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Guide

7 min read

E-bike & Bike Shipping

Ship e-bikes and bikes safely with 3PL Center. Get expert handling, secure packaging, and discounted shipping rates for oversized shipments.

Published on July 28, 2023

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The best e-bike and bike shipping rates in the community, proven time after time.

We can save your business up to 65% on e-bike and bike shipping fulfillment costs

At 3PL Center, we know e-bike fulfillment like no other. With our excellent understanding of the industry and combined years of experience, we guarantee: Partner with us today and elevate your e-bike fulfillment service.

Sell more e-bikes and grow your business

Why 3PL Center is the go-to fulfillment service for e-bike shipping

Shipping an e-bike is a tough item to ship. They’re expensive, heavy, bulky, and have a lithium battery attached. With many strict rules and regulations to follow, everything needs to be perfect to ace the delivery without unexpected delays or fees spoiling the customer’s experience. We’re set up to ship e-bikes and bikes safely and securely across the continent. Our team of experts has been doing it for many years and is equipped to connect to your systems so you can start selling more e-bikes – fast.

Because of the volume we ship, we have access to some of the best shipping rates in the industry. We recently helped an ebike company cut their fulfillment costs by 65%, which translated into over $3m saved in shipping costs.


13 Years of experience shipping bikes & e-bikes

Deliveries in 2-3 days.

Warehouse prepped to store/unload oversized and overweight items

A team of experts here to help you

A flexible service that scales with you

A partnership deal with FedEx for competitive rates

High DIM factor

Discounts on additional handling services, oversize and overweight fees.

Smart systems that integrate with yours


5 reasons why shipping an e-bike requires expertise

1. Safe & secure packaging

E-bikes are not “one-size-fits-all.” Today, every type of bike has an e-bike option but they tend to be larger and bulkier than standard bikes. Each design needs attention to ensure it arrives in perfect condition. Also, most e-bikes use lithium batteries, which are classed as hazardous materials. They can short-circuit and catch fire if they’re packaged poorly or damaged in transit. Expert knowledge is required.

2. Higher shipping costs

E-bikes typically weigh between 40 to 110 pounds. This is much heavier than a standard bike, so shipping e-bikes costs more.

3. Customs declaration requirements

Processes/regulations differ between countries. “Electric bicycles” (as they’re classified) require the number of pieces, value declaration, etc. to be declared.

4. Insurance coverage

E-bikes start retailing around $500 and can go way beyond $10,000. Insurance coverage is a must to put your mind at ease should any damage or loss occur when shipping.

5. Returns and warranty processes

Shipping bikes and e-bikes via a fulfillment service is one thing, returns and warranty processes are another. Both should be in place before the sale to avoid headaches down the line. Communication between the fulfillment service, the customer, and the manufacturer can get complicated fast if the customer isn’t happy.

The 3PL Center’s e-bike and bike fulfillment process

We’ve been shipping bikes and e-bikes across North America for years. Our proven e-bike and bike shipping fulfillment service for e-commerce businesses ensures safe and timely delivery. Regardless of product value or shipping distance – we deliver.

Receiving and inventory management

We’re set up to offer an excellent e-bike and bike shipping fulfillment service as our warehouse team is set up to handle heavyweight boxes and bulky items. We have made-to-fit racking for long, oversized boxes that e-bikes/bikes come in. From unloading and storing, to loading parcel tracks, our team has the experience and know-how to protect high-ticket items. Damaged products dent your reputation and ours, so we don’t take any chances. Our team inspects all items thoroughly and organizes them safely in our secure warehouse – ready to be dispatched.

Order processing

We’re set up to manage high volumes of “bulky” orders, so we’re perfectly equipped to offer an e-bike and bike shipping fulfillment service. Our order management system syncs with your e-commerce platform. So once you receive an order, we receive the details we need. Ready to pick, pack, and prepare the e-bike/bike for shipping – fast.

Shipping and tracking

With multiple locations across the U.S, including New Jersey and California, shipping times are reduced. Our e-bike and bike shipping fulfillment service can deliver to US customers in just 2-3 days. Our partner contract with FedEx gives our e-bike and bike shipping fulfillment service a high DIM factor and ultra-competitive prices that other companies can’t secure working alone. With a tracking system as part of the service, customers can choose to be updated on the delivery progress by email or text messages. We can also open the bike’s packaging and add accessories/parts that your customers have ordered (such as a helmet, high visibility clothing, toolkit, etc.). This saves shipping costs and gives customers a better experience as we only need to ship one box.

Why choose 3PL Center as your e-bike and bike shipping fulfillment service?

