Post Office, UPS, and FedEx Shipping Rates

Given the pandemic, don’t look for guarantees on shipping times or exact delivery windows, but all three package-shipping services remain up and running pretty much as normal, give or take a potential extra day in transit here or there.FedEx Home Delivery and UPS Ground services are actually cheaper than USPS Retail Ground, although the Postal Service's flat-rate shipping still undercuts the private carriers for smaller, heavier packages.Usually the Post Office provides the best deals, but if you have a shipment that has to be there overnight, UPS’s Simple Rate Next Day Air Saver service can’t be beat on cost. Opting for flat-rate packaging, offered by all three carriers, can mean huge savings.The Post Office was cheapest across the board for 1- to 3-day shipping, with prices 40-55% less than UPS and 43-63% less than FedEx.UPS is consistently the less expensive of the two, although FedEx flat-rate options do offer some deals. FedEx and UPS provide far more options for time-sensitive shipping, with guaranteed delivery as early as 8 a.m.To find the cheapest shipping rates, we compared the cost of sending hypothetical 5- and 10-pound packages coast to coast, from New York City to a residential address in Los Angeles. Pricing generally varies based on the size and weight of the package and the origin and destination, although all three carriers provide flat-rate boxes that ship for a fixed price regardless of weight.

All offer standard ground delivery, various two- or three-day delivery options, and guaranteed overnight shipping. Postal Service, United Parcel Service (UPS), and FedEx remain the biggest names when it comes to consumer shipping.

Is flat rate shipping cheaper