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What Is the Cheapest Way to Ship UPS?

Written by Joe Jordan | Nov 2, 2023 11:31:48 PM

As operating costs continue to climb across all industries, it becomes crucial for businesses to discover methods to optimize their budget and resources. This might include looking for shipping discounts as you continue to ship packages. Another effective approach is to develop cost-effective shipping strategies by selecting economical shipping services. 

So what is the cheapest shipping option for flat-rate shipping and delivery services?

In this article, we'll explore the various service levels offered by UPS, along with their respective prices, to assist you in making a financially wise choice when it comes to your shipping needs. If you’ve been asking, “What is the cheapest way to ship UPS?” you’ll have your answer today.

What Is the Least Expensive Way to Ship a Package With UPS?

UPS, like other carriers, has a wide range of shipping services to cater to different needs and budgets. Usually, the quickest delivery service tends to be the priceiest, while the slowest option is the most affordable when it comes to shipping packages.

Moreover, the type of items you're shipping can influence your shipping costs. Standard goods are charged regular rates, but shipping items that are hazardous, delicate, or valuable may incur higher costs due to the extra handling they require.

The least expensive way to ship a package with UPS is using their UPS Ground service. UPS Ground is a domestic shipping service offered by UPS that delivers packages through land transport using UPS’ ground networks. It is the cheapest way to ship a small package through UPS.

Below are some details about UPS Ground.

  • UPS Ground delivers to business and residential addresses in all 50 states and Puerto Rico.
  • It offers delivery of packages in one to five business days, with Saturday delivery available for most residential addresses.
  • In terms of package size and weight, UPS Ground allows packages to weigh up to 150 lbs. and measure up to 108 inches in length.
  • UPS claims that 90% of UPS Ground packages are delivered in three days or less and that they have more on-time deliveries than FedEx.

What Is the Least Expensive UPS Shipping in the USA?

UPS Ground is by far the least expensive UPS service since it also comes with a slightly longer delivery timeframe. (View UPS ground weight cost in another section below)

Two other cost-effective UPS shipping options are UPS Surepost and their flat-rate service, UPS Simple Rate.

  • UPS Simple Rate: With this service, you select from five fixed box sizes (extra small, small, medium, large, extra-large) and choose from four shipping speeds (next day, 2nd day, 3 days, 5 days) and ship your package for a flat fee. The best part is that you can ship as many items as you need without fretting over the weight as long as they fit in the chosen box size.
  • UPS SurePost: This is an economy shipping option tailored for B2C (business-to-consumer) deliveries that don't require urgent delivery and involve low-value items, such as books. Here's how it works: UPS handles the initial transportation of your package, and then it's seamlessly transferred to USPS for last-mile delivery. This service utilizes USPS's existing residential mail delivery network, making it cost-effective.

The most expensive UPS service is UPS Next Day Air Early which offers delivery of packages by 8:00 a.m. the next business day. However, UPS also offers a same-day delivery service that is likely the most expensive option. It is known as UPS Express Critical and is used for shipping urgent packages. For this service, you have to get a custom price quote from UPS.

UPS Shipping Rates: How Much Does It Cost to Ship UPS by Weight?

The table below shows the cost ranges of various UPS services based on package weight.

 

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–$200.23

$35.00–$170.23

$31.71–$166.88

$23.64–$125.26

$21.64–$106.51

$13.66–$81.74

$10.10–$33.22

11–20 pounds

$87.74–$280.70

$57.74–$250.70

$51.04–$244.25

$34.07–$204.68

$30.87–$176.31

$24.10–$131.10 

$14.10–$61.64

21–30 pounds

$104.81–$369.69

$74.81–$339.69 

$68.28–$323.01

$52.04–$280.59

$46.53–$243.55

$33.51–$180.11 

$16.69–$86.63

31–40 pounds

$122.69–$438.51

$92.69–$408.51

$85.35–$391.28

$68.58–$368.28 

$58.69–$312.64

$44.84–$226.57

$20.19–$109.40

41–50 pounds

$145.49–$514.62

$115.49–$484.62

$104.26–$468.37

$85.90–$435.70

$76.65–$363.30

$54.94–$269.82

$23.03–$126.88

51–60 pounds

$173.79–$612.50

$143.79–$582.50

$123.26–$571.10

$104.82–$511.04

$86.54–$429.24

$65.10–$315.87

$24.79–$140.34

61–70 pounds

$200.53–$697.35

$170.53–$667.35

$144.21–$656.79

$116.75–$597.70

$101.07–$483.80

$73.06–$374.64

$26.03–$143.63

 

Which Is Cheaper to Ship With UPS or USPS Priority Mail?

Typically, USPS provides cheaper rates for shipping smaller packages, while UPS offers better value when it comes to shipping larger and heavier packages.

Below are the rates for USPS services by package weight.

 

USPS Service

Weight

Priority Mail Express 

Priority Mail

USPS Ground Advantage

1–10 pounds

$29.20–$158.55

$9.35–$104.50

$7.60–$31.45

11–20 pounds

$49.05–$221.95

$15.95–$177.55

$13.30–$55.50

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

 

It is difficult to compare USPS and UPS rates since their services are different. Nonetheless, as mentioned earlier, if you're sending a letter or very lightweight items (under 2 pounds), USPS may be your top choice. On the other hand, when it comes to small to large packages, UPS shipping is likely to be more cost-effective, mainly because they tend to offer faster delivery options.

It is difficult to compare USPS and UPS rates since their services are different. Nonetheless, as mentioned earlier, if you're sending a letter or very lightweight items (under 2 pounds), USPS may be your top choice. On the other hand, when it comes to small to large packages, UPS shipping is likely to be more cost-effective, mainly because they tend to offer faster delivery options.

Shipping Cost: Is FedEx Cheaper or UPS Cheaper?

In the table below, you will find FedEx rates by weight.

 

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

 

FedEx Vs. UPS Rates Comparison

Since UPS and FedEx offer similar services, we can compare their prices to find out which carrier is more pocket-friendly.

Let’s start by comparing their express services.

Weight

FedEx First Overnight

UPS Next Day Air Early

1–10 pounds

$68.04–$199.53

$65.00–$200.23

11–20 pounds

$93.53–$280.16

$87.74–$280.70

21–30 pounds

$109.85–$367.87

$104.81–$369.69

31–40 pounds

$128.73–$435.45

$122.69–$438.51

41–50 pounds

$149.28–$510.78

$145.49–$514.62

51–60 pounds

$185.48–$613.46

$173.79–$612.50

61–70 pounds

$214.21–$698.31

$200.53–$697.35

 

We can tell that the rates aren’t that far from each other. However, UPS seems to be cheaper for sending packages to nearby destinations.

Now let’s compare their 2nd day A.M. shipping services.

Weight

FedEx 2Day A.M.

UPS 2nd Day Air A.M.

1–10 pounds

$25.37–$127.21

$23.64–$125.26

11–20 pounds

$36.28–$ 206.09

$34.07–$204.68

21–30 pounds

$57.43–$276.22

$52.04–$280.59

31–40 pounds

$74.31–$ 362.84

$68.58–$368.28 

41–50 pounds

$94.83–$ 438.26

$85.90–$435.70

51–60 pounds

$114.67–$522.93

$104.82–$511.04

61–70 pounds

$133.01–$602.70

$116.75–$597.70

 

For 2nd Day A.M. shipping, UPS is generally cheaper than FedEx.

Finally, let’s compare UPS and FedEx Ground services.

Weight

FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery

UPS Ground

1–10 pounds

$10.10–$22.40

$10.10–$33.22

11–20 pounds

$14.17–$36.17

$14.10–$61.64

21–30 pounds

$16.80–$51.83

$16.69–$86.63

31–40 pounds

$20.29–$63.95

$20.19–$109.40

41–50 pounds

$23.15–$74.72

$23.03–$126.88

51–60 pounds

$24.85–$81.11

$24.79–$140.34

61–70 pounds

$26.09–$85.57

$26.03–$143.63

 

UPS ground shipping cost is typically higher than FedEx. It may be slightly cheaper than FedEx when sending packages to nearby zones, but the price difference becomes significantly greater as the destination gets farther away.

In conclusion, we can say UPS is generally slightly cheaper than FedEx, except when it comes to ground shipping. For more precise comparisons based on your unique shipment details, visit the UPS shipping cost calculator and FedEx shipping rate tool.

How ShipSigma Can Help Cut Your Shipping Costs

ShipSigma is your trusted rate optimization partner, whether you prefer UPS or FedEx. Our approach combines proprietary AI software with a proven process to consistently lower our customers' parcel costs by an average of 25%. Cut your FedEx and UPS shipping costs.

Ready to join 300+ customers enjoying better rates? Reach out today.
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