FedEx vs UPS vs USPS: 2024 Shipping Comparison + Holiday Updates

Consider cost, speed, and service when comparing the top shipping companies—FedEx vs UPS vs USPS (United States Postal Service).

Each one is reliable, offers affordable options if your package doesn’t need to arrive quickly, and allows you to pay more for faster delivery. Most small packages ship for less than $15 with each carrier.

The biggest differences between the three providers are available shipping features and pricing for special services. Overall, we recommend the following:

• FedEx: Best for expedited shipping, shipping perishable goods and liquor
• UPS: Best for large and heavier packages, high-value items, fast shipping on international orders
• USPS: Best for shipping US domestic orders and small items and businesses on a budget

2024 Holiday Shipping Deadlines

USPS: The recommended send-by dates for expected delivery before December 25 are:

• USPS Ground Advantage and First-Class Mail: December 18
• Priority Mail: December 19
• Priority Mail Express: December 21

UPS: The cutoff shipping dates to have a package arrive by Christmas Eve are:

• UPS 3 Day Select: December 19
• 2nd Day Air: December 20
• UPS Next Day Air: December 23

FedEx: The last same-day delivery date (for eligible shipments) before Christmas is December 24. For FedEx First Overnight, Priority Overnight, Standard Overnight, or Extra Hours deliveries, the cutoff date is December 23.

FedEx vs UPS vs USPS at a Glance

When to Use FedEx vs UPS vs USPS

Overall, FedEx is best for businesses that need expedited shipping options (express and overnight delivery) and ship perishable goods and alcoholic beverages.

Meanwhile, UPS is best for businesses that need competitive pricing and expedited shipping options on larger and heavier packages, sell and ship high-value items, and have a global customer base that needs fast shipping for international orders.

On the other hand, USPS is best for shipping domestic orders within the US and ideal for small businesses that need budget-conscious pricing and sell small items. In general, USPS Priority Mail shipping is cheaper and faster than the other options in our cost comparison.

When to Use FedEx

FedEx is best for the following:

• Those needing fast shipping options: Options include expedited, express, and overnight delivery. FedEx also operates seven days a week if you need packages delivered even on weekends.
• Larger businesses that want volume discounts or need international shipping: It offers competitive pricing for small and lightweight packages.
• Shipping specialty items: Examples include perishable food products or temperature-controlled goods. It has specialty boxes including proprietary cold packaging that can keep shipments between 35 and −46 degrees Fahrenheit for 48 to 96 hours without using dry ice or gel packs.
• Shipping alcohol: This is allowed provided you use FedEx Shipping Manager for your labels.

Visit FedEx

When to Use UPS

Consider UPS for the following:

• Shipping heavier packages: This includes preassembled furniture. UPS has a maximum weight limit of 150 pounds for its packages, compared to the 70-pound package limit of USPS.
• One of the fastest shipping options (toe-to-toe with FedEx): For example, its UPS Next Day services put your package on the next available flight and often arrive the same day. Customers also find that international packages arrive sooner than expected.
• Shipping alcohol: Like FedEx, UPS can ship alcohol—provided it’s not going to a consumer.
• Sending luxury products: This includes collectibles because you can insure packages up to $50,000. If you need to ship fragile items, UPS provides delicate packing services using packing techniques such as block-and-brace, double box, and suspension.

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When to Use USPS

USPS is ideal for the following:

• Affordable pricing: USPS is one of the most competitively priced shipping carriers, particularly for packages under 20 pounds. It offers free pickup, Priority and Express Mail packaging, and a range of delivery options.
• Discounted services: USPS is one of the best shipping options for most small businesses because it has discounted services, such as Priority Mail Cubic, where you can base shipping rates on a package’s outer dimensions rather than its total weight.

Most ecommerce stores go with USPS because of the deep discounts it provides. USPS partners with many online software companies and offers shipping discounts even for small businesses, usually reserved for mid- to enterprise-level companies that send more than 50,000 parcels annually. Note that you can’t ship alcohol domestically or internationally using USPS.

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FedEx vs UPS vs USPS: Pricing & Speed

Price and shipping speed are the most significant differentiating factors for shipments, as each carrier is relatively equal in other areas. To give you a better idea about pricing between UPS vs FedEx vs USPS, look at the table below for a price comparison on flat rate, overnight, ground, priority, small, and heavy packages.

