UPS vs FedEx vs USPS: Which Is Cheapest?
There's no single cheapest carrier. USPS usually wins on small, light packages. UPS and FedEx usually win on heavier boxes going by ground. The only way to know for your box is to compare all three on the same package, and that's what we do at our counter in Freehold before you pay.
Quick answers
- Small and light, like clothes or a book? USPS usually comes in lowest.
- Heavy box, not in a rush? UPS Ground or FedEx Ground is usually the better deal.
- Going to a PO box or a military address? USPS. UPS and FedEx can't deliver there.
- Over 70 pounds? UPS or FedEx. USPS stops at 70.
- Big but light box? Size matters as much as weight. Let us measure it first.
- Can't decide? Bring it in. We check UPