Laptops in the USA are cheaper than they are in India, says an article in The Telegraph. The reason for this is that American companies like Google, Dell, Microsoft, etc., selling in their home country, have to pay tax once.
On the other hand, when they sell in India, they pay sales tax and import duty in India and income tax in the US. Moreover, non-US companies like Lenovo, HTC, Asus, etc., prefer to export large numbers of their laptops to the USA compared to India, helping them sell to US retailers at a lower rate.
The good news, however, is that you can easily send laptops throughout the world, including India, from the United States, using a shipping company or a parcel service. Here’s a look at the 10 ten options.
Ways to Send a Laptop from USA to India
Related: How to buy things in USA and ship to India
Personal Help
If you have a friend or family member living in America, they can carry the laptop along with their luggage, when making their way to India. This is indeed the cheapest yet most trustworthy means to send a laptop to India since there is no additional fee, like delivery charges, associated.
Import Through a Logistics-Based Startup
Logistics-based startups, like Speedbox, operating through a mobile app and offering affordable rates, can have your parcel picked up and delivered anywhere in the world, through their effortless shipping options.
DHL Courier Service
DHL, operating in over 220 countries and territories across the globe, is part of the world’s leading postal and logistics company, Deutsche Post DHL Group. They have very advanced warehousing services that, other than storage, include packaging and repairs as well. With DHL, you can be absolutely sure of your laptop reaching India safely.
FedEx
FedEx shipping service provides time-definite and customs-cleared delivery, typically in 3 business days. The shipment is also backed up by the FedEx money-back guarantee. FedEx offers a simple tool to obtain a rate quote and determine the expected delivery date of your laptop to India and the time for your shipment.
UPS
UPS is one of the three biggest shipping carriers in the USA. It really becomes economical to ship via UPS if your package exceeds 3 pounds. An average laptop weighs somewhere around 5 pounds. You can track your package to find out exactly where it is through its journey.
Bombino Express
Bombino Express, operating between India, the USA, the UK, the Middle East, and the rest of the world, is also known to deliver electronic items, including laptops, from the USA to India, without any additional cost.
USA Box
A package and mail forwarding service like USA Box is by far the cheapest and safest way to send a laptop from the US to India through a logistics service. Other than providing 100% free insurance, they will also check for damage and repacking on request to make sure you receive your laptop in good condition.
Shop USA
Another package and mail forwarding service, Shop USA is specially meant for those who shop from online stores in the US and want to ship their purchase to India.
Borderlinx
Shipping to 60 countries, Borderlinx includes repackaging and consolidating multiple packages.
Things to be Mindful of When Sending Laptop to India
1. Get your laptop insured
Since your laptop is a valuable asset, you should get it insured against any possible damage during the shipping process. This will give you peace of mind and also protect your investment.
2. Use a reliable shipping company
There are many shipping companies that offer laptop shipping services. However, not all of them are reliable. Make sure to do your research and choose a reputable shipping company that offers good customer service and has a good track record.
3. Pack your laptop properly
Proper packing is essential to ensure that your laptop arrives safely in India. Make sure to use a sturdy box and padding to protect your laptop from damage during transit.
4. Track your shipment
Once you have shipped your laptop, make sure to track the shipment so that you know when it will arrive in India. This will help you plan accordingly and be prepared to receive your laptop.
To check how much duty you have to pay on imported electronics to India, check this post.
Also read: How to send gifts to India
If you got questions, please let me know in the comments.
Also read: Apps to sell off your old stuff.
Our nonprofit organization in USA like to give used chrome laptop about 500 donation to india nonprofit organization without duty
What kind of documents need. Why they want E waist certificate and from where we can get
Hi Ram,
I’m planning to buy a laptop which would cost less than 50k. The laptop might cost somewhere around 35k. Could you please let me know if i have to pay the custom’s duty for this too.
Also, if yes, how much % were you charged as a part of this fee.
Dude don’t sell half baked goods and don’t write such articles without full knowledge. There is something called customs duty remember that if not you will never forget once you order. I recently got laptop shipped via fedex and it was struck in customs and they made me pay through my nose even I purchased it on deal price I ended up paying customs for the total price. Don’t get into soup with this half backed blogs. Dude, measure 1000 times cut once.
Sir,
If I can’t prove that it isn’t an used laptop and I also couldn’t afford to pay the customs duty amount, what will happen to my laptop parcel?
Thanks for this wonderful blog.I am planning to buy a Macbook Pro 13 in U.S through my friend. As he couldn’t come to India right now, He suggests me to get it through FedEx. The laptop costs 1800USD in total. I asked him to login using his Apple ID and use it for a couple of weeks. Can I get it now through FedEx without Customs duty in India?
Thanks for this wonderful blog.I am planning to buy a Macbook Pro 13 in U.S through my friend. As he couldn’t come to India right now, He suggests me to get it through FedEx. The laptop costs 1800USD in total. I asked him to login using his Apple ID and use it for a couple of weeks. Can I get it now through FedEx without Customs duty in India?
If you are in India u want pay around 30k INR
Hi,
Your blog is really useful and interesting to read.
Concern: I have been planning to buy Alienware 17 R5 Laptop from United states, there are few of my friends staying there to whom i talked with, they agreed to send that laptop through FedEx or UPS. Only problem is customs! I have no idea what is customs is and how much they will charge to import that to India.
I need you help in this matter, to how i can import that to India. And how they will charge?
Thanks
Rohit
Dear Mani,
My friend got me a laptop from Alabama last December. There was a fault with it and he took it back this February. The company agreed to replace it with a new one. Now my friend has the new laptop at his place in Alabama.
The laptop weighs 4.74lbs and I would want him to ship it to the pin code 625531.
What is the cheapest and safest way he can send the laptop from there? Will there be custom on this?
from boston to hyderabad laptop courier service how much charge sir
If you use Fedex then you are very likely to get a fee on it. One thing you could do is insist that it’s a used laptop and ask them to verify (open).
how will i be able to prove them? i mean if i am using Fed Ex then how will i be able to communicate with the customs officer as they themselves look after customs right? I am planning to purchase a used laptop from EBAY USA and i will be mostly using FedEx. I was thinking to request the seller to show the price below 50,000 but as its used laptop so i dont have a format so that i can tell the seller to print it and send it along with the laptop to save customs duty.
Hi Mellow,
According to a new provision passed by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry in India, the C.I.F value of import of consumer electronic items for personal use is enhanced to 50,000 INR (from INR 2,000). Which means you can now import consumer electronic items like smartphones from US and other countries to India, which costs up to 50,000 Rupees without any custom duty OR very less customs duty (earlier it was a flat 42% of original price).
But for a $1200 laptop, you can expect duty somewhere within the range of 25 – 50%. There is no table we could use to figure out the corresponding price. Usually it’s the customs duty officer who decides the duty. However if you can prove that it is a used item, then there would not be any duty.
More info here – https://manikarthik.com/blog/buy-usa-ship-to-india/india/
hi mani,
this is mellow.I have a small doubt about duties and taxes :
how much money i have to pay as duties and taxes for a 1200$ laptop……