FedEx vs UPS vs USPS Pricing Comparison (Updated July 2024)

USPS averages the best overall rates for shipping everything from flat mailers to packages up to 70 pounds. However, all three options can be viable choices for ecommerce shipping, depending on your circumstances (package size, travel distance, and needed service speed). The type of delivery location—home or business—also factors in since both UPS and FedEx charge more for home deliveries.

A few things to note are as follows:

• Shipping prices can vary if you purchase postage in person, and rates will be higher during the peak holiday season.
• Discounted rates are available from many fulfillment companies and shipping solutions.
• Use the shipping calculators or rate lists available on each of the couriers’ websites to find exact rates for your specific package and route. Alternatively, you can use our dimensional weight calculator and learn how dimensional weight works, when it applies, and how to use it to reduce shipping costs.

FedEx Pricing & Speed

Certain FedEx Ground routes are cheaper than USPS and will get the package to your destination up to two days faster. This is especially true for larger, heavier shipments.

Should you need a package to arrive as soon as possible, you can get it to your destination as early as 10 a.m. the following day with FedEx First Overnight. You’ll find many drop box locations and retail partners if you don’t have a corporate location near you.

See FedEx’s current pricing sheet at the time of publication.

UPS Pricing & Speed

UPS pricing is competitive for heavier packages and any time you need to ship internationally. Should you need a package overnight, UPS Next Day Air is a suitable option, albeit a pricey one.

You’ll pay a small fee if you choose for UPS to pick up your package, but the convenience can be worth it if you’ve already got your shipping label and box packed. UPS also offers attractive commercial discounts compared to USPS.

See the UPS rate sheet at the time of publication.

USPS Pricing & Speed

USPS is one of the best options for sending packages under 20 pounds. It’s also a great option for shipping anything heavy or small, thanks to flat-rate shipping rates.

USPS is part of the executive branch of the US federal government, so the hours are more limited than those of FedEx and UPS. However, you can find a workaround by using one of USPS’s many retail partners—often grocery stores. USPS’s low prices and reliable delivery make it the best shipping option for many small businesses.

See the USPS pricing sheet at the time of publication.

FedEx vs UPS vs USPS: Shipping Features

Once you’ve reviewed the price comparisons between UPS vs FedEx vs USPS, the next element to compare is their shipping features.

Service Options

• FedEx: FedEx offers many different service options for domestic and international shipments. Some of these options include the following:
  • FedEx First Overnight and FedEx Priority Overnight, which arrive the next business day
  • FedEx 2 Day, which arrives in two business days
  • FedEx Economy and FedEx International, which arrive in 2-3 business days

You can also choose options for delivery confirmation and signature requirements.

•  UPS: UPS has several shipping options, including the following:
  • UPS Next Day Air, which arrives the following day
  • UPS 2nd Day Air, which arrives on the second day
  • UPS 3 Day Select, which arrives in three business days
  • Ground shipping, which typically takes 1-5 business days

If you need a package delivered as soon as possible, you can choose same-day delivery with UPS Express Critical. There are also options for delivery confirmation and signature requirements. You can also collect payment at the time of delivery with the UPS COD service.

• USPS: USPS offers many different service options for domestic and international shipments. These options include the following:
  • Priority Mail Express, which arrives the next day to most US addresses and PO boxes with a money-back guarantee
  • Priority Mail, which arrives in 1-3 business days
  • Retail Ground, which is suitable for oversized deliveries and comes in 2-8 business days
  • Ground Advantage, which arrives in 2-5 business days across the continental United States

You also have international shipping options, like Global Express Guaranteed, which arrives in one to three business days, and Priority Mail Express International, which arrives in 3-5 business days. However, service to several countries has been disrupted because of COVID-19. All shipping services include options for signature requirements, Certified Mail return receipt, or collect on delivery.

