How Much Does Shipping Cost? Sea Freight, Air Freight & DDP Explained
How much does shipping cost for a commercial sign? The answer depends on the route, crate size, and destination. Shipping is the part of a sign quote people understand least and the part that changes most. A 24-inch storefront sign and a 50-foot multi-storefront build do not ship for the same price, and sea freight to New York is not the same as air freight to Hawaii.
This guide explains how we quote freight, what DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) actually includes, what moves the number up and down, and how to get a fixed door-to-door price to your exact ZIP code.
1. How much does shipping cost: sea vs air
We ship to the US two ways, and the trade-off is time versus money.
Sea freight (DDP): about 30–45 days — West Coast ~25–35, East Coast ~40–45
Air freight (DDP): about 12–20 days
Production is separate: 7–10 working days after design approval
Sea freight is the economical choice for large or heavy channel letters and light boxes. The sign is crated, shipped by container, cleared through customs, and trucked to your door.
Air freight is for when the opening date cannot wait. It is almost always a few hundred dollars more, because air cargo is charged by volume weight — the space a crate takes up, not just its physical weight.
2. A real split quote, so you can see the two numbers
In April 2026 we quoted a FASTSIGNS storefront this way, with production and freight itemized separately:
That freight was for roughly 200–250 kg of crated sign, shipped by sea to the US.
That $800 is not a fixed rate. It is what that particular crate, at that weight, to that destination, cost at that time. A lighter sign to the West Coast can ship for less; a heavier multi-storefront build to the East Coast costs more. If you want the full picture on how the sign itself is priced, see our custom sign pricing guide.
3. What DDP actually includes
"DDP" means Delivered Duty Paid. The number we send you is the number on your door — not a number that balloons at the port. A DDP quote includes:
- Sea or air freight to your country
- Customs clearance and import duties
- Final truck delivery to your address — including liftgate for larger crates
- Reinforced timber crating and transit insurance
That is the practical difference between DDP and a bare "FOB factory" price. With FOB, you own the shipment the moment it leaves our door, and you deal with customs, duties, and trucking yourself. DDP removes that entire step. If you want the official definitions, the International Chamber of Commerce Incoterms explain DDP and FOB in detail.
4. What moves the shipping cost
Four things decide the shipping line on a quote:
- Crate size and weight — the biggest lever. Bigger signs need bigger, heavier crates.
- Sea vs air — air is faster but charged on volume weight, so it costs more.
- Destination coast — West Coast ports are closer and usually cheaper than East Coast or Central.
- Final-mile delivery — a liftgate truck to a storefront costs more than a dock drop.
5. Real freight numbers, for reference
Freight is project-specific, but these real examples show the rough range:
200–250 kg crate, sea to US: ~$700–$800
Single sign, sea to Katy, TX: ~$771
Single sign, air to Katy, TX: ~$1,021
Small parts, air to Hawaii (96813): ~$912
Use these as a sense of scale, not as a rate card. Your exact freight depends on the crate size, weight, and your city.
6. How to get an exact DDP price
Freight cannot be quoted without a destination. Send us three things and we return a fixed DDP price, with freight and production shown separately:
- 1. Your logo or artwork — a phone photo is fine.
- 2. The finished size — or a wall photo, and we work out the size.
- 3. Your city and ZIP code — this is what lets us price the freight exactly.
Frequently asked questions
Is DDP really door-to-door?
Yes. DDP means we handle freight, customs clearance, import duties, and final delivery. You receive the sign at your address without paying extra at the port.
How long does sea freight take?
About 30–45 days door-to-door in most cases. The West Coast is faster (roughly 25–35 days), while the East Coast and Central US run closer to 40–45 days.
How long does air freight take?
About 12–20 days door-to-door. It is faster but more expensive, because air cargo is charged by volume weight.
Do you ship to my city?
We ship DDP across the US and Canada. Send your city and ZIP code and we confirm the exact freight and transit time for your address.
Before you pay the balance for dispatch, read our custom sign deposit and payment terms guide for the full deposit and balance schedule.
Get a fixed DDP price to your door
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