How Much Does a Hoodie Weigh? Figuring Out Shipping

When you run an online business, calculating shipping costs can be a big challenge. Obviously, you want to make sure the project arrives to your customer without a “postage due” sticker, but you don’t want to spend more on shipping than absolutely necessary. Between the actual cost of postage and the amount of money you have to spend on boxes, mailing envelopes, labels, etc., shipping costs add up fast. If you’re trying to find an answer to “How much does a hoodie weigh?” and you’re seeking valuable information on figuring out shipping, you’ve come to the right place! 

The Average Weight of a Hoodie

While the question posed above seems simple, the answer can be anything but. After all, a full zip up hoodie for a large adult weighs significantly more than a pullover hoodie for a child. Keep in mind, too, different fiber contents result in different weights. Manufacturers may even make slight changes from their designs from year to year, which could result in weight fluctuations. Finishes can make a difference, too. Heathering, for example, tends to make wholesale hoodies lighter by at least a few grams. 

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With all of this in mind, most adult-sized hoodies range between 16 and 25 ounces in weight. Children’s hoodies are, of course, lighter while plus size hoodies are heavier. Because there is so much fluctuation, we strongly recommend investing in a postage scale–especially if you ship out packages frequently. Weighing your hoodies to determine their exact weight ensures you won’t accidentally over (or under) pay for postage. 

Additional Considerations When Figuring Out Shipping

Whether you’re learning how to start a screen printing business or just selling some old garments out of your closet, figuring out shipping requires more than determining how much the hoodies that you’re selling weigh. If you’ve ever shipped anything at the post office, you know they weigh the entire package. This means any packaging materials, documents and even the package itself contribute to the overall weight and shipping cost. 

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When it comes to shipping hoodies, using plastic mail bags is a great option. These bags are lightweight, waterproof and affordable. Using them, as opposed to a box, means the garments will be protected and you won’t be adding a significant amount of extra weight. 

While you may feel inclined to add extra goodies to make your customers’ days a bit brighter, doing so will increase your shipping costs. Even adding a small piece of candy or a sticker could bump your package up to another bracket and end up costing you a significant amount more. Before you start throwing in extras, it’s smart to know how much your package weighs as-is. This is another time when having your own postage scale is extremely helpful! 

If you’re running a business, you might also want to think about accounting for the cost of returns. Since it’s impossible to please everyone, you’ll likely run into customers who want to return their orders once in a while. By increasing your shipping and handling charges slightly, you can build in a cushion to account for returns, even international shipping stock returns. 

Ways to Save on Shipping Costs

When selling products online, saving on shipping costs is almost always a primary concern. Shoppers don’t want to spend a fortune on shipping and handling, and sellers don’t want to absorb high shipping costs. Fortunately, there are several ways to save on shipping costs.

In addition to using lightweight packaging materials and not adding in extra goodies, you can save by shopping for discounted supplies. Keep in mind, too, all shipping companies offer pricing discounts based on volume. Even if you aren’t shipping thousands of items each month, you may be able to negotiate a better rate by simply talking with your carrier of choice. 

The Bottom Line 

Because they are bulky, hoodies tend to cost more to ship than other garments, such as t-shirts. They often require larger packages, and since shipping is based on weight as well as dimensions, you could be forced to spend a bit extra–even if you keep your packages as lightweight as possible. 

While understanding how much the hoodies you are selling weigh is important, it is only one small part of figuring out shipping. Use the guidelines listed above to come up with accurate shipping prices and to figure out ways to lower your expenses.