Shipping Strategies
FedEx
International Priority
Last Updated
June 25, 2023
5 min.
Written By
Krišs Ģērmanis
The FedEx International Priority weight limit is 68 kg per package; anything at or above that moves into freight territory.
Size limits are 274 cm maximum width and 330 cm for length and girth combined (girth = 2 × height + 2 × width).
A wide range of items is prohibited outright, including weapons, perishables, tobacco, vaping devices, and cannabis products.
Dangerous goods can travel only under strict air and road rules with special-handling fees; waste or damaged lithium batteries are not accepted.
Declared value is capped at US$50,000 per standard shipment, but only US$1,000 for unique items like jewellery, art, and electronics.
Shipping outside the EU requires a commercial invoice and correct HS codes; a wrong HS code is a common cause of customs holds.
Weight and size at a glance
Most parcels sit well inside the limits. For context, around 83% of what sellers send with the service weighs 2 kg or less, and only a tiny share goes above 20 kg, so most sellers never come close to the 68 kg ceiling. Still, it is worth knowing where the limits are.
Limit | Value |
|---|---|
Maximum weight | 68 kg per package |
Maximum width | 274 cm |
Maximum length and girth combined | 330 cm (girth = 2 × height + 2 × width) |
Multi-piece shipment | Up to 9,999 packages and 10 different commodities per shipment |
Two things to keep in mind. First, some destinations apply lower per-package limits than the headline 68 kg, so if you are shipping something heavy to a less common destination, confirm the limit for that route when you create the shipment. Second, anything at or above 68 kg falls outside this service and moves into freight territory, which is a separate service with its own rules.
What you cannot ship
A number of items are prohibited on the service. The list below is not exhaustive, but it covers the categories that most often trip sellers up:
Firearms, weapons, ammunition, and their parts, including 3-D printers made for producing firearms and items that resemble weapons
Explosives and fireworks
Certain military items
Human and animal remains and organs
Live animals and insects
Furs and ivory
Plants and cut flowers, with limited exceptions
Perishable or refrigerated foods
Pornography
Money, cash equivalents, and collectible coins and stamps
Lottery and gambling devices where they are prohibited
Hazardous-battery waste
Wet ice
Counterfeit goods
Marijuana, THC, CBD, synthetic cannabinoids, and raw or unrefined hemp
Tobacco and tobacco products
E-cigarettes and vaping devices
Beyond specific items, some shipment types are also not accepted: parcels to sanctioned or restricted parties, shipments that need a special license or permit you have not arranged, shipments with a declared value above the destination's permitted maximum, unpermitted dangerous goods, and wet or leaking packages.
Dangerous goods
Some goods can travel, but only under strict rules and with special handling. Dangerous goods are accepted only under the applicable air and road regulations, with special-handling fees, and not every location accepts them. Lithium batteries are the case sellers most often ask about: they are restricted, and waste, damaged, or recycling batteries are not accepted at all.
Declared value caps
Declared value is the figure FedEx uses as its liability ceiling if something goes wrong, so it matters when you ship something valuable. The caps are:
Standard shipment: up to US$50,000 per shipment
Unique items (such as jewellery, electronics, art, antiques, and watches): capped at US$1,000, or the applicable international convention limit, whichever is greater
If you are shipping high-value or unique items, that US$1,000 cap is the important one to know, since it applies regardless of the item's actual worth.
On Swotzy you can cover the declared value of your shipment through the insurance add-on when you create the shipment, so if you are sending something valuable it is worth adding that protection at the point of booking.
Documents you need
If you ship outside the EU, your parcel goes through customs, and that means paperwork. You need a commercial invoice, and the goods on it need the correct HS codes. Businesses trading across the EU border also need an EORI number.
On Swotzy the commercial invoice is generated for you, but you enter the HS codes yourself, since only you know exactly what is in the box. A wrong or missing HS code is one of the most common causes of a parcel being held at customs, so it is worth getting right the first time. This is only a brief note here; for the full walkthrough see our guide to shipping to the USA, which covers duties and the end of the US de minimis exemption.
Quick pre-ship checklist
Before you create the shipment, run through this:
The package is under 68 kg, and within 274 cm width and 330 cm length plus girth.
Nothing inside is on the prohibited list above.
If it contains batteries or anything hazardous, you have checked the dangerous-goods rules.
Valuable or unique items are within the declared-value caps, and you have added coverage if you want it.
If you are shipping outside the EU, you have a commercial invoice and correct HS codes ready.
Ship FedEx International Priority on Swotzy
FedEx International Priority is available directly on the Swotzy platform, with no separate carrier agreement needed. Create a free account, connect your store, whether you run on Shopify, WooCommerce, Etsy, PrestaShop, Magento, or a direct API, and your orders import automatically so you can compare services side by side on delivery time and price.
Creating a shipment is quick: select the order, choose the service, generate the label, and ship. Tracking then syncs back to your store on its own. No contracts, no minimum volumes, no monthly fees. Register, check your rates, and start shipping.
Keep reading
What Is FedEx International Priority? — new to the service? Start here.
FedEx International Priority Cost & Prices — what sellers actually pay by weight and destination.
Shipping to the USA — duties, the US de minimis change, and the customs documents you need.
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