What Is the Cheapest Way to Ship a Large Heavy Box?

In this blog, we compare carriers’ large package services to help you choose the most cost-effective option. So, whether you want to find the cheapest way to ship boxes to another state or just locally, you will be well-informed after reading this article.

What Is the Cheapest Way to Ship Very Heavy Items?

Since small parcel shipping includes packages that weigh 1-70 lbs, and large packages weigh 71-150 lbs, we can say very heavy packages are the ones that weigh over 150 pounds. This category of packages also includes shipments known as freight.

Cheapest Way to Ship Very Heavy Items

There are several ways to send freight shipments and large parcels, including standard freight services, Less-Than-Truckload (LTL), and Full Truckload (FTL). Each of these is highlighted below.

LTL Shipping

LTL (Less Than Truckload) shipping is a cost-effective way of sending large packages or a large number of palletized packages.

Essentially, LTL shipping is a method of freight transportation where diverse cargo from various senders is combined and loaded onto a single truck. This method is commonly used for moderate-sized shipments that do not require a full truckload but are too large for traditional parcel carriers.

LTL shipping is beneficial in that it saves the customer the cost of hiring a full truck, increases the efficiency of the carrier’s operations, and also protects the environment since fewer trips are made for the same number of packages.

While there are no strict weight or size limits, LTL shipments typically range from 150 pounds to 20,000 pounds (68 kg to 9,072 kg).

FedEx LTL

To meet the LTL (Less Than Truckload) requirements set by FedEx, a shipment must meet the following criteria:

Weigh between 150 and 15,000 pounds (68 kg to 6,803 kg).
Measure up to 15 feet in length.
The shipment can be either palletized or non-palletized.

If your shipment exceeds 15,000 pounds (6,803 kg), you’ll need to contact the FedEx Freight Solutions Team to make special arrangements.

UPS LTL

UPS categorizes LTL shipments as palletized freight that weighs over 150 pounds.

However, if you're shipping a collection of packages weighing over 151 pounds that are not palletized, UPS Ground with Freight Pricing might be a more cost-effective option compared to LTL.

Visit the FedEx LTL rates calculator and UPS Freight calculator to get estimates for your Less Than Truckload shipment.

FTL Shipping

Unlike LTL, where a shipment only occupies a portion of the trailer space, Full Truckload (FTL) shipping is when a shipment from a single shipper fills the entire truck's capacity.

FTL provides increased security and minimizes the risk of damage or loss during transit. FTL shipments also tend to have faster transit times since there is no need for multiple stops to pick up or drop off other cargo. These benefits can help improve a company's efficiency, making FTL a cost-effective freight delivery option.

Freight Shipping

UPS Next Day Air Freight

	Zones
	102	103	104	105	106	107	108
(Guaranteed Service)	$1.61	$2.65	$4.83	$6.81	$6.99	$8.81	$9.63
(Non-Guaranteed Service)	$1.57	$2.51	$4.55	$6.44	$6.61	$8.34	$9.12

UPS 2nd Day Air Freight

	Zones
	202	203	204	205	206	207	208
(Guaranteed Service)	$1.58	$2.60	$3.34	$3.49	$5.19	$6.94	$8.15
(Non-Guaranteed Service)	$1.48	$2.46	$3.10	$3.25	$4.85	$6.51	$7.64

UPS 3-Day Freight

	Zones
	302	303	304	305	306	307	308
Cost to ship 300 lbs (Guaranteed Service)	$1.45	$2.50	$3.07	$3.35	$4.78	$5.99	$6.93
Cost to ship 300 lbs (Non-Guaranteed Service)	$1.35	$2.35	$2.89	$3.15	$4.52	$5.65	$6.54

Cost to ship 300 lbs

	Zones
	2	3	4	5	6	7	8
FedEx First Overnight Freight	$2.41	$4.17	$7.45	$10.47	$10.72	$13.59	$14.90
FedEx 1Day Freight	$1.72	$2.98	$5.32	$7.48	$7.66	$9.71	$10.64
FedEx 2Day Freight	$1.64	$2.72	$3.60	$3.72	$5.56	$7.64	$8.82
FedEx 3Day Freight	$1.59	$2.66	$3.50	$3.64	$5.33	$6.92	$8.02

If you compare the UPS and FedEx services above, you will find that UPS freight services are cheaper than FedEx’s. For instance:

Sending 300 lb freight to the nearest zone will cost you $477.00 with FedEx 3Day Freight and $435.00 with UPS 3-Day Freight.
Sending the 300-pound package with FedEx 2Day Freight will cost you $492.00, and sending it using UPS 2nd Day Air Freight will cost you $474.00.

Is UPS or FedEx Cheaper for Heavy Items?

UPS Heavy Package 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
71–80 pounds	$225.24–$911.94	$195.24–$899.58	$177.58–$730.30	$133.56–$691.56	$121.38–$589.29	$83.23–$415.25	$29.40–$460.46
81–90 pounds	$259.67–$976.86	$229.67–$965.81	$203.13–$868.77	$148.33–$759.97	$134.12–$634.44	$95.48–$461.99	$39.94–$504.27
91–100 pounds	$281.73–$1,173.45	$251.73–$1,167.21	$231.60–$992.83	$166.10–$874.49	$151.22–$760.59	$110.01–$551.12	$90.02–$550.71
101–110 pounds	$301.15–$1,287.81	$271.15–$1,283.95	$255.76–$1,092.12	$186.58–$961.94	$165.37–$836.39	$120.19–$606.93	$64.23–$601.03
111–120 pounds	$328.01–$1,402.15	$298.01–$1,400.67	$281.08–$1,191.41	$205.04–$1,049.39	$181.74–$912.19	$132.65–$661.98	$72.54–$665.82
121–130 pounds	$354.84–$1,514.30	$324.84–$1,517.40	$306.41–$1,290.69	$223.53–$1,136.83	$198.12–$987.99	$146.37 –$717.23	$81.78–$721.64
131–140 pounds	$381.00–$1,628.48	$351.00–$1,634.11	$331.73–$1,389.97	$241.99–$1,224.28	$214.49–$1,063.79	$159.22–$770.19	$88.21–$784.68
141–150 pounds	$420.25–$1,742.67	$378.52–$1,750.83	$357.04–$1,489.25	$260.47–$1,311.73	$230.87–$1,139.60	$173.39–$827.47	$97.33–$856.00

	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
71–80 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
81–90 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
91–100 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
101–110 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
111–120 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
121–130 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
131–140 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
141–150 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

What Is the Cheapest Way to Send a 150 LB Package?

Standard shipping options can still offer cost-effective solutions when looking for an affordable way to send a 150-pound package. Ground shipping is often the cheapest (and slowest) way to ship a heavy package.

The service you choose to ship packages depends on your priority: speed or low costs. For example, a boutique owner looking for the cheapest way to ship a large box of clothes will opt for ground shipping since the goods are not urgent. On the other hand, a large shipment of medicine is probably more time-sensitive and will require a faster service like 2 Day shipping.

How Much Does It Cost to Ship a 150-Pound Box?

	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
150 Pounds	$432.68–$1,742.67	$402.68–$1,750.83	$379.83–$1,489.25	$277.11–$1,311.73	$245.60–$1,139.60	$184.65–$827.47	$102.64–$856.00

	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
150 Pounds	$445.50–$1,594.50	$399.00–$1,548.00	$390.00–$1,474.50	$319.50–$1,309.50	$258.00–$1,104.00	$244.50–$940.50	$102.64–$152.56

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