“Should I send this by courier or by cargo?” We hear this question every day at our Edi Bazaar shop. The short answer: small and medium parcels usually go by courier, and big, heavy or bulk shipments usually go by cargo. Here is how to think about it.
What is international courier?
Courier is a door-to-door service for parcels and documents. Your parcel is picked up, flown through an international network and delivered to the receiver’s door, with a tracking number you can follow. It suits:
- Documents and papers
- Food parcels, pickles, sweets and snacks for family
- Clothes, gifts, jewellery and personal items
- Boxes you can lift by hand
What is cargo?
Cargo (freight) is for larger and heavier shipments: many boxes together, household goods, stock for a shop, or anything too big for a normal parcel. Cargo can need a little more paperwork and planning. At Golden Express we handle big shipments too; our heaviest shipment so far was over 1,600 kg.
How weight is counted: actual vs volumetric
For courier, the charge is usually based on whichever is higher: the actual weight on the scale or the volumetric weight (how much space the box takes). A common formula used by express networks is:
Length × Width × Height (in cm) ÷ 5000 = volumetric weight in kg
Example: a box 50 × 40 × 30 cm has a volumetric weight of 12 kg, even if it only weighs 6 kg on the scale. That is why a light but bulky box (like pillows or curtains) can cost more than you expect. Packing tightly in a right-sized box helps; see how to pack a parcel.
Quick guide: which one should you choose?
- One to a few boxes, personal items, documents: courier.
- Many boxes, very heavy items, bulk or business goods: cargo is usually worth asking about.
- Not sure? Send us the weight, size and destination. We will suggest the option that fits.
Both, from one place
Golden Express does both courier and cargo, small and big shipments, with door-to-door pickup in Hyderabad and delivery to 200+ countries. One WhatsApp message is enough to start.
Not sure about your parcel?
Send us a photo or list of what you want to send and the country. We’ll tell you what can go and share the price on WhatsApp.
Ask on WhatsApp