How Much Does it Cost to Ship Lobster from Maine?

Maine is famous for its fresh delicious lobster. For seafood lovers not living near the coast having Maine lobster delivered right to your door is a great way to enjoy this delicacy. But how much does it actually cost to ship live lobster or lobster tails from Maine to your home?

The cost of shipping lobster from Maine depends on several factors

Type of Shipping

There are a few different shipping options for getting your lobster order delivered:

• Second Day Air: This is expedited shipping that gets your package delivered in 2 business days. It costs more than standard ground shipping but ensures your lobster arrives quickly.

• Next Day Air As the name implies next day air shipping gets your lobster to you the day after it ships out. This is the fastest option but also the most expensive.

• Ground Shipping: The most affordable option, ground shipping takes approximately 2-4 business days for delivery within the contiguous U.S. This method works best for frozen lobster tails or meat. Live lobsters may not survive the longer transit time.

Most suppliers offer next day air and 2nd day air options to ensure live lobsters arrive healthy and delicious.

Weight of Order

Shipping costs are also based on the total weight of your lobster order. The more lobsters or lobster tails you order, the heavier the package will be and the more you can expect to pay in shipping fees.

Many suppliers have tiered shipping rates based on order value or weight. For example:

• Orders under $25 may have a flat rate shipping fee of $29 for 2nd day air.
• Orders between $50-$75 may cost $35 to ship 2nd day air.
• Orders over $100 may qualify for free shipping.

Heavier packages generally incur higher shipping costs. Shipping a 5 lb. box of lobster tails will cost more than a 2 lb. box.

Shipping Provider

Most lobster companies use major carriers like FedEx and UPS to ship their products. FedEx and UPS have different rates structures, so the carrier used can impact your final shipping cost.

Perishable items like live lobster are normally shipped via FedEx Priority Overnight or UPS Next Day Air to ensure timely, safe delivery.

Distance to Destination

How far your package needs to travel makes a difference in how much you’ll pay for shipping. It costs less to send lobster from Maine to Boston than it does to ship the same order to San Diego.

Cross-country deliveries or shipments to remote locations like Alaska and Hawaii will be at the higher end of the shipping cost spectrum.

Supplemental Cooling

For live lobster shipments, the box needs to have special insulation and cooling packs to keep the lobster at the optimal temperature during transit. The materials and labor involved in assembling these specialized shipping packages add to the overall shipping cost.

Time of Year

Like plane tickets, shipping rates can fluctuate based on the time of year and season. Summer tends to be a busy time for lobster suppliers, so shipping costs may be higher during peak lobster season compared to the slower winter months.

Holidays like Mother’s Day and Father’s Day also see shipping rate hikes due to high order volumes.

Fuel Surcharges

When fuel prices rise, carriers sometimes tack on fuel surcharges to account for the increased costs. These surcharges get passed on to consumers through higher shipping rates.

Shipping Promotions

While the above factors tend to increase shipping costs, some lobster retailers offer promo deals like:

• Free shipping on orders over $100
• $10 flat rate shipping under 10 lbs
• 50% off next-day air shipping

Promotions like these can help offset some of the shipping expenses. Checking for current offers can help you save on delivery.

Average Shipping Costs from Popular Lobster Companies

To give you a better idea of real-world lobster shipping rates, here’s an overview of what two popular brands charge:

Maine Lobster Now

<table><tbody><tr><td>Total Order Amount</td> <td>2nd Day</td><td>Priority</td></tr><tr><td>Up to $24.99</td> <td>$29.00</td><td>$39.00</td></tr><tr><td>$25.00 – $49.99</td><td>$32.00</td> <td>$42.00</td></tr><tr> <td>$50.00 – $74.99</td><td>$35.00</td><td>$45.00</td> </tr><tr><td>$75.00 – $99.99</td> <td>$38.00</td><td>$48.00</td></tr></tbody></table>

As you can see, their shipping fees rise progressively based on order value. Orders under $25 carry a flat $29 fee for 2nd day shipping. Orders between $75-$99 cost $38 for 2nd day air.

They offer free priority overnight shipping on orders above $150.

Luke’s Lobster

Luke’s Lobster provides free overnight shipping on all online orders. They are able to do this by purchasing carbon offsets to account for the shipping emissions.

So if you order live lobster, tails, or meat from Luke’s, you’ll enjoy free next-day delivery to any address in the continental US.

For expedited Saturday delivery, you’ll need to enter your zip code on their website to confirm if it’s available in your neighborhood. Saturday delivery comes with the same free shipping policy.

Split Shipping on Large Orders

One cost-saving tip for big lobster orders is to split up the shipment into separate boxes.

Many suppliers waive shipping fees on live lobsters but still charge to ship non-live items like lobster tails and meat.

You can take advantage of this by splitting your order. For example:

• Order 6 live lobsters + 12 lobster tails
• Ship the live lobsters separately with free shipping
• Ship the tails in a separate box at the published shipping rate

This avoids paying the premium shipping charge for the heavy combined weight. Just remember the lobster tails may arrive on a different day than the live portion.

Shipping Lobster as a Gift

Giving live lobster or lobster tails as a gift is a unique present idea for seafood aficionados.

Most lobster retailers allow you to ship items directly to the recipient’s address. This takes the hassle out of relaying a perishable product.

You can also have lobster gift packages assembled that include extras like cooking tools, dipping sauces, lemons and clarified butter for steaming. This adds a nice touch for gift recipients.

Be sure to factor the shipping cost into your lobster gift budget beforehand. Rates are typically shown before you complete checkout.

During promotional periods or for larger orders, you may be able to qualify for free or discounted shipping on lobster gifts.

Overnight Shipping Provides Best Results

To sum up, overnight shipping is recommended for live lobsters to ensure maximum freshness and quality. The fastest transit time minimizes stress on the live crustaceans.

Overnight service ranges from $30-$50 for smaller orders based on the supplier. Larger orders, especially during non-peak times, may qualify for free or discounted next-day delivery.

Shipping costs for lobster tails and meat start around $15-$20 for ground transportation and go up incrementally based on weight. Next day air service generally adds $15-$20 over the base rate.

Be sure to account for shipping costs when budgeting for your lobster order. And take advantage of seasonal promotions or bulk order discounts to help minimize the delivery expense.