UPS vs. USPS vs. FedEx: Which is Cheaper

Introduction

Shipping constitutes another significant phenomenon. It emerged that 69 per cent of consumers abandon their purchases if their delivery is delayed. It can influence brand commitment.

Thus, the only option is to cultivate relations with the top companies. But which is best if you select UPS vs. USPS vs. FedEx?

In this article, we have contrasted the various shipping options and made your search for the best one less rigorous. Choose the shipping company you prefer!

1. USPS shipping

1) Introduction

Shipping products with the USPS is one of the most effective ways to transport items across international borders. It provides numerous types of shipping services and low prices.

We would like to go through the USPS shipping option in detail now.

2) Shipping options

USPS shipping brings up the following methods.

• Priority Mail Express®

Maintain it as one of the quickest methods of delivery offered by the USPS. They are always open throughout the year. The implication is you can ship products anytime you want. However, the weight should also be below 70 pounds and appropriate dimensions.

It costs as low as $30.45 at a Post Office, and other prices depend on weight. It ensures delivery of your packages within 2 days. They all deliver by 6 PM. If it’s late, you’ll get the money back!

• Priority Mail®

The most popular service of USPS is priority mail, which clients widely purchase. It is prompt and provides 1-3 days of shipping assistance, which can be really beneficial.

Extra perks of this shipping option include free envelopes and boxes. If you choose flat rates, this service requires a minimum weight of 70 pounds. The initial shipping cost is $9.25 when the shipping weight is low, but it rises when you increase the shipping weight.

Priority Mail still has the Tracking and updated Statuses with different meanings.

• USPS Ground Advantage

Do you want to ship locally? Choose the USPS ground advantage shipping service. It has a guaranteed shipping of 2-5 days.

When is this suitable? Choose this shipping option when the weight is less than 70 pounds. USPS calculates the costs in ounces to 15.99 ounces. Once the limit is exceeded, the cost calculation is in pounds. Prices are relievers with $5 as a starting cost.

• First-Class Mail

For small envelopes up to 3.5 oz in weight, first-class mail is the best option. It is affordable and guarantees shipping within five days in the US. Moreover, if you have large envelopes, it can still be effective up to 13 oz. Such a high affordability makes it suitable for small and large packages.

The price is $0.68 and increases with high weight limits.

• Media Mail

Media Mail limits the types of products. For example, you can ship educational products such as books. What if you ship products that aren’t included?

USPS asks for higher costs. With a decent shipping of 2-8 days, try this shipping option for the following products:

• 16-millimeter or narrower-width films
• Books (at least eight pages)
• Playscripts and manuscripts
• Computer-readable media
• Video and audio recordings (tapes, albums, and CDs/DVDs)
• Medical pages and binders
• Printed educational reference charts
• Printed music and test materials

Price starts at $4.13 and depends on the weight and type of the products.

3) Factors Affecting the Costs

Various factors can affect USPS shipping rates. These include:

• Shipping weight. Apart from flat-rate shipping, prices elevate with the increasing weight. Oversized or large packages cost two to threefold more costs.
• Shipping distance. International shipping costs are higher compared to the domestic. If you are shipping to a distant country, the prices will also elevate.
• Delivery speed. If you consider fast shipping, the costs increase. Standard shipping is often the cheapest option with reduced costs.

2. UPS Shipping

1) Introduction

UPS shipping stands out as a top competitor to the USPS. It is one of the largest shipping companies serving US consumers for over a century. The addition of international shipments has further expanded the business.

Guess what? It is perfect for international shipping compared to domestic. You can dig out the reliable pricing and affordable shipping services.

Let’s explore the variety of shipping services it offers to consumers!

2) Shipping Option

Here are a few shipping options provided by the UPS shipping!!

UPS Ground Shipping

UPS ground shipping ships locally in the 50 states of the US. Don’t worry; if you belong to Puerto Rico, it offers shipping coverage too.

However, there are some highlighted points of this UPS ground shipping service:

• UPS ground shipping takes 1-5 days. Saturday is the standard day of delivery for almost all the packages.
• The weight limit is 150 pounds, while the dimensions must not exceed 108 inches.
• Prices vary according to weight and shipping types.

