USPS vs. UPS vs. FedEx: Who Has Better Rates?

Mar. 07, 2024

Key Points:

USPS, UPS, and FedEx are three of the most popular shipping couriers for domestic and international shipments
USPS is an affordable option for media mail, lightweight and fragile parcels
FedEx is known for its detailed tracking and express delivery services
UPS is best suited for larger shipments and freight packages

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USPS, UPS®, and FedEx are the three most widely known delivery couriers — but choosing the best-suited for your small business can be complicated. Consider three essential criteria: speed, affordability, and reliability when evaluating the services.

In this article, we'll break down the three industry giants' popular services and provide you with a better understanding of how to navigate which is best suited for your eCommerce stores.

Price and Time Comparison

The two primary comparisons you'll want to make are our shipping prices and delivery time. Each courier will have different cost-effective services that cater to different package sizes and delivery time frames. Let's look at which is cheaper, UPS or USPS or FedEx. Plus, the timeframes for various services.

Price Comparison

Let us now compare example FedEx vs UPS rates, FedEx vs USPS rates and UPS vs FedEx rates for the following services:

Flat Rate: Each courier offers a version of flat rate shipping for packages with comparable price points and sizes. USPS offers you free flat rate boxes for packages weighing 20 pounds. They can be delivered within 1-3 business days around the US. FedEx provides flat-rate services to parcels weighing up to 50 pounds. The shipping timeline is more definite from 1, 2, and 3-day delivery. UPS simple rate comes in 5 flat rate options up to 50 pounds, with ground, 2nd-day air, and 3-day select options.

Starting Rates UPS FedEx USPS Small Box $12.40 $12.05 $9.45 Medium Box $14.95 $15.70 $16.10 Large Box $19.60 $24.20 $21.50 Extra Large Box $24.30 $39.10 N/A

Overnight: All three couriers offer guaranteed overnight delivery services: FedEx 2Day AM, USPS Priority Mail Express delivery by 10 am, and UPS Next Day Air®.

Below, you’ll find an example of overnight shipping costs for the standard couriers when shipping a 2lb package sized 10” x 5” x 5” from Brooklyn, New York, to Miami, Florida.

Service Cost USPS Priority Mail Express $50.35 UPS Next Day Air® $102.86 FedEx First Overnight $140.79

*These are the daily rates from USPS, UPS, and FedEx

Ground: FedEx and UPS both offer competitive Ground services and real-time tracking updates at every transit point. Plus, both couriers off alerts along the way in the case of service disruptions. On the other hand, USPS Retail Ground service is for thick envelopes, packages, and tubes weighing up to 70 pounds. In addition, USPS tracking is part of the service without any additional charges. So if you're shipping items under 70 pounds, USPS may be the better option.

Courier Cost Surcharge UPS starts at$7.57/1lb $3.60 residential surcharge USPS starts at $7.35/1lb N/A FedEx starts at $8.23/1lb $4 surcharge for home delivery

Home: FedEx Home service is ideal for heavier packages with expected delivery within five days. UPS® Ground and USPS Priority Mail are equally good competitors for heavy packages and the same timeline. But the only difference is that USPS Priority Mail has a maximum weight limit of 70 pounds. Below, we include an example of shipping a 65 pounds package (12 x 12 x 12) from Brooklyn to Miami:

Service Cost FedEx Home $124.86 UPS® Ground $128.81 USPS Priority Mail $119.90

*These are the daily rates from USPS, UPS, and FedEx

Priority: Priority Mail offers a fast service for packages that need to be delivered as soon as possible, which usually means paying extra money to get where it needs to go. USPS Priority Mail delivers within 1-3 days, while USPS Priority Express delivers from overnight to 2 days. FedEx 2 Day AM and UPS Next Day Air are competitive services.

Service Cost USPS Priority Mail $12.65 FedEx 2Day AM $57.98 UPS 2nd Day Air® $47.11

*These are the daily rates from USPS, UPS, and FedEx for a 2-pound package from Brooklyn to Miami (10 x 5 x 5)

Small Packages: Most of the time, eCommerce businesses need to ship small packages. That’s why finding a good shipping carrier service for such packages is essential. USPS First Class package service is ideal for any package weighing under 1 pound and delivers within 1-5 business days.

Below, you’ll find a breakdown of a package of 12 ounces.

Courier Cost USPS $3.82 FedEx $13.85 UPS $10.72

Heavy Packages: Each courier offers competitive services for heavy packages. USPS has a weight limit of 70 pounds for shipping through its popular services. UPS® Ground and FedEx Home Delivery are perfect for such packages, though UPS is recommended for larger shipments.

Below are the costs for shipping a 70-pound package (10” x 5” x 5”) from Brooklyn, New York, to Miami, Florida.

