Shipping Boxes from the USA to Israel: Rates, Delivery Time, and Customs
Introduction: Ship Boxes or Luggage from the USA to Israel
Shipping a Box from the USA to Israel: Gifts and Product Samples
Shipping a box from the USA to Israel sits apart from shipping to any other country in the world, for one simple reason: the personal connection between the two countries is unlike anything else. An estimated 5 to 7 million American Jews maintain active ties to Israel — sending gifts, care packages, holiday parcels, and product samples on a scale that makes this one of the busiest personal gift shipping routes ExpediShip covers. Jewish holidays — Rosh Hashanah, Passover, Hanukkah, Purim — are peak seasons for gift boxes from the USA to Israel, and the contents of those boxes are heavily shaped by what is available in the USA but hard to find or expensive in Israel.
Customs in Israel is handled by Meches (מכס) — the Israel Customs and VAT Department, a division of the Israel Tax Authority (ITA). Israel is not an EU member, so EU customs rules do not apply. Israel has its own unique import threshold system, which was updated significantly at the end of 2025: the personal import VAT exemption was doubled from $75 to $150, a major change that directly affects gift boxes from the USA.
The US-Israel Free Trade Agreement (FTA), signed in 1985 and the first FTA the USA ever signed, eliminates most customs duties on US-origin goods entering Israel. This is a significant advantage compared to shipping gift boxes or product samples to EU countries, where customs duty often applies above €150. For most US-made goods in a gift box, Israeli customs duty is zero under the FTA — leaving only VAT (at 18% since September 2025) and any applicable Purchase Tax as the variables.
Relocating to Israel and shipping personal effects? See our luggage shipping page. For donation pallets or tradeshow freight to Expo Tel Aviv, see our pallet shipping page. For business equipment or inherited property in a crate, see our crate shipping page.
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Shipping Cost & Transit Time From the USA to Israel
Our prices are highly competitive — that’s why so many customers choose Expediship for shipping from the USA to Israel. We offer affordable rates with reliable, professional service, guiding you step by step through the entire shipping process for boxes, luggage, and parcels.
Delivery to Israel typically takes around 5 business days, not including customs clearance time, which may vary depending on Italian government processing.
Below are estimated starting prices for shipping boxes from the USA to Israel. Final cost depends on box size, pickup address, and delivery city.
| Weight Range | Starting Price (USD) |
|---|---|
| 1–10 lbs | From $35 |
| 11–20 lbs | From $85 |
| 21–30 lbs | From $115 |
| 31–40 lbs | From $150 |
| 41–50 lbs | From $180 |
| 51–60 lbs | From $230 |
| 61–80 lbs | From $280 |
| 81+ lbs | From $325 — for larger shipments, please contact customer service for an exact quote. |
Note: Prices are estimated starting rates for air freight shipments. Expediship offers door-to-door service with full tracking and customs guidance.
Israel's Three-Tier Import Threshold System: How Customs Works for Gift Boxes from the USA
Israel’s Three-Tier Import Threshold System: How Customs Works for Gift Boxes from the USA
Israel’s personal import threshold system operates on three tiers — and in late 2025, the most important threshold was doubled, changing the calculation for most gift boxes sent from the USA.
Tier 1: Under $150 (updated from $75 in December 2025) — full exemption
For personal import shipments with a declared goods value under $150, no VAT, no customs duty, and no Purchase Tax applies. This is a complete exemption. The December 2025 change doubled this threshold from the previous $75, following a government decision that went into effect rapidly and caught some Israeli retailers by surprise — 52.8 million packages arrived from overseas websites in 2025, and the volume is expected to increase further with the higher exemption.
The $150 threshold applies to the value of the goods themselves — not including shipping or insurance costs. The relevant authority for personal import thresholds is the Israel Tax Authority at mof.gov.il.
Tier 2: $150 to $500 — VAT applies, customs duty waived
Between $150 and $500, customs duty on most goods is waived, but Israeli VAT of 18% applies to the full CIF value (cost of goods plus shipping and insurance to the Israeli entry point). The VAT is calculated on the CIF value, not just the goods value — this matters because shipping to Israel from the USA is a significant distance and freight costs are meaningful.
At this tier, US-Israel FTA preferential duty rates also apply to US-origin goods, meaning the customs duty that would otherwise apply is already zero or near-zero for most consumer goods. The effective cost for the recipient is typically just the 18% VAT on the CIF value.
Tier 3: Above $500 — full customs assessment
Above $500, a full commercial import declaration is required. Customs duty applies at the applicable Israeli Customs Tariff rate (typically 0% to 12% for most goods, with higher rates for some categories), plus 18% VAT on the total value (goods plus duty), and for certain goods, Israeli Purchase Tax (mas kniya) on top of that.
The 72-hour splitting rule
If two or more packages are sent from the same US sender to the same Israeli recipient within 72 hours, Israeli customs treats them as a single combined shipment. If the combined declared value exceeds $150, the Tier 1 exemption does not apply, and the combined value is assessed for VAT and potentially customs duty. Senders who regularly send care packages should space shipments at least 3 days apart if they want each package to benefit from the $150 threshold independently.
The US-Israel Free Trade Agreement: Why American Goods Have a Customs Advantage in Israel
The US-Israel Free Trade Agreement: Why American Goods Have a Customs Advantage in Israel
The United States and Israel signed a free trade agreement (FTA) in 1985 — the first bilateral FTA the USA ever concluded with any country, preceding the US-Canada FTA by two years. The agreement has been in force ever since and eliminates most customs duties on goods that qualify as US-origin under the FTA’s rules of origin.
