Balikbayan boxes to the Philippines.

A balikbayan box is a large cardboard box that Filipinos living abroad use to send goods back home to family in the Philippines. The word "balikbayan" means "returning countrymen" in Tagalog. Boxes are shipped by sea cargo, making them very affordable for large volumes of everyday goods compared to air shipping. Under a long-standing Philippine Bureau of Customs policy, balikbayan boxes sent by qualified Filipino senders are duty-free for personal/non-commercial items.

See the pricing table on this page for all current rates (effective July 1, 2025). Pricing depends on box size and destination zone in the Philippines. A Regular box (23" × 17" × 20") to Metro Manila runs $73 for drop-off or $83 for pickup. A Macho box (24" × 18" × 24") runs $88 drop-off / $98 pickup. Remote zones in Visayas and Mindanao are $15–$35 more than Metro Manila. Empty boxes are $5–$18 if you'd like to pack at home first.

Drop-off means you bring your packed box to our San Jose store at 3477 McKee Rd. Pickup means Atlas sends a truck to your home or business to collect it. Drop-off saves you $10 per Regular or Macho box — same service, same 2-month transit, same door-to-door delivery. Pickup is worth it when you have multiple boxes, can't drive, or live too far to make the trip. To schedule a pickup, call (408) 784-0546.

Atlas groups delivery destinations into 5 zones based on location: Zone 1 is Metro Manila; Zone 2 is the nearby provinces (Cavite, Laguna, Bulacan, Rizal); Zone 3 covers most of Luzon outside Metro Manila; Zone 4 covers the Visayas (Cebu, Iloilo, Bohol, Leyte, etc.); Zone 5 covers Mindanao (Davao, Cagayan de Oro, Zamboanga, etc.). The full zone list is on this page. If your destination doesn't appear in the list, call us at (408) 784-0546 — special zones may apply.

Yes. Atlas Shippers provides tracking so you can follow your box from drop-off in San Jose through the ocean voyage and door-to-door delivery in the Philippines. Tracking details are shared at drop-off or by email once your box is manifest. For questions about tracking updates or delivery issues after your box has shipped, call Atlas directly at (800) 285-2797 — they have the real-time shipment data.

Typically about 2 months from drop-off to delivery at your recipient's door in the Philippines. Transit time can vary by destination — Manila and Cebu are usually faster, while remote provinces take longer. During the Christmas season (September through mid-November shipments), transit can extend slightly due to higher volumes.

Yes, but we strongly recommend using official Atlas boxes. They're sized precisely for Atlas's shipping containers and customs paperwork is pre-printed on them. Non-Atlas boxes must meet size/weight limits and pass stricter customs inspection. We sell Atlas boxes at the store.

Most non-perishable personal goods: canned and packaged food, toiletries, clothing, shoes, children's toys, school supplies, kitchen items, gifts, and similar household goods. Prohibited items include fresh food, flammable liquids, firearms, and batteries separated from devices. If you're unsure about a specific item, ask us when you drop off.

Yes — you'll fill out a packing list (manifest) when you drop off the box. This lists what's inside and is required by Philippine customs. We help you fill it out at drop-off. For qualified Filipino senders, balikbayan boxes with non-commercial contents are typically duty-free under Philippine law, but the manifest is still required.

Yes — Atlas delivers door-to-door to all regions of the Philippines, including Luzon (Metro Manila, Baguio, Pampanga, etc.), Visayas (Cebu, Iloilo, Bohol, Negros, etc.), and Mindanao (Davao, Cagayan de Oro, General Santos, etc.). Remote barangays may take an extra few days from the port of entry.

Ship by mid-September at the latest for reliable Christmas arrival. October shipments typically arrive before the holidays in major cities, but risk being late for remote areas. We book up during the Christmas rush (August–November) — don't wait until December.

Atlas provides basic liability coverage on every shipment, and additional insurance is available for high-value contents. Insurance, coverage limits, claims, and rates are handled directly by Atlas Shippers — call Atlas at (800) 285-2797 to purchase additional coverage or file a claim. As a precaution, always keep a list of what you packed and take photos of valuable items before you seal the box.

Atlas Shippers is widely regarded as the most trusted and reliable balikbayan cargo brand, with a track record of door-to-door delivery across all major Philippine regions — Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao — since 1982. LBC, Forex Cargo, and Umac all offer similar core services, but differ in drop-off network coverage, transit schedules, delivery reliability in remote provinces, and customer service. We chose to partner with Atlas specifically because of their consistent delivery performance and the strength of their Philippine distribution network. If you've used other services, we'll happily walk you through the differences when you come in.

Yes — many of our balikbayan customers come from across the Bay Area: Milpitas, Santa Clara, Fremont, Sunnyvale, Campbell, Cupertino, San Mateo, Hayward, and beyond. If you're driving in to pack or drop off, we have parking in the Country Club Villa Shopping Center. Call us before you drive if you have a large pickup scheduled so we can plan for it.