Courier Cost UPS® Ground $131.46 FedEx Home Delivery $127.43 USPS Retail Ground $111.40

You'll want to consider the following costs for additional handling:

UPS charges $10.85 per package for additional handling
USPS charges $12.15 per package for special handling costs
FedEx charges between $14-$25.50 per package for additional handling

To learn if your package requires additional handling for shipping, contact your shipping courier to learn more.

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Shipping Options with UPS, FedEx, and USPS

Now that we've analyzed whether FedEx, UPS or USPS is cheaper, the next step on your logistical journey is to compare these shipping companies and their options.

Operating hours:

FedEx: Delivers seven days a week, so if you want to deliver a package on Sundays, FedEx is a good choice. This courier service delivers from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm.
UPS: Open from Monday till Friday from 9:00 am to 7:00 pm. Weekend delivery is only available for certain areas.
USPS: Delivers seven days a week, 24 hours a day — yes, including weekends. Deliveries are usually done from Monday to Saturday but are sometimes done on Sundays.

Insurance: The cost of insurance is determined based on the declared value of the items in the package. Sometimes courier services give standard coverage for all the packages unless obtained otherwise. Insurance can be claimed for damages incurred in the shipping process. It can also be claimed if there is a theft or packages are lost.

FedEx: FedEx offers up to $100 of coverage for every package, but if you want additional coverage, you need to declare the value of your package.
UPS: UPS offers up to $100 of coverage for every package. You can declare a value of up to $50,000. You will have to pay additional charges after entering the value in the UPS system.
USPS: USPS provides coverage of up to $5,000 for damaged or lost items in their custody. In addition, registered mail can get coverage for up to $50,000 with USPS.

Pick Up and Drop Off: All three couriers have one thing in common: Boxes or locations where you can drop off your packages to be shipped.

USPS: USPS packages can be dropped off at the post office mail drop slots.
FedEx: FedEx pickups and dropoffs are available during business hours at each retail location.
UPS: UPS® Drop Boxes are self-service and are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. UPS customers can choose from dropping off parcels at UPS Access Point®, the UPS Store®, locations, or Customer Counter – all of which allow for easy package dropoffs with ease.

UPS and FedEx don't offer free pickup at their facilities, though. If you want to pick up items at a retail store, you will have to pay an extra fee.

Label Printing: Before requesting a pickup, you need to print your shipping labels. All three couriers offer online shipping capabilities, allowing you to print shipping labels from home. Register at their websites and follow the instructions shared to take advantage of this. If you want to print return shipping labels, you'll need to contact the nearest service center.

Tracking: USPS, UPS, and FedEx all offer competitive tracking capabilities so that you can ship packages with ease. FedEx and UPS provide real-time tracking updates at every point in transit and alert their customers in the case of any service disruption. USPS has recently revamped the way it tracks packages, as doing so is now considered an industry standard. All three also offer customer support if you can't track your package.

Reliability: The quality of a courier's tracking system is often judged by reliability and accuracy. FedEx, USPS, and UPS are all reliable in terms of tracking shipments. FedEx and UPS can be a bit expensive, but if you want to track every single movement of your shipment, they are the ones to use.

Customs: FedEx offers standard customs clearance free of charge. But if you want to import an item, they also provide different solutions for special clearance needs. Upon request, FedEx also offers customs broker services. UPS also provides customs brokerage services for your shipments and heavy freight enabling seamless border crossing. USPS handles customs until the shipment reaches its destination country. After that, it's the responsibility of the host to take the customs and delivery the package.

When to Use USPS vs. UPS vs. FedEx

USPS: an affordable option for media mail, lightweight, small, and less fragile packages. Popular services include Priority Mail and USPS Retail Ground.

Pros:

It is the cheapest service for small packages
You can also send deliveries to mailboxes, PO boxes, Military bases and send Diplomatic mail
A free pickup option is available
Weekend delivery is also available

Cons:

Although tracking has improved, it is still limited as compared to other services
A customer support system isn't as responsive compared to another courier service

Related post: What's the Cheapest Way to Ship Packages?

FedEx: known for its detailed tracking and fast delivery. Because of its time-sensitive delivery, FedEx is most suitable for delivering perishable items, alcohol, beverages, and food. Popular services include FedEx Ground and FedEx international priority.

Pros:

An excellent tracking system is available, making it perfect for valuable packages
Weekend/Saturday delivery is available
Good discounts are offered to increase the affordability of the shipment. It is also an additional attraction for the customers

Cons:

Does not offer free pickup services for packages
It can be expensive compared to other options, as the shipping rates are higher
There are fewer brick and mortar locations compared to the other couriers

UPS: best suited for larger shipments and freight packages. Popular services include UPS® Ground and UPS Worldwide Express®.

