ShippingCowBest warehouse locations for nationwide shipping
Nationwide shipping works best when heavy inventory is split across the East, West, and south-central US. The carrier sources on this guide tie each parcel's zone to its base rate and surcharges. ShippingCow lists warehouses in New Jersey, California, and Texas.
One, two or three warehouses
| Setup | Covers well | Pays long zones to |
|---|---|---|
| One, on the East Coast | The Northeast and Mid-Atlantic | The West, the Mountain states and much of the South |
| One, on the West Coast | The West Coast | The East Coast, the Midwest and the South |
| Two, one on each coast | Both coasts | The middle: the South, Southwest and Mountain regions |
| Three: east, west and south-central | Most of the US population | Mainly Alaska, Hawaii and the northern Plains |
What our three locations reach
Our coverage map puts 25 states in the 1 to 2 day band from New Brunswick NJ, Ontario CA or Missouri City TX, 19 more at 2 days, and 6 at 2 to 3 days: Alaska, Hawaii, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming.
Why it matters more for heavy products
Zone and weight multiply. On a 5 lb parcel a long zone costs a little more; on a 90 lb parcel it can decide whether the order makes money. At FedEx even the 2026 weight surcharge rises with the zone, from a lower zone amount to a higher zone amount.
How to decide your split
Use your own order history: map last year's orders by destination and place inventory where the volume is. A third location only pays for itself if enough orders go to the region it covers. Sometimes they do not, and a good audit says so.
Sources
| Source | What we took from it |
|---|---|
| FedEx 2026 surcharge and fee changes | 2026 Additional Handling and Oversize list prices by zone, effective January 5, 2026 |
Rules and list prices as published for 2026, checked on Sep 25, 2026. Carrier contracts change the prices, not the thresholds.
Questions
Where should my warehouse be for nationwide shipping? +
Put heavy inventory near the demand that matters most, then add an East, West, or south-central node when the zones justify it. The carrier sources on this page price every parcel by zone.
How many warehouses do I need? +
A multi-site network can shorten more zones for national heavy-parcel shipping than one site. ShippingCow lists New Jersey, California, and Texas, so map your own orders before you split stock.
Is Texas a good warehouse location? +
Texas can help central and south-central demand that sits in long zones from both coasts. Compare those orders with your current customer map before adding the site.
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