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How do I calculate shipping rates?

I am selling some items on Etsy.com and I have to add in the shipping cost. I've looked up shipping calculators but in order to calculate, I have to provide the zip code of the destination. Problem is that I haven't even sold the item yet. I am from the U.S. How much should I charge if somebody else from the U.S. buys the item? The items I am selling are vintage clothes.

Public Comments

1. What I do for eBay is box items up and weigh them. I then find the furthest zip codes from me to determine the cost. Now though, eBay has a calculator where you can enter in the weight and any extra you want to charge people, and then they will calculate it based on the buyer's zip. TIP: Use recycled boxes, so you get them for free. Don't charge much extra. Some will add a surcharge for handling and many will not buy from them. They claim their time is valuable and that they must purchase shipping materials. If you are creative, you don't have to purchase them. Also, people will bid more for your items if your shipping is more realistic, so you more than make up for it in the selling price. Good Luck!
2. What I do is pack and weigh a sample item. For you, it would likely be a fairly heavy sweater, for example. Then, I just use use zip codes from 2 opposite ends of the country - 08520 (New Jersey) and 90210 (California). That will give me a pretty good ballpark figure. Remember, if your package is UNDER 13 ounces, you CAN ship it First Class Mail, even if it is in a box. This can be VERY cost-saving. My items, even in a box, are generally around 4-8 ounces and cost about $2 to ship due to this. So I set my shipping cost at $3 since I sell a LOT and do need to actually BUY packing boxes. Additional items I ship for 50 cents more. This method works for me about 99% of the time - and the few times it has NOT worked, I've only had to pay out about 10 - 20 cents more.