Pros:

For time-sensitive deliveries, UPS offers guaranteed express delivery with same day and next day delivery system
Competitive pricing for premium shipping services
Real-time tracking
UPS® Drop Boxes and UPS Access Point® locations
It has a very airtight tracking system providing accurate information regarding your package delivery
It is ideal for heavy shipments with affordable freight services
Saturday delivery at no extra charge

Cons:

It is more expensive than the other services because of higher fees and surcharges added to the base rates
It doesn't offer free pickup, and additional pickup charges also add to the expense
Saturday delivery is available, but extra charges apply

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With rates at checkout, eCommerce merchants can be assured they offer their customers the fastest, cheapest, and best value shipping options for every purchase. Easily print your labels and provide tracking for your customers and a host of other features.

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USPS vs. UPS vs. FedEx FAQ

Is FedEx, UPS, or USPS better in the United States?

All couriers provide a mix of affordability and service and can deliver your shipments from point A to B.

How much of a price difference is it to mail a simple letter via UPS or FedEx versus USPS?

USPS First Class Mail is typically the cheapest option for sending mail. The price to ship mail or package shipments depends on the weight, dimensions, distance, delivery speed, and courier service.

What are all the USPS services that FedEx and UPS can't do?

USPS, FedEx, and UPS provide both affordable and express shipping services. However, USPS provides the cheapest retail shipping services. For instance, USPS can deliver a letter for less than a dollar.

If you found this comparison valuable, you might be interested in the following articles:

Is It Cheaper to Ship with UPS or USPS, or FedEx?

FedEx, UPS, and USPS are the most ubiquitous parcel shipping companies in the U.S. But which among them offers the cheapest rates? Let’s find out!

Is UPS, USPS, or FedEx Cheaper to Ship?

Deciding which shipping carrier is most cost-effective, whether it be UPS, FedEx, or USPS, depends on various factors, including package weight and dimensions, shipping distance, and delivery timeline. While all these carriers offer similar services, each has its own rates, service levels, pricing structure, and unique set of pros and cons.

UPS and FedEx tend to be more expensive for smaller packages but can offer better rates for larger and heavier shipments. Additionally, both UPS and FedEx offer a wider range of shipping options, such as same-day and next-day delivery, that can be beneficial for urgent shipments. FedEx and UPS are generally faster in delivery than USPS.

Generally speaking, though, USPS tends to be the most affordable option for lightweight packages that don't require expedited shipping. Additionally, USPS is often the preferred option for shipping to P.O. boxes and military addresses.

Ultimately, the best way to determine which carrier is the cheapest for your specific shipment is to compare prices and services from each provider using calculators on their respective websites.

In this blog, we will attempt to find the cheapest shipping method by comparing UPS, FedEx, and USPS costs for shipping a box weighing between 11 and 20 pounds.

Below are the shipping rates for UPS, USPS, and FedEx.

UPS Shipping Rates

UPS Service

Weight

UPS Next Day Air Early

UPS Next Day Air

UPS Next Day Air Saver

UPS 2nd Day Air A.M.

UPS 2nd Day Air

UPS 3-Day Select

UPS Ground

1–10 pounds

$65.00–$241.38

$35.00–$220.81

$31.71–$166.88

$23.64–$125.26

$21.64–$122.21

$13.66–$81.74

$10.10–$112.33

11–20 pounds

$87.74–$336.20

$57.74–$334.89

$51.04–$244.25

$34.07–$204.68

$30.87–$185.36

$24.10–$131.10

$14.10–$166.06

21–30 pounds

$104.81–$407.52

$74.81–$401.18

$68.28–$323.01

$52.04–$280.59

$46.53–$259.15

$33.51–$180.11

$16.69–$219.32

31–40 pounds

$122.69–$489.82

$92.69–$473.74

$85.35–$391.28

$68.58–$368.28

$58.69–$335.80

$44.84–$226.57

$20.19–$265.35

41–50 pounds

$145.49–$572.75

$115.49–$553.61

$104.26–$468.37

$85.90–$435.70

$76.65–$370.88

$54.94–$269.82

$23.03–$316.11

51–60 pounds

$173.79–$698.48

$143.79–$681.86

$123.26–$571.10

$104.82–$511.04

$86.54–$440.32

$65.10–$315.87

$24.79–$366.36

61–70 pounds

$200.53–$782.36

$170.53–$768.24

$144.21–$656.79

$116.75–$597.70

$101.07–$495.98

$73.06–$374.64

$26.03–$422.73

FedEx Service

Weight

FedEx First Overnight

FedEx Priority Overnight

FedEx Standard Overnight

FedEx 2Day A.M.

