How Much Does It Cost to Ship Live Lobster?

Shipping live lobster can be an expensive endeavor, but for lobster lovers, it’s worth it to be able to have fresh lobster delivered right to your door. In this article, we’ll break down the costs associated with live lobster shipping so you know what to expect when placing your order.

Overview of Live Lobster Shipping Costs

The cost to ship live lobster depends on a few key factors:

• Weight of the lobster order
• Distance it needs to be shipped
• Time of year

Lobster shipping companies charge based on the weight of your order because it determines how much packaging and ice packs are needed. The farther your live lobsters need to travel and the warmer the weather is, the more it will cost to keep them cool.

You can expect to pay anywhere from $30 to $150+ for live lobster delivery depending on these variables The minimum order amount to get free shipping is also a factor

Breakdown of Live Lobster Shipping Cost Factors

Weight of Order

The weight of your live lobster order is the biggest cost factor. Prices are usually shown as a base rate for your first lobster and then a per pound add-on rate. For example, the first 1.25 lb lobster may be $45 and additional lobsters are $35/lb after that. Shipments are packed with frozen gel packs to maintain perfect temperatures, so the packaging required goes up with the order weight.

Shipping Distance

It’s more expensive to ship live seafood to locations farther from the coast due to the extended transit time. Overnight shipping costs more the farther the package needs to travel by air. West coast deliveries can be roughly twice as much as east coast orders.

Time of Year

Live lobster shipping costs are higher in summer when temperatures are warmer and there’s more demand. It takes more insulation and refrigeration to keep lobsters cool when it’s hot out, so materials and overnight air costs go up. As a seasonal product summer is peak season for lobster orders.

Minimum Order Amounts

Many lobster delivery companies offer free overnight shipping on orders over a certain dollar amount, typically $150+. Orders under that threshold get charged a shipping fee, usually around $30-50. Bigger orders get free shipping because the costs are covered by larger purchases.

Cost Examples From Lobster Delivery Companies

To give you a better idea, here are some real examples of lobster shipping rates from two popular delivery companies:

Maine Lobster Now

• 1.5 lb Lobster: $39.99
• Shipping under $150: $40
• Free shipping over $150

So a single 1.5 lb lobster shipped to the east coast would be $39.99 + $40 shipping = $79.99 total. A 10 lb order would qualify for free shipping, costing around $350 total.

Luke’s Lobster

• 1.25-1.5 lb Lobster: $105
• Free shipping on all orders

Luke’s Lobster charges more per lobster but offers free shipping at all order amounts year-round. A single 1.5 lb lobster ships free to anywhere in the continental US for $105 total.

As you can see, you can expect to pay at least $80-100 to ship one live lobster overnight, going up to $150+ for large orders and longer transit times to the west coast. Make sure to factor shipping costs into your budget when ordering live lobsters online.

Tips for Saving on Live Lobster Shipping

Here are some tips to help minimize shipping costs when ordering live lobster delivery:

• Time your order – Avoid peak season and order in the fall when shipping rates are lower.

• Meet order minimums – Maximize free shipping by hitting the minimum order amount if available.

• Compare companies – Rates can vary, so check a few different companies for the best deal.

• Order extras – Add related items like lobster shells crackers to boost your total.

• Buy in bulk – The more lobsters you order, the more the per pound rate decreases.

• Split shipping – If doing group orders, see if you can share shipping costs by combining orders.

Worth the Splurge for a Taste of Maine

While live lobster delivery is not cheap, fans of fresh lobster agree it’s worth spending the extra money. There’s simply no comparison to having a just-caught, hard-shell lobster arrive still snapping at your door. It takes extra care and cost to package the lobsters safely, insulate them, and ship overnight to destinations nationwide, but the premium quality is unmatched. For a special occasion like a birthday or anniversary, treat yourself and splurge on live lobster shipping from the source.