We understand trusting a fulfillment company to ship complex, high-ticket items across North America is a big ask. Rest assured, we have been shipping e-bikes and bikes for years and have a proven process that works for you and your customers – while complying with shipping rules and regulations. Here’s why 3PL Center is equipped to help you grow your business with an e-bike and bike shipping fulfillment service that you can count on.

Over 13 years of expertise and experience shipping e-bikes and bikes

We were shipping e-bikes before they went mainstream! With over 13 years of experience in e-commerce order fulfillment, few 3PLs can rival our level of hands-on experience. From software, packaging, storing, and shipping – our process is finely tuned to glide past the obstacles that stall other suppliers so that each e-bike makes it to your customer’s door safe and sound.

A reliable and efficient service you can trust

No need to worry about lengthy setup times or learning new software to start shipping e-bikes. Our systems are made to sync with yours to keep it simple. Once you receive an order, we see it and start preparing to ship it. You can then easily pass this information on to your customers to keep them in the loop.

Scalability and flexibility

Whether you’re a startup or a growing enterprise, our e-bike and bike shipping fulfillment service fits into your systems. There won’t be a period of downtime if you work with us. You can stay focused on your customer base and sell more e-bikes with a service that scales with you. Leave the logistics to us.

Cost-effective solution

Finding a reputable, cost-effective warehouse that you trust can take time – time that’s hard to come by once you’ve started offering e-bikes to customers. We have negotiated deals with big names like FedEx, so you reap the benefits of a cost-effective service without the headaches that come with shipping e-bikes.

E-Bike Shipping FAQs

How will you package my e-bike for shipping to ensure its safety?

We adopt a tailored approach to every business and industry we work with and e-bikes are no different. Before receiving your product for the first time, we will consult you and plan ahead for how best to package the bike to minimize overall costs and risk of damage. If any products do return damaged, we will adapt and make recommendations to prevent future occurrences.

What are the regulations and restrictions for shipping e-bike batteries?

While e-bikes do not all use the same kind of battery, the majority that we handle are lithium. Lithium batteries are considered a hazardous material and, therefore, must be handled accordingly. This means we cannot ship them by air and must label them with the correct hazard warning.

Can you ship an e-bike with the battery attached?

Yes, you can ship an e-bike with a battery attached. Some retailers like to remove the battery (if possible) so that they can treat the bike as a non-hazardous shipment but it’s still complicated due to the size of the item. We have processes in place to ship the bike with the battery included, with spare batteries included, or no battery at all.

Are there any specific shipping labels or documentation required for shipping e-bikes?

Yes, there are many different shipping labels and documents required for shipping e-bikes: hazardous materials labels, “this side up”/fragile labels, shipping labels, customs forms, insurance documents, etc. We have great knowledge of every country’s requirements to ship e-bikes and we can deliver in 3-7 days.

Which shipping carriers are recommended for transporting e-bikes?

When shipping e-bikes, it’s safest to choose household names with a proven track record of shipping goods in North America. We have a partner contract with FedEx and other top names, giving us high DIM factors and super competitive pricing that other companies can’t secure working alone.

How can I track the shipment of my e-bike?

Our system connects with yours, so you can track the shipment of your e-bikes to your customers. All tracking info will be updated on your system so that you can see the progress for yourself. Customers will be notified of the steps by text messages or emails too.

What insurance options are available for shipping e-bikes?

The most affordable e-bike costs around $500 but top-tier bikes can retail well beyond $10,000, so a good level of insurance is required. Transit costs to cover any damages or loss of shipment are recommended too. We can talk about this in more detail after you’ve requested a quote.

What is the average cost of shipping an e-bike?

There are many factors to consider when working out the cost of shipping an e-bike such as package weight, dimensions, and delivery speed. A typical e-bike sale from New York to Georgia will cost around $30-$50  for a shipment within 7 days. Customers won’t want to wait that long though. Our service delivers domestically in 2-3 days. Get a quote.

How long does it typically take to ship an e-bike?

We can deliver an e-bike to customers in 1-3 days.

What steps will you take to prepare an e-bike for shipping, such as disassembling or securing certain components?

There isn’t a “one-size-fits-all” answer for preparing an e-bike for shipping – there are many variables. We’ve been offering an e-bike and bike shipping fulfillment service for years. Our team is experienced in the different types of e-bikes and how to protect them. We can walk you through the steps we take following your quote if you would like to know more.

Can you ship multiple e-bikes together in one shipment?

Absolutely. This is common for an e-bike and bike shipping fulfillment service. Families often buy several bikes at once and summer months tend to lead to an influx of sales. With our partnership with FedEx, we can accommodate multiple e-bike sales while maintaining a fantastic service.

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