FedEx 2Day

FedEx Express Saver

FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery

1–10 pounds

$68.04–$199.53

$37.04–$168.53

$33.87–$165.22

$25.37–$127.21

$22.59–$106.40

$21.03–$91.63

$10.10–$22.40

11–20 pounds

$93.53–$280.16

$62.53–$ 249.16

$55.08–$241.82

$36.28–$ 206.09

$33.06–$176.30

$32.41–$149.10

$14.17–$36.17

21–30 pounds

$109.85–$367.87

$78.85–$ 336.87

$73.68–$319.81

$57.43–$276.22

$49.83–$243.54

$45.48–$205.05

$16.80–$51.83

31–40 pounds

$128.73–$435.45

$97.73–$404.45

$92.11–$387.40

$74.31–$ 362.84

$63.05–$312.64

$61.81–$ 259.57

$20.29–$63.95

41–50 pounds

$149.28–$510.78

$118.28–$479.78

$112.52–$462.75

$94.83–$ 438.26

$82.33–$359.69

$79.96–$308.02

$23.15–$74.72

51–60 pounds

$185.48–$613.46

$154.48–$582.46

$133.04–$565.44

$114.67–$522.93

$93.47–$424.98

$91.63–$373.06

$24.85–$81.11

61–70 pounds

$214.21–$698.31

$183.21–$667.31

$151.33–$650.28

$133.01–$602.70

$108.74–$479.00

$104.68–$436.39

$26.09–$85.57

USPS Shipping Rates

USPS Service

Weight

Priority Mail Express

Priority Mail

USPS Retail Ground

1–10 pounds

$29.20–$158.55

$9.35–$104.50

$8.95–$40.90

11–20 pounds

$49.05–$221.95

$15.95–$177.55

$15.20–$68.60

21–30 pounds

$71.95–$308.15

$24.00–$231.75

$23.00–$95.60

31–40 pounds

$98.55–$398.25

$34.25–$277.40

$34.05–$113.65

41–50 pounds

$125.35–$494.15

$39.65–$314.90

$37.95–$127.85

51–60 pounds

$151.70–$593.30

$43.15–$350.55

$40.85–$141.20

61–70 pounds

$179.85–$688.20

$48.45–$401.35

$47.35–$161.75

Comparison: UPS vs FedEx vs USPS Cost to Ship a Box Weighing 11–20 Pounds

Let’s begin by comparing their express shipping services:

UPS Next Day Air Early costs $87.74–$336.20

FedEx First Overnight costs $93.53–$280.16

Priority Mail Express costs $49.05–$221.95

From the above rates, we can tell that USPS is the cheapest for express shipping. However, USPS is slower than UPS and FedEx express services.

Now let’s compare ground shipping:

UPS Ground costs $14.10–$166.06.

FedEx Ground costs $14.17–$36.17.

USPS Ground costs $15.20–$68.60.

For Ground shipping, it is evident that FedEx is the cheapest option.

What Is the Least Expensive Way to Ship a Heavy Box?

Depending on your desired delivery time and the specifics of your package, the cheapest way to ship a heavy box can vary. In general, however, USPS is your best bet if your heavy package is below 70 pounds or below (they don’t ship packages over 70 pounds).

If your package is over 70 pounds, UPS Ground and FedEx Ground are the cheapest (but slowest) shipping options. If time is an issue, you may have to use the more expensive express or expedited shipping services.

Apart from the standard rates, you need to make sure you avoid additional charges and surcharges if you want the lowest shipping costs. Use these tips to ensure your package doesn’t get flagged or surcharged:

- Pack smartly – The weight and size of the box can greatly impact shipping costs. Use the smallest box possible while still ensuring the contents are well protected.
- Label your box properly – Make sure to enter accurate shipment details when you attach your shipping labels. This will help you avoid additional correction charges after delivery.
-Know the shipping restrictions – Different carriers have different shipping restrictions on items such as hazardous materials, liquids, and perishable goods. Ensure you are aware of these restrictions and that your package complies with them.
Accurately declare the value – If the package contains valuable items, accurately declare their value to avoid any surcharges or penalties.

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USPS vs. UPS vs. FedEx: Who Has Better Rates?

Table of Contents

Price and Time Comparison

Price Comparison

Shipping Options with UPS, FedEx, and USPS

When to Use USPS vs. UPS vs. FedEx

Ship with UPS, FedEx, and USPS Through Easyship

USPS vs. UPS vs. FedEx FAQ

Is It Cheaper to Ship with UPS or USPS, or FedEx?

Is UPS, USPS, or FedEx Cheaper to Ship?

UPS Shipping Rates

USPS Shipping Rates

Comparison: UPS vs FedEx vs USPS Cost to Ship a Box Weighing 11–20 Pounds

What Is the Least Expensive Way to Ship a Heavy Box?

How ShipSigma Can Help

USPS vs. UPS vs. FedEx: Who Has Better Rates?

Is It Cheaper to Ship with UPS or USPS, or FedEx?