Shipping from Mexico to United States: times, customs & tracking
How long parcels take, what customs expects, and how to track every step of the journey.
Typical delivery times
| Service | Working days |
|---|---|
| Cross-border ground (truck) | 4–10 |
| Express (FedEx, UPS, DHL) | 2–5 |
| Postal (Correos de México → USPS) | 10–25 |
| LTL / FTL freight | 5–12 |
Customs & duties
For US imports the $800 de minimis covers most personal shipments; commercial goods need HTS codes, and everything crossing at Laredo, El Paso or Otay Mesa can face CBP inspections that add days. A customs broker smooths commercial lanes.
Tracking tips
Border crossings are the bottleneck: trucks queue at Laredo and Otay Mesa in peak weeks. Postal handoffs (Correos de México → USPS) go quiet for up to 10 days mid-route.
FAQs — Mexico to United States
How long does shipping from Mexico to the US take?
Ground 4–10 days; express 2–5; postal 10–25; LTL freight 5–12, plus any customs inspection time.
Do shipments from Mexico pay US duties?
Personal shipments up to USD 800 are duty-free; commercial imports pay duties by HTS code unless a trade preference applies.
Who delivers after the border?
FedEx, UPS or DHL for express freight; USPS for postal handoffs. Estafeta often runs the Mexican leg.