UPS 2nd Day Air

UPS 2nd-day air delivery is one of the fastest shipping options for domestic shipping. It comes with the following limitations and benefits.

• You must limit your weight to up to 150 pounds. Dimensions must not exceed 108” for your shipment.
• Shipping speed depends on the shipping choice and products.
• UPS ships to 48 contiguous states. It has access to shipping in limited areas of Alaska and Hawaii.
• Saturday shipping is also available in this particular shipping option.

UPS 3 Day Select

UPS 3-day Select is not very much different from the 2nd-day air. There is a difference in the costs and pricing. The shipping occurs within three days and to limited areas in the US. Forty-eight contiguous states, and boom, you’ll get your delivery in the specified time.

UPS Next Day Air

UPS next-day air is the fastest delivery with guaranteed shipping within 24 hours. It proposes three definite shipping selections as follows:

• UPS Next Day Air® Early. It delivers products to the 48 contiguous within 24 hours. Other regions include Anchorage.
• UPS Next Day Air. If you need to ship to all fifty states, use this method. It also ships to Puerto Rico with standard shipping of 1-day for all urgent packages.
• UPS Next Day Air® Saver. This shipping method ships from 50 to 48 contiguous states within 24 hours.

Saturday delivery is available in the first two shipping options. It has a limit of 150 pounds in weight and 108” in dimensions.

3) Factors Affecting the Costs

Almost the same factors affect UPS shipping.

• Increasing the weight and dimensions of the packages can influence the cost. Prices increase with the increasing weight.
• If you are shipping internationally, expect higher costs. Local shipping can save you money.
• Peak seasons flare up the costs. Try to ship during the off-peak season if you want to avoid incurring costs!!

3. FedEx Shipping

1) Introduction

FedEx isn’t a new fish in the market. It has 50+ years of shipping history. When it introduced overnight shipping, the popularity touched the skies. The affordable pricing and speed make it a top shipping service.

FedEx shipping locally and internationally on the promised times and dates.

2) Shipping Options

FedEx features the following shipping options for the users:

Standard Shipping in the US

If you are shipping locally in the US, FedEx offers a variety of options. Here are the shipping methods:

• Same-day Delivery. Ship your products on the same day in most of the US locations.
• Overnight Delivery. This product shipping features 24-hour delivery. Shipment arrives either morning, noon, or evening. First Overnight®, Priority Overnight®, and Standard Overnight are the shipping options.
• 2-day delivery. Get your products shipped within two days. The shipment arrives at 10:30 to businesses. Accept your delivery at noon at home.
• 3-day delivery. Within the US, you can ship products within three days only.
• Commercial ground delivery. This shipping takes only 1-5 days for shipping within the US. It is suitable for commercial addresses.
• Residential ground delivery. If you want to ship products to residential addresses, this ground delivery is the best option.

Standard Shipping from the US to Another Country

Do you want to ship internationally through the Federal Express? Well, it is cheaper and suitable for heavyweight products.

• FedEx® International Next Flight. It is the fastest option with 24-hour delivery. You can ship to many countries through this shipping method.
• FedEx International Priority® Express. This mail option ships products to 220+ countries and different territories. Shipping time is one to three days, with early delivery in most regions.
• FedEx International Economy®. It is a more cost-effective option with 2-3 days delivery—shipping access to 215+ countries and some territories.
• FedEx International Ground®. The shipment reaches 2-7 business days.

Express shipping in the US

FedEx also features express shipping guaranteeing delivery in one to two days.

Keep an eye on the following domestic deliveries.

• FedEx SameDay® Freight. Get your delivery in hours on the same locally within the US addresses.
• FedEx First Overnight® Freight. Expect 24-hour delivery reaching 9 am the next day.
• 1, 2, Or 3 Day Freight. Shipping occurs rapidly based on your shipping method. One-day freight surpasses your expectations with the fastest delivery.

Express Shipping from the US to Another Country

If you want to ship internationally, go for the following FedEx express shipping options.

