At Hero Time, we understand that getting your board game manufactured is only half the battle. The other half? Making sure it gets to your customers efficiently and cost-effectively. Shipping and logistics play a crucial role in the overall production process, and if not managed properly, they can quickly become overwhelming in terms of cost and complexity.

When we started Hero Time, one of our main priorities was ensuring that game creators like you didn’t have to worry about logistical nightmares. We’ve spent years fine-tuning our process to ensure your board games are shipped efficiently, affordably, and without unnecessary delays. Let’s take a closer look at how logistics work and what you should expect when planning the shipment of your board game.

Understanding Shipping Costs for Board Games

Shipping costs can vary significantly based on several factors. The size and weight of your board game, the destination, and the chosen shipping method all play a role in determining how much you’ll need to budget for logistics.

For mass-produced board games, freight shipping—either by sea or air—is the most common option. Air freight is faster but can be significantly more expensive, sometimes costing up to five times more than sea freight. For most board game creators, sea freight is the preferred choice, as it allows for cost savings, especially when shipping in bulk.

However, sea freight comes with its own set of challenges. Longer transit times, potential customs delays, and storage fees at ports are all factors to consider. This is why we always recommend planning your timeline carefully, leaving enough buffer time to accommodate any unexpected hiccups along the way.

How Hero Time Helps Reduce Shipping Costs

Because we specialize in board game manufacturing, we built our own shipping infrastructure and connected directly to all the freight companies and couriers, lowering your costs. We also assist in optimizing packaging to minimize excess weight and volume—two factors that heavily influence shipping costs.

Many creators don’t realize that a slightly smaller box or thinner components can significantly reduce shipping fees. Our team is always available to help with package design to ensure you’re not paying for unnecessary space. Even small adjustments, like using foldable game boards instead of single-layer boards, can lead to major cost savings.

Additionally, we consolidate your shipments with many other shipments to lower the overall costs for you, especially for small game creators producing 500 or 1000 sets. Instead of sending multiple small shipments, we can group orders together, helping smaller creators access rates similar to full container loads rather than stand-alone shipments. Not to mention, we have our own US warehouse where you can store your games, giving you access to better shipping rates and a seamless fulfillment solution.

We own our US warehouse and have a network of warehouses in Australia, China, UK, Germany, and the USA. Because of this, we don’t need to recommend third-party fulfillment centers—we manage everything in-house. This allows us to provide efficient, cost-effective distribution for your board games, ensuring they reach your customers as smoothly as possible.

Shipping Options: FOB, CIF, DDU and DDP

When shipping board games, you’ll often hear terms like FOB (Free on Board) and DDP (Delivered Duty Paid). Understanding these shipping terms is crucial in making the right choice for your project.

• CIF (Cost, Insurance, and Freight) means we ship your games to the destination port, covering the cost of freight and insurance. However, you are responsible for customs clearance, tariffs, and local delivery from the port to the final destination.
• DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid) is a door-to-door service where we handle shipping and delivery, but you are responsible for paying customs clearance fees, tariffs, duties, and VAT upon arrival.
• DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) is a more hands-off option where we take care of everything—from shipping to customs clearance to final delivery. This method is usually recommended for those who don’t have experience dealing with international logistics, as it provides a smoother and more predictable shipping process.
• DDP (Delivered Duty Paid) is a more hands-off option where we take care of everything—from shipping to customs clearance to final delivery. This method is usually recommended for those who don’t have experience dealing with international logistics, as it provides a smoother and more predictable shipping process.

At Hero Time, we offer FOB, CIF, DDU, and DDP options, providing flexibility based on your shipping needs. Our team ensures that your shipments are handled efficiently, reducing costs while optimizing delivery times.

If you require storage or fulfillment, our network of warehouses in the US, Australia, China, the UK, and Germany allows us to ship directly to strategic locations, ensuring your games are ready for distribution as soon as they arrive.

Handling Customs and Import Duties

Customs and import duties are another major consideration when shipping board games internationally. Different countries have different regulations, and it’s important to be aware of the potential costs before your shipment arrives. A perfect example is the Trump Tariffs, which can significantly impact overall costs. At Hero Time, we don’t just help you navigate these complexities—we handle everything for you, ensuring a seamless process so you don’t have to worry about customs clearance, tariffs, or additional duties.

We help our clients navigate these complexities by providing accurate documentation and ensuring that all necessary certifications (such as FSC, ISO, and safety compliance reports) are in place. Our experience with worldwide shipments means we’re familiar with the customs processes in major board game markets like the US, Canada, the EU, and Australia.

The Role of Fulfillment Centers

Once your board games arrive in the destination country, they need to be distributed to your backers, customers, or retailers. This is where fulfillment centers come in.

We own the warehouse networks for crowdfunding campaigns and manage all of it for you, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free process. For long-term e-commerce fulfillment, we can connect you with our trusted partners if needed.

Many game creators opt to use fulfillment centers like Amazon FBA, ShipBob, or specialized board game fulfillment services. These centers handle everything from warehousing to final delivery, ensuring that your customers receive their games on time. We can ship directly to these facilities, making the transition from manufacturing to distribution as seamless as possible.

Final Thoughts

At Hero Time, we know that shipping and logistics are just as important as manufacturing. After all, what’s the point of producing a high-quality board game if it doesn’t reach your customers safely and affordably? That’s why we take a hands-on approach to help our clients navigate the entire logistics process, from choosing the best shipping method to ensuring customs compliance and fulfillment.

Whether you’re planning a small Kickstarter campaign or mass-producing thousands of copies, we’re here to make sure your board game gets where it needs to go—without unexpected costs or delays. Have questions about shipping? Contact us today, and let’s make your board game journey as smooth as possible.