Pickup & Drop-off Locations

• FedEx: FedEx pickup fees start at $3 and vary based on service location. For $14 a week, you can also set recurring weekly pickups. Alternatively, drop-offs are free at any FedEx or partner retail locations, like OfficeMax, Office Depot, and popular grocery stores. Collect-on-delivery (COD) services for FedEx Ground shipments are available for a fee. Note that electronic collection on delivery (ECOD) is available only in the US.
• UPS: UPS offers on-demand pickup for ground, air, and international shipments. You can also schedule package and freight shipments for future dates, add special instructions to the driver, and add short message service (SMS) or email confirmation messages. Same-day pickups cost $13.00, while future pickups cost $8.00. Drop-offs are free at any UPS Access Point, UPS Store, UPS Drop Box, and independent authorized shipping outlets.
• USPS: You can schedule a free pickup from your regular mail delivery location via the USPS website for Priority and Express Mail, returns, and international mail. You can also arrange next-day services up to three months in advance for as many packages as possible. If your shipment needs to be picked up on a specific day within a particular time frame, you can use the Pickup on Demand service for $25 per shipment. Drop-offs are available at any USPS collection location. Some locations have designated drop-off areas for prepaid domestic packages to avoid lines.

Free Tracking

• FedEx: FedEx customers can track up to 30 order numbers at a time. Small businesses may sign up for the free FedEx Delivery Manager service, which includes more tracking capabilities, pickup management, and delivery notifications.
• UPS: UPS offers free tracking for up to 25 tracking numbers via its website. Small business owners can sign up for the free UPS My Choice for Business program. With this, you can monitor inbound and outbound packages, manage returns, and track claims from the online dashboard. You can also create a branded tracking page for your customers to track their orders.
• USPS: USPS offers free tracking for up to 35 tracking numbers via its website. You can sign up for free business shipping services to track more orders.

Insurance

• FedEx: FedEx offers customers a FedEx Office Packing Pledge, which places a $100 per package liability for any items shipped via FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, or FedEx Home Delivery. For fragile or expensive items or those with an unknown value, the limit is $1,000. FedEx needs to pack and ship the item for the pledge to apply.
• UPS: UPS provides free liability for lost or damaged domestic packages, international shipments, and UPS Worldwide Express Freight pallet shipping up to $100. You can declare up to $50,000 per package or $100,000 per pallet if the value of your goods exceeds this amount. Domestic shipments may be eligible for a maximum declared value of $70,000 when necessary. However, it’s important to note that the shipment doesn’t get any insurance when you declare a value over $100. UPS offers additional insurance coverage options that you’ll need to select.
• USPS: USPS insurance is dependent upon the type of delivery service you choose. For standard shipping, the included insurance coverage only covers the value of the package contents up to $100, but you can purchase up to $5,000 of additional insurance. The recipient must show ID for any mail insured for more than $500. Priority Mail may include insurance up to $50, and Priority Mail Express may include up to $100 of insurance in the service price.

Label Printing Options

• FedEx: You can print a label on a regular or thermal printer. All FedEx Office locations will also print labels.
• UPS: After creating a shipment, you can either print shipping or return labels yourself or at a UPS Store. UPS also offers easy step-by-step instructions via its website if you want to install your thermal printer for labels.
• USPS: You can print labels at a USPS location or use the Click-N-Ship feature to print shipping labels yourself. To access Click-N-Ship, you’ll need to sign up for a free USPS account. The Label Broker ID program also lets customers print their own prepaid and return shipping labels via the USPS website or at most post office locations. The feature (which is part of the Click-N-Ship application) provides customers with a unique ID number or a quick response (QR) code scanned at USPS locations when shipping an item.

Commercial Discounts

• FedEx: FedEx offers a savings and reward program to small businesses that open a free account.

All account holders receive the following:

• • Up to 30% off for FedEx Express, US domestic, international, and return shipping
  • 15% off FedEx Ground shipping and FedEx Home Delivery services, including returns
  • Select business accounts can save 70% off FedEx Freight
  • Free FedEx Express packaging supplies, including boxes, packs, tubes, and envelopes
  • Online account management tools, including online billing, reporting, and address book access
  • In-store FedEx Office printing services and office supplies savings
  • Opportunity to enroll in My FedEx rewards program
• UPS: UPS offers discounted shipping rates, offers, and deals for small businesses that open or link an existing UPS My Choice or UPS My Choice for Business account.