• FedEx® International Next Flight. Ship your products internationally on the next flight. Delivery occurs in 24 hours.
• FedEx International Priority® Freight. If you have a shipping weight above 150 pounds, get it shipped in 1-5 days.
• FedEx International Premium®. Procure additional safety for your sensitive products with this FedEx shipping option.

3) Factors Affecting the Costs

The following factors cause incurring rates.

• Increase your weight for shipping packages and prices will automatically rise. It is because of cost calculations based on the weight.
• If you are shipping sensitive packages, extra security is necessary. Fragile products might need insurance. So you’ve to settle for higher rates.
• Longer shipping distances consume more fuel. So, prices fluctuate accordingly.

4. UPS vs. USPS vs. FedEx; Shipping Rates Comparison

UPS vs. USPS vs. FedEx can be tough competition based on the different features and prices. Each shipping option has its facilities and better options. Let’s compare the different shipping options.

1) Domestic Shipping Costs

Domestic shipping refers to shipping within the local areas of the US. USPS, UPS, and FedEx offer different shipping methods and costs.

First, we will compare them based on their package size and weight.

Standard Shipping

Standard shipping concludes with the shipping of different package sizes. For example, if you try domestic shipping for small packages, USPS, UPS, and FedEx offer the following shipping options.

① Lightweight Package (1 pound)

If your package weight is one pound or less, here is a detailed comparison of the costs. USPS is the most affordable option.

USPS First-Class Mail charges around $4-$6 with a shipping time of 1-3 days. Compared to it, UPS Ground is the second best option, costing $8-$12. The shipping time is 1-5 business days. FedEx Ground is comparable with UPS—the shipping cost is $8–$12.  You’ll get your products within 1-5 business days.

② Medium Package (5 pounds)

If you have a medium package size of 5 pounds, USPS priority mail also stands out at such a point.

Here is the comparison of the UPS vs. USPS vs. FedEx.

• USPS Priority Mail charges $8-$15. Shipping time is the same as one to three business days.
• UPS Ground charges $12-$20. The shipping time is 1-5 business days.

FedEx Ground offers a price of $12-$20. The cost is 1-5 business days for the package shipping.

③ Heavy Package (20 pounds)

Welcome the heavy package for domestic shipping. Make a guess which shipping option will win.

Compare UPS vs. USPS vs. FedEx with the following options.

• USPS Priority Mail has a cost of $25-$50. It offers a fast delivery of 1-3 business days.
• UPS Ground charges a cost of $20-$40. The shipping includes 1-5 business days.
• FedEx Ground has a cost of $20-$40. The shipping time is 1-5 business days.

④ Flat-rate Shipping

Flat-rate shipping is a cost-saving option with a constant price. You can pack two or more orders in a single package. Some companies come up with order consolidation and help you save some additional rates for the shipping service.

Let’s compare the different rates of UPS vs. USPS vs. FedEx.

⑤ UPS Simple Rate

USP features a flat pricing on the orders. It offers almost the exact pricing as the USPS. You can check out the following shipping rates for your orders.

• Extra Small has a rate of $10.85.
• Small has a rate of $14.15
• The medium package has a rate of $16.90
• The large package has a rate of $22.30.
• Extra large package has a price of $27.60.

⑥ USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate

USPS priority mail flat costs vary from small packages to large packages.

• Small Box has a flat rate of $9.05.
• Medium Box has a flat rate of $16.00.
• Large Box has a flat rate of $21.85.

⑦ FedEx One Rate

FedEx also proposes flat rates to the consumers with the fast shipping. Here are a few things to know:

• Small Box has a cost of $14.50.
• Medium Box charges $18.25.
• Large Box proposes a price of $24.50.

