Electronics are one of the worst categories to ship uninsured. They pack a lot of value into a small box, they're a top target for theft, and the built-in carrier liability that comes with your label tops out around $50–$100. Ship a $1,200 laptop or a $900 phone on default coverage and a single lost or stolen package can wipe out the margin on dozens of orders.
The trick with electronics is that the right answer depends on what's in the box. A $25 charging cable and a $1,500 console need completely different coverage. This page covers where carrier liability fails, who covers electronics well, and how to insure the expensive units without overpaying on every accessory.
Why carrier liability isn't enough for electronics
Two problems make carrier liability a poor fit for electronics. First, the value gap: the default cap of ~$100 is nowhere near the price of most consumer electronics, and while you can declare a higher value, you still have to prove the carrier was at fault to collect.
Second, and bigger: theft after delivery. Porch piracy is a real and growing loss for electronics — a box scanned "delivered" and then stolen off a doorstep. Carrier liability covers none of it. That single exclusion makes carrier coverage inadequate for exactly the items thieves target most.
What good electronics coverage looks like
Adequate electronics insurance needs to cover the full declared value (well above carrier caps), pay claims quickly, and ideally cover theft including after delivery. Several providers do this at reasonable rates — the issue is that none of them is the right choice for every shipment. Flat-rate insurers are great for mid-value units but a waste on a $20 accessory, where carrier liability is already plenty.
Electronics coverage by provider
| Provider | Covers electronics? | Pricing / notes |
|---|---|---|
| Carrier liability (USPS/UPS/FedEx) | ✕ | ~$100 cap; loss only; no theft after delivery |
| EasyPost Insurance | ✓ | 1% flat, up to $5,000; good for mid-value units |
| InsureShield (UPS Capital) | ✓ | 0.5–0.8%; multi-carrier; claims often ~5 days |
| Shipsurance | ✓ | ~$0.90/$100; $5K–$10K limits; Shopify default |
| U-PIC | ✓ | Tiered; handles high-value units above flat-rate caps; REST API |
| Via Insurrl | ✓ | Carrier-first for cheap accessories, private insurer for the units |
How Insurrl handles electronics shipments
Insurrl is a multi-provider parcel insurance API that routes each shipment to the right coverage source based on what's actually in the box. For an electronics merchant, that means the per-box value mix gets handled automatically instead of forcing one policy onto your whole catalog.
Concretely: for low-cost accessories — cables, cases, chargers, sub-$100 add-ons — Insurrl uses the carrier's built-in liability first, since it's free and adequate at that value. For the expensive units — laptops, phones, consoles, cameras — it routes to a private insurer that covers full value and pays claims fast, choosing among providers like EasyPost, InsureShield, or U-PIC by value and destination. You stay fully covered on the units that matter and stop paying premiums on the cheap stuff.
Insurrl's take: Electronics insurance isn't one-size-fits-all — a $20 cable and a $1,500 console don't belong on the same policy. Use free carrier liability where it's enough and private insurance only on the units that exceed it. That's how you keep blended insurance cost low.
Frequently asked questions
Does carrier insurance cover a stolen electronics package?
Not after delivery. Once a package is scanned "delivered," carrier liability no longer applies, even if it's stolen off the porch minutes later. Since electronics are a top porch-piracy target, this is a major gap that requires private insurance to close.
How much does electronics shipping insurance cost?
Flat-rate options run roughly 1% (EasyPost) or about $0.90 per $100 (Shipsurance); InsureShield is often 0.5–0.8%. The cheaper move is to insure only the high-value units privately and let carrier liability handle the low-cost accessories you'd otherwise overpay to cover.
What about units worth more than $5,000?
Flat-rate providers like EasyPost cap at $5,000. For higher-value electronics you need a tiered provider such as U-PIC. Insurrl routes those shipments to a provider that supports the value instead of capping you at one limit.
Do I have to sort orders by value myself?
No. Insurrl reads each shipment's contents and value and routes it automatically — carrier liability for accessories, private insurance for the expensive units — all through a single API integration.
If electronics are your core catalog, the boxes most likely to be lost or stolen are also your most valuable — so the coverage has to be right per parcel. See how Insurrl routes every shipment to the right provider, and if you're a D2C brand shipping 5,000+ parcels a month, it's free during our beta.