All account holders receive the following:

• • 20% to 50% discounts on shipping rates on UPS Ground, UPS Air Services, and UPS International Express Services
  • Free UPS Smart Pickup service
  • Other offers and savings from UPS Stores, including discounts on online print products, packing services, mailbox services, and shredding services
• USPS: USPS offers several small business solutions to help reduce shipping costs. Select shipping services receive volume discounts as long as you ship a minimum number of packages per mailing.

You can calculate commercial postage prices on the USPS website. USPS Business Customers also get the following:

• • Free USPS Tracking on select products
  • Free shipping supplies delivered to your address for all Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, and Priority Mail Express International shipments
  • Free Package Pickup on select products
  • Free regular Saturday delivery (except holidays)
  • No surcharges for residential delivery

Some high-volume shippers may be eligible for better discounts through Commercial Plus pricing. To qualify, you must make 50,000 Priority Mail shipments per year or 5,000 Priority Mail Express shipments per year. International customers must ship $100,000 in postage value per year. Alternatively, high-volume businesses can negotiate Commercial Plus benefits directly with the carrier.

Small businesses and low-volume shippers can access USPS Commercial Plus pricing by using shipping software for their parcels or partnering with an order fulfillment company.

Customer Support

• FedEx: You can contact FedEx via email, phone, or at one of its locations. Phone support hours are 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Central time, Monday through Friday; 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays; and unavailable on Sundays. Users also have the option to chat with a FedEx representative or access an FAQs section and tutorials from the website.
• UPS: You can contact UPS via email or phone or by visiting one of their retail locations. Phone support hours are 6 a.m. to 1 a.m. Eastern time, seven days a week. You can also hop on to the UPS website to live chat with a virtual assistant or browse the FAQs section and tutorials. Preferred Customer account holders receive a dedicated support team and priority routing when contacting technical support.
• USPS: USPS customer support is reachable through phone, email, or in person at any location. USPS hours vary but are generally 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. local time—some branches close for lunch. There’s no chat feature on the USPS website, but you can check the FAQs section to find answers to common questions.

FedEx vs UPS vs USPS: Ease of Use

Each shipping carrier has many locations where you can drop off packages, provided you have already paid for postage and packed your box. All have retail partner locations inside grocery and office supply stores—many offer extended hours, while some operate 24/7.

Each carrier’s shipping calculator worked well, but we had minor issues with FedEx—if you’re shipping to a residential address, it uses the FedEx Home option rather than Ground. Using a dimensional calculator before you ship can help approximate cost.

FedEx Ease of Use

When calculating shipping rates, we had difficulty finding FedEx Ground options using the company’s calculator online. You may need to try multiple browsers to get the rates to show up. However, the rest of the rates were straightforward to calculate.

The FedEx Home Delivery option may show up if you’re shipping to a residential location rather than FedEx Ground. This service is faster and offers weekend deliveries to more residential areas.

While there are many FedEx locations, some smaller communities may only have one. FedEx hours are usually 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Extended hours may be found at FedEx counters within retail partner stores, such as some Walgreens, Dollar General, Office Depot, and OfficeMax locations.

UPS Ease of Use

The shipping calculator on the UPS website is easy to use and provides a simple table with all the rates based on your input. There aren’t many UPS locations, although there are many drop boxes and retail partners like Staples and PostalAnnex. Hours are daily from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. or later, depending on location.

USPS Ease of Use

Calculating shipping is easy using USPS because you just need to enter the weight and the ZIP code you’re shipping from and to in the shipping calculator. While nearly every city and town has a USPS location, it may close for lunch in smaller cities and have limited weekend hours.

Retail USPS hours vary, so if you’re shipping or picking something up from the post office, you’ll likely have to take off work early. Typical hours are 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., although you may find extended hours at retail locations, such as those found at Walmart, Staples, or Hy-Vee. Additionally, many FedEx counters offer USPS products and services, including drop-off.

FedEx vs UPS vs USPS: Customer Reviews

In a battle of UPS vs FedEx vs USPS for fast shipping times, it was a tie for most customers, with UPS slightly edging out the other two carriers. That said, all have very low user ratings online.

When shipping internationally, customers favor UPS because shipments often arrive much sooner than expected. While pricing is higher for most shipment options through UPS and FedEx vs USPS, customers say they prefer UPS and FedEx because of customer service issues with USPS.