For gift boxes and product sample boxes from the USA to Israel, the practical impact of the FTA is significant: most US-manufactured goods enter Israel at 0% customs duty under the FTA, whereas the same goods entering an EU country would face customs duty of 0% to 12% depending on the product type above the €150 threshold.
To claim the FTA preferential rate, the commercial invoice should include a statement of US origin — confirming that the goods were manufactured in the USA or substantially transformed in the USA. Most off-the-shelf American consumer goods (clothing made in the USA, US-manufactured electronics, American food products, locally made personal care products) qualify. Goods manufactured in third countries (China, Vietnam, Bangladesh) but purchased in the USA and shipped from the USA do not qualify for the FTA preferential rate and may be subject to standard Israeli import duties.
On the commercial invoice for your gift box or product sample shipment to Israel, write “Made in USA” for US-origin goods, or “Country of origin: [manufacturing country]” for goods made elsewhere. Israeli customs uses the declared country of origin on the invoice to determine the applicable duty rate. For goods manufactured outside the USA, the standard Israeli tariff applies — which can range from 0% to 12% or higher for some categories. The official Israeli tariff schedule (taazif meches) is available at the Israel Tax Authority website.
Shipping Product Sample Boxes from the USA to Israel
Shipping Product Sample Boxes from the USA to Israel
Israel has one of the highest concentrations of startups and technology companies per capita in the world — earning the nickname “Start-Up Nation.” With over 6,000 active tech startups, strong pharmaceutical and medical device sectors, and deep defence technology industries, Israel is an important market for US technology suppliers, medical device manufacturers, industrial equipment exporters, and specialty materials companies. Many US businesses ship product sample boxes to Israeli importers, distributors, corporate buyers, or research partners before a meeting, conference, or procurement decision.
The US-Israel FTA gives US-origin product samples a meaningful advantage at Israeli customs: most manufactured goods, electronics, components, and industrial materials of genuine US origin enter Israel at 0% customs duty. Israeli VAT of 18% applies on the CIF value above the $150 threshold. For product samples above $500, a formal import declaration is required.
The Not Stopping at the Port reform: easier clearance for products meeting EU or US standards
From July 2024, Israel’s “Not Stopping at the Port” (Lo Omeid BeNamal) reform transformed the clearance process for regulated products. Previously, many imported products — electronics, cosmetics, toys, food products — required pre-import laboratory testing against Israeli national standards (teken), which could take weeks and add significant cost. Under the new reform, importers can declare compliance based on internationally recognised test reports from ILAC-accredited laboratories, eliminating the need for local Israeli laboratory testing.
From January 2025, Israel began recognising 43 specific EU regulations as equivalent to Israeli standards under the “What’s Good for Europe is Good for Israel” reform. For products covered by these recognised EU regulations, it is now sufficient to prove that the goods are authorised and marketed in the EU — no separate Israeli testing is required. This is directly relevant to US product samples: if your sample has already been certified in the EU (CE marking for electronics and medical devices, for example), Israeli customs will recognise that certification without requiring a separate Israeli standard approval.
For commercial samples returning to the USA after an Israeli event, a temporary import under an ATA Carnet allows import without VAT. Israel accepts ATA Carnets for commercial samples and professional equipment. See our pallet shipping pagefor ATA Carnet details for Israeli tradeshow freight.
Insurance Options for Shipping Boxes, Pallets, Crates, or Luggage from the USA to Israel
Every shipment automatically includes $100 of cargo insurance free of charge — if anything is lost or damaged, you are covered up to $100 at no extra cost. Need more protection? Add full coverage for just 3% of the declared value when requesting your quote. For eligibility rules, non-insurable items, and how claims work, see our Shipping Insurance Guide.
International Shipping Prohibitions and Restrictions
Ship from USA to Israel — Know What You Cannot Ship
Certain items cannot be received, stored, shipped, imported, or exported due to government regulations, safety concerns, or international trade laws. Transactions involving these commodities are strictly prohibited, regardless of the shipment’s origin or destination.
Note: These items are completely forbidden to be exported or imported between countries.
Shipping Process
Ship Box or luggage from USA to Israel
Frequently Asked Questions When Shipping Boxes or Luggage from USA to Israel
Not if the declared goods value is under $150. As of December 2025, Israel’s personal import VAT exemption threshold was doubled from $75 to $150. Below $150, no VAT, no customs duty, and no Purchase Tax applies. Between $150 and $500, Israeli VAT of 18% applies on the CIF value (goods plus freight and insurance), but customs duty is waived for most US-origin goods under the US-Israel Free Trade Agreement. Above $500, full customs assessment applies. Information from the Israel Tax Authority is at gov.il/en/departments/israel_tax_authority.
Israel’s VAT (ma’am — מע”מ in Hebrew) is administered by the Israel Tax Authority. The current standard VAT rate is 18%, raised from 17% in September 2025. It applies to all goods imported into Israel above the personal import exemption threshold. Israeli VAT is calculated on the CIF value of the shipment — goods value plus shipping costs plus insurance.
For US-origin goods — items manufactured in the USA — the US-Israel Free Trade Agreement (signed 1985) eliminates most customs duties. A statement of US origin on the commercial invoice allows US-made goods to enter Israel at 0% customs duty. Goods manufactured in other countries (even if purchased in the USA) do not benefit from the FTA rate. Above the $500 threshold, customs duty at the standard Israeli tariff applies to non-US-origin goods.
Via air freight, most box shipments from the USA to Israel arrive in approximately 5 to 7 business days. Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv is Israel’s primary air cargo hub. Meches customs clearance is generally efficient for well-documented shipments under the $150 threshold.