Service	USPS	UPS	FedEx
Lightweight Package (1 lb)	First-Class Mail: $4-$6 (1-3 days)	Ground: $8-$12 (1-5 days)	Ground: $8-$12 (1-5 days)
Medium Package (5 lbs)	Priority Mail: $8-$15 (1-3 days)	Ground: $12-$20 (1-5 days)	Ground: $12-$20 (1-5 days)
Heavy Package (20 lbs)	Priority Mail: $25-$50 (1-3 days)	Ground: $20-$40 (1-5 days)	Ground: $20-$40 (1-5 days)
Flat-Rate Options	Priority Mail Flat Rate: $9.05-$21.85	Simple Rate: $10.85-$27.60	One Rate: $14.50-$24.50

2) International Shipping Costs

International shipping takes place from the US to Asia, Europe, and many other territories in the world. The packaging weight, time, and season affect the shipping costs. Different types of shipping options are available to the users. Let’s decide based on the weight and region.

① Lightweight Package (1 lb) to Europe

If you are shipping lightweight products up to one pound in weight in Europe, USPS offers the best shipping option. FedEx is the slowest option.

Let’s compare the costs!

• USPS First-Class Package International Service has a cost of $15-$20.00. Packages arrive in 1-3 weeks to the European regions.
• UPS Worldwide Saver is fast shipping compared to USPS. It features a standard cost of $50-$70. The shipping time is 1-3 business days. You don’t have to wait much longer.
• FedEx International Economy has a cost of $50-$70. The shipping time is intermediate compared to USPS and UPS. It is 2-5 business days.

② Medium Package (5 lbs) to Asia

If you go for medium package shipping weighing up to 5 pounds, USPS is good with increased wait. Choose wisely about your products.

• USPS Priority Mail International ships all your products to the US. The delivery costs around $50-$70. However, the shipping isn’t very fast compared to UPS and FedEx. Get your products within 6-10 business days.
• UPS Worldwide Saver has a cost of $80- $120 with one of the fastest shipping in the Asian region. Wait for 1-3 business days and receive your products.
• FedEx International Economy is comparable with the UPS but has less speed. The cost is $80-$120, while shipping time is 2-5 business days.

③ Heavy Package (20 lbs) to Australia

Ship products to Australia. USPS still wins at the price. However, you have to wait up to one week for your package to arrive.

Take a look at different costs and shipping options.

• USPS Priority Mail International is one of the cheapest options for international shipping to Australia. The cost is $150 – $200 with a shipping of 6-10 business days.
• UPS Worldwide Saver comes at a higher cost compared to USPS. The cost is $250- $300, while the delivery time is 1-3 business days.
• FedEx International Priority has the exact price as the UPS. You can get a quote of $250-$300 with a shipping of 1-3 business days.

Service	USPS	UPS	FedEx
Lightweight Package (1 lb) to Europe	First-Class International: $15-$20 (7-21 days)	Worldwide Saver: $50-$70 (1-3 days)	International Economy: $50-$70 (2-5 days)
Medium Package (5 lbs) to Asia	Priority Mail International: $50-$70 (6-10 days)	Worldwide Saver: $80-$120 (1-3 days)	International Economy: $80-$120 (2-5 days)
Heavy Package (20 lbs) to Australia	Priority Mail International: $150-$200 (6-10 days)	Worldwide Saver: $250-$300 (1-3 days)	International Priority: $250-$300 (1-3 days)

5. Tips for Saving on Shipping Costs

Selection of an expensive shipping option is sometimes necessary. But try to avoid it and go for the money-saving shipping options.

Prices are sometimes out of control but save shipping costs with following tips.

1) Optimize package size and weight

Package size is impactful in the case of flat-rate shipping. You get a package and need to stuff as many packages as you can. Get a good-sized package and set the products in the right direction.

For example, vertical placement is suitable for large-size items. Horizontal placement can also work effectively in some cases. Whatever the case is, go for optimal packaging.

Use the hack of consolidation shipping to save the extra costs. You can check out the complete order consolidation guide on here.

2) Negotiating discounts or signing up for business accounts

Business accounts have more influence on the companies. They treat you as their VIP customers.

The result? You’ll enjoy many perks. For example:

• Loyalty programs
• Discounted rates
• Easy negotiation and price reduction
• Better quality shipping
• Timely delivery
• Customer satisfaction

Now, make a better impact by disclosing your business opportunities. Tell them you can be their regular and potential consumers if they agree to the fast and discounted shipping rates.