Here’s a breakdown of each shipping company’s customer reviews:

• FedEx: 1.1 out of 5 stars, almost 7,000 reviews on ConsumerAffairs
  • Positive FedEx reviews mention fast shipping and how easy it is to track shipments at all stages. Many users have pointed out the convenience of delivery seven days per week, a service available to most of the US.
  • Negative FedEx reviews include frustrations with FedEx customer service and issues with delivery—including late deliveries, lost or damaged packages, and incorrect addresses.
• UPS: 1.2 out of 5 stars, 6,000-plus reviews on ConsumerAffairs
  • Positive UPS reviews say that many UPS international deliveries arrive sooner than promised. Other customers praise how UPS employees are highly professional and the company’s tracking system is robust.
  • Negative UPS reviews complain about lost packages, damaged goods, and damage to property from delivery trucks. Others cite deliveries to incorrect addresses and lack of accountability.
• USPS: 1.1 out of 5 stars, 8,000-plus reviews on ConsumerAffairs
  • Positive USPS reviews favor its pricing compared to other shipping carriers. Customers also talk about how kind their personal and helpful USPS carriers are.
  • Negative USPS reviews cite concerns about frequent price increases, poor retail location hours, lost and damaged packages, and lack of customer service.

How to Reduce Your Shipping Costs

Shipping costs impact your bottom line, so finding ways to reduce costs makes a big difference, especially during peak seasons. Here are four actionable ways to reduce your shipping costs, whether you ship with FedEx, UPS, or USPS.

Use Small & Lightweight Packaging Materials

Reducing your shipping costs begins with smart packaging choices. Dimensional weight (DIM weight), a pricing method used by carriers, charges based on the amount of space a package occupies in relation to its weight. However, if a parcel’s actual weight is greater than its DIM weight, the carrier uses that instead.

By opting for smaller, lightweight packaging materials, you can significantly cut down on shipping costs. Use the smallest package that safely fits your products, and consider lightweight materials for outer packaging and void fill. Poly mailers are a prime example—they take up less space and weigh less compared to boxes, often securing lower rates from major carriers.

Offer Delivery Options

Offering a variety of delivery options—like standard, expedited, and in-store pickup—is a strategic move that caters to your customers’ diverse budget and urgency preferences while helping to minimize your shipping costs.

Standard shipping is a cost-effective choice for those with no time constraints, whereas expedited shipping caters to customers willing to pay a premium for faster delivery. Or, if you have a physical retail location or nearby distribution center, in-store pickup significantly reduces shipping costs and offers an alternative for customers looking to save on shipping fees.

Outsource Shipping to a Third-Party Company

For most businesses, order fulfillment and shipping are usually two of the biggest expenses. Partnering with a fulfillment company can help you cut down on the costs associated with labor, storage, packaging materials, and shipping. These providers also ship very high volumes of packages, allowing them to secure low, negotiated rates with a variety of carriers, and they typically pass these savings onto you.

Use Shipping Software

Using shipping software to generate and print your labels as well as organize your shipments is a game-changer in cost reductions. These programs allow for easy comparison of carrier rates, ensuring you choose the best deal every time.

Plus, the automation of label creation and tracking saves time and avoids pricey errors. Most importantly, shipping software gives significantly discounted rates. Our top-recommended shipping software solution is ShippingEasy—it’s easy to use and offers a free starter plan.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

These are some of the most common questions we encounter about FedEx vs UPS vs USPS.

Which is cheaper: UPS, USPS, or FedEx?

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Which is more reliable: FedEx, UPS, or USPS?

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Which courier is better for express delivery?

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Which courier is better for overnight shipping?

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Bottom Line

When comparing FedEx vs UPS vs USPS, consider the price and shipping speed that your small business needs. While USPS has some of the best pricing, FedEx and UPS offer faster shipping times for a higher cost.

USPS is typically the best comprehensive shipping solution for most low-volume businesses. There are no monthly requirements, the service is reliable, and the regular retail rates are very competitive. However, even lower rates and discounts are available through services like Stamps.com, making it easy to print shipping labels from home.

Visit Stamps.com