In total, eBike batteries can go on airplanes if they are under 100Wh. If an eBike battery, or a lithium-ion battery, is over 100Wh, it poses a significant fire hazard to passengers or other cargo aboard the airplane.
Most electric bike users who move internationally or stay abroad for an extended time report forgoing the hassle of shipping their eBike’s battery separately and instead just buy a new one at their destination. If your eBike has a detachable battery, we highly recommend doing this.
If your eBike battery is not detachable and over 100Wh, it cannot go on an airplane. In this case, you will want to either leave your eBike at home or sell it and buy a new one at your destination.
For more information on how much electric bike batteries cost, check out our article titled “Electric Bike Battery Cost (A Helpful Chart).”
How to Send an eBike
On average, you can send an eBike by weighing it, packing it, choosing a shipping method, purchasing a shipping label, and sending it to its destination. You can either ship your eBike by plane or through ground shipping.
To send an eBike, you will begin by weighing it with a luggage scale. Then, disassemble your eBike, if possible, and pack it in a box with ample padding and packing material. Next, you have to decide how you will send your eBike battery depending on its Wh capacity and your package’s destination.
After that, you need to select a shipping option and courier to ship your eBike. Once you have chosen a courier, you must provide the necessary information, including the shipping address and the return address, and send your eBike to its destination.
By following this step-by-step how-to on sending an eBike, you are prepared for every scenario during the shipping process.
If you would like to skip the hassle and cost of sending your electric bike, you may want to consider buying a new electric bike at your final destination. If so, check out our article: Best Electric Bike Brands (Ranked by Budget Level & Style)