3) Ship in off-peak season

Quick tip— Negate September from your calendar. It comes under the peak months, and you might observe elevated costs.

There are many disadvantages of shipping during peak season:

• Busy shipping companies
• Increased costs
• Reduced attention to ship
• Risks of delayed shipping

So, when should you ship?

Decode the shipping calendar and set a date when there is an off-peak season. You’ll enjoy the discounted rates and timely delivery. Plus, companies treat you as their particular consumer.

4) Ship from closer zones

Do you have a nearby port for your shipping? Well, that is great!! Otherwise, locate the nearby shipping locations.

The advantages of doing so include the reduced costs since the destination is not far away. So, the company has to burn less fuel. Therefore, you can ship products effectively.

5) Get different shippers

Don’t rely only on Federal Express or USPS shipping. Instead, have different options that amplify your ease of selection.

Here is the proper technique:

• Scroll through the different companies. Shortlist 5-10 shippers.
• Get the list of shipping options and compare costs and shipping times.
• Go for the company that is best in business for time and expenses!!

That is how you can devise new techniques for selection and opt for the top team in the town!!

6) Choose standard shipping

The cheapest shipping option available to all the shippers is the standard shipping. It offers a moderate shipping speed but comes at a super affordable cost.

If you are not in a hurry and can accept parcels, select the standard shipping. Don’t forget to check the safety and accuracy of the shipping to eliminate the risks of product damage.

7) Using flat-rate or regional-rate shipping options

Not all shippers facilitate flat rates shipping, but some do. If your shipper has the facility for flat-rate shipping, get it without a second thought. Here is why:

• You can save more money because there is no role of weight.
• It is easy to pack two or three small dimension panels into one. That saves you double or triple the price.

Sometimes, flat-rate shipping is not suitable. For example, if you have a lightweight object but the length is significant, opt for standard shipping.

8) Considering hybrid shipping strategies

Make a table and compare the shipping rates from the USPS, UPS, and FedEx. What do you derive from it? Most shipping options are not suitable for international delivery.

Why not adopt a more economical approach? Suppose you receive ten orders from international consumers. Use FedEx or UPS for global shipping. If you accept orders from regional clients, contact the USPS and ship the products.

6. FAQs

• Is UPS cheaper than USPS?

It depends on the shipping process you are trying and the weight. USPS is the best option if you are shipping products below 2 pounds of weight. It offers a better pricing structure than the UPS and fast shipping. For heavier packages, UPS is a far better option. It is because of lower costs and timely shipping services.

• Is UPS or FedEx cheaper?

The answer is not that simple. It depends more on the shipping of your products. For example, if you are shipping domestically, then UPS is the cheaper choice. If you are considering fast and international shipping, look no further than the Federal Express.

• What is the cheapest way to ship packages?

Sea freight (LCL and FCL) is the cheapest way to ship the packages. But if you need an answer between the UPS, USPS, and FedEx, here is how it varies:

• For small packages, USPS first-class mail is a suitable choice.
• For medium packages, go for USPS priority mail.
• For heavier packages, accept the UPS and FedEx Ground shipping options.

• How do I integrate shipping with 3PL carriers?

First, find a 3PL carrier that offers the integration. Go for API integration and link the store with the airline. Automate your order updates with the carriers and receive orders. Once the order comes, the shipping company will pick, pack, and ship it to the destination.

• Which shipping carrier is the fastest?

All of the shipping companies are fast. For instance:

• USPS offers overnight delivery.
• FedEx features same-day business delivery. It even proceeds super fast for some urgent orders.
• UPS also features overnight delivery to most of the US locations.

Conclusion

UPS vs. USPS vs. FedEx is excellent competition, but you can’t declare anyone a winner. It is because if the UPS is suitable for heavier packages, it is terrible for lighter parcels. A combined approach involving the use of these different shipping companies is more practical than the use of a single company.

If you need a one-stop solution, including sourcing, shipping, and Warehousing. Don’t fret; JustChinaIt is here to meet all your demands with our quality sourcing, storage, and shipping services. Check it out now!!