Balikbayan Boxes
Written on Apr 11, 2026
Unless you're a Filipino or have close ties to Filipinos, you may have no idea what I mean when I mention a balikbayan box. The word "balikbayan" refers to a Filipino-American who returns to the Philippines. In this case, it's only the box that's returning.
Balikbayan boxes are large cargo boxes made of cardboard. People usually transport them by ship, where the weight of the boxes isn't of any concern. They sometimes ship them by air when time is of the essence.
Shipping Boxes
If you want to ship stuff to the Philippines, using a postal service, United Parcel Service, DHL, or FedEx is probably the most expensive way. Balikbayan box shipping services or freight forwarders are generally far less expensive.
Before you ship anything, however, think about what you're shipping. Your relatives can buy many of those things at the same price in local currency as it would cost you in your country.
Some Filipinos prefer to use the same balikbayan boxes as luggage while traveling by aircraft. As long as the boxes don't exceed 50 pounds and aren't larger than 72 linear inches, it isn't a problem.
Contacts and Empty Boxes
Shipping balikbayan boxes can be an interesting experience in frustration if you don't know where to go or who to contact. The best way to find out about cargo services in your area is to go to an Asian market or supermarket. Many work with one cargo company or another.
They will sometimes have the empty boxes you can use for balikbayan boxes. You can call one of these markets if it's a hassle driving to them, but I can't guarantee you'll get answers to your questions.
Regardless of where you get the empty boxes, and you can't just get them anywhere, you may or may not have to pay for them. Most of them typically give you empty boxes to replace the boxes you're shipping.
Some of them charge for the first batch of empty boxes, although they're not expensive. It's a practice used to discourage people from using them as home storage containers or luggage. The 24x18x18 size box is pretty big at 60 linear inches.
Balikbayan Box Cargo Services
When you use your search engine, you can find more services than you can probably use. Over the years, I've only dealt with a few in the United States:
- Forex Cargo
- LBC Express
- Manila Forwarders
I've seen "Atlas Shippers International" at places like "Seafood City" in Hawaii, but I've never used them. One of my wife's aunts has used other services that were months slower than the ones I've used. I used Forex Cargo in Phoenix, Arizona, just a couple of days ago.
I haven't actively searched for other shipping services, yet I came across MyUS.com. They give you an address to send your purchases to, and then turn around and ship the box to you in the Philippines. It seems like a good deal. Someone pointed me to ShippingCart as a similar service, but it doesn't seem as good.
Image by Peter Lindenau from Pixabay