Shipping from Japan to the US: Cost Table for Japan Post

Tomoko Matsuoka Managing Editor & Writer

Life in Japan, Japan Post April 3rd, 2026

Last Updated: April 3rd, 2026

Shipping from Japan to the US: Cost Table for Japan Post

Japan Post is one of the cheapest methods to send items from Japan to the US. This article provides a cost breakdown for items you may be planning to ship home.

Bookmark this page for Japan Post’s pricing charts for any time you need to know shipping costs from Japan to the US in a hurry.

Note: Japan Post has a number of delivery services. We include each service’s pricing chart in order of fastest delivery speed.

Japan Post EMS pricing: from Japan to the US

The Japan Post's Express Mail Service (EMS) can get your item from Tokyo to the US in approximately 3 to 4 days (varies by destination and customs processing).

The dimension requirements:

Maximum length: 1.5m or less
Length + Circumference: 3.0m or less
Maximum weight: 30kg

These prices are based on Japan Post’s Zone 4 (United States) rate table.

Weight	Cost	Delivery Speed
Up to 500g	¥3,900	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 600g	¥4,180	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 700g	¥4,460	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 800g	¥4,740	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 900g	¥5,020	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 1kg	¥5,300	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 1.25kg	¥5,990	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 1.5kg	¥6,600	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 1.75kg	¥7,290	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 2kg	¥7,900	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 2.5kg	¥9,100	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 3kg	¥10,300	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 3.5kg	¥11,500	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 4kg	¥12,700	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 4.5kg	¥13,900	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 5kg	¥15,100	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 5.5kg	¥16,300	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 6kg	¥17,500	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 7kg	¥19,900	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 8kg	¥22,300	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 9kg	¥24,700	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 10kg	¥27,100	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 11kg	¥29,500	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 12kg	¥31,900	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 13kg	¥34,300	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 14kg	¥36,700	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 15kg	¥39,100	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 16kg	¥41,500	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 17kg	¥43,900	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 18kg	¥46,300	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 19kg	¥48,700	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 20kg	¥51,100	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 21kg	¥53,500	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 22kg	¥55,900	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 23kg	¥58,300	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 24kg	¥60,700	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 25kg	¥63,100	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 26kg	¥65,500	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 27kg	¥67,900	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 28kg	¥70,300	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 29kg	¥72,700	Approx. 3–5 days
Up to 30kg	¥75,100	Approx. 3–5 days

Note: EMS pricing is updated regularly. Please refer to the official Japan Post EMS rate chart below for the most accurate pricing:

https://www.post.japanpost.jp/int/charge/list/ems_all_en.html

Japan Post airmail pricing: from Japan to the US

The Japan Post's airmail service (航空便 = koukubin) can get your item from Tokyo to the US in 5 to 8 days.

Note: Availability of airmail services may vary depending on package type and current international shipping conditions. Always check the latest service status before sending.

For letters: standard-sized mail

Standard-sized letters = 手紙定形, tegami teikei, in Japanese.

Dimension requirements for standard-sized letters:

Long side: 14～23.5cm
Short side: 9～12cm
Thickness: up to 1cm

Weight	Cost	Delivery Speed
Up to 25g	¥140	5-8 days
Up to 50g	¥220	5-8 days

For letters: nonstandard-sized mail

Nonstandard-sized mail = 手紙定形外, tegami teigai, in Japanese.

Dimension requirements for nonstandard-sized mail:

Longest side: 60 cm
Length + Width + Height = 90 cm for rolled item
Diameter×2 + Length = 104 cm

Weight	Cost	Delivery Speed
Up to 50g	¥280	5-8 days
Up to 100g	¥420	5-8 days
Up to 250g	¥720	5-8 days
Up to 500g	¥1,260	5-8 days
Up to 1kg	¥2,860	5-8 days
Up to 2kg	¥5,000	5-8 days

For small packets

Small packets = 小形包装物, kogata housoubutsu in Japanese.

Dimension requirements for small packets:

Length + width + thickness = 90 cm (permissible deviation: 2 mm)
Provided the maximum length is 60 cm (permissible deviation: 2 mm)

Weight	Cost	Delivery Speed
Up to 100g	¥830	5-8 days
Up to 200g	¥1,040	5-8 days
Up to 300g	¥1,250	5-8 days
Up to 400g	¥1,460	5-8 days
Up to 500g	¥1,670	5-8 days
Up to 600g	¥1,880	5-8 days
Up to 700g	¥2,090	5-8 days
Up to 800g	¥2,300	5-8 days
Up to 900g	¥2,510	5-8 days
Up to 1.0kg	¥2,720	5-8 days
Up to 1.1kg	¥2,930	5-8 days
Up to 1.2kg	¥3,140	5-8 days
Up to 1.3kg	¥3,350	5-8 days
Up to 1.4kg	¥3,560	5-8 days
Up to 1.5kg	¥3,770	5-8 days
Up to 1.6kg	¥3,980	5-8 days
Up to 1.7kg	¥4,190	5-8 days
Up to 1.8kg	¥4,400	5-8 days
Up to 1.9kg	¥4,610	5-8 days
Up to 2.0kg	¥4,820	5-8 days

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Japan Post surface mail pricing: from Japan to the US

The Japan Post's surface mail service (船便 = funabin) can get your item from Tokyo to the US in 2 to 3 months.

For letters: standard-sized mail

Standard-sized mail = 手紙定形, tegami teikei in Japanese

Dimension requirements for standard-sized mail:

Long side: 14～23.5cm
Short side: 9～12cm
Thickness: up to 1cm

Weight	Cost	Delivery Speed
Up to 25g	¥120	2 to 3 months
Up to 50g	¥190	2 to 3 months
Up to 100g	¥320	2 to 3 months
Up to 250g	¥590	2 to 3 months
Up to 500g	¥1,090	2 to 3 months
Up to 1kg	¥1,850	2 to 3 months
Up to 2kg	¥2,980	2 to 3 months

For letters: nonstandard-sized mail

Nonstandard-sized mail = 手紙定形外, tegami teigai in Japanese.

Dimension requirements for nonstandard-sized mail:

Longest side: 60 cm
Length + Width + Height = 90 cm for rolled item
Diameter×2 + Length = 104 cm

Weight	Cost	Delivery Speed
Up to 25g	¥120	2 to 3 months
Up to 50g	¥190	2 to 3 months
Up to 100g	¥320	2 to 3 months
Up to 250g	¥590	2 to 3 months
Up to 500g	¥1,090	2 to 3 months
Up to 1kg	¥1,850	2 to 3 months
Up to 2kg	¥2,980	2 to 3 months

For small packets

Small packets = 小形包装物, kogata housoubutsu in Japanese.

Dimension requirements for small packets:

Length + width + thickness = 90 cm (permissible deviation: 2 mm)
Provided the maximum length is 60 cm (permissible deviation: 2 mm)

Weight	Cost	Delivery Time
Up to 100g	¥480	2 to 3 months
Up to 250g	¥600	2 to 3 months
Up to 500g	¥800	2 to 3 months
Up to 1.0kg	¥1,300	2 to 3 months
Up to 2.0kg	¥2,200	2 to 3 months

How to ship from Japan to the USA

Here are the steps to ship your document or parcel from Japan to America.

Step 1: Fill out a Japan Post International Parcel Label

Japan Post no longer accepts handwritten customs labels for packages and parcels containing goods. Instead, senders must use EAD (Electronic Advance Data) via Japan Post's International Mail My Page Service. Note: handwritten labels are still accepted when sending actual letters or documents that do not contain dutiable articles.

Here’s a step-by-step article on how to fill out a Japan Post International Parcel label.

Step 2: Pack your item

Make sure they are properly sealed for letters, cards, and envelopes.

For parcels, use protective materials such as paper or packing peanuts to absorb shock. Additionally, tape all edges of the cardboard box.

Here are detailed instructions for how to pack your items: How to pack an item .

Step 3: Send your parcel

There are two options when sending your parcel to Japan Post.

Bring the parcel to your nearest Japan Post office if it isn't too heavy. Once the staff has checked everything, you will pay the shipping amount.

However, if the parcel is too heavy, you can call or fill out an online form to have a Japan Post staff visit your location. From there, they will do the checks, and you will pay the amount.

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Shipping from Japan to the US: Cost Table for Japan Post

Japan Post EMS pricing: from Japan to the US

Japan Post airmail pricing: from Japan to the US

For letters: standard-sized mail

For letters: nonstandard-sized mail

For small packets

Japan Post surface mail pricing: from Japan to the US

For letters: standard-sized mail

For letters: nonstandard-sized mail

For small packets

How to ship from Japan to the USA

Step 1: Fill out a Japan Post International Parcel Label

Step 2: Pack your item

Step 3: Send your parcel

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Spending too long figuring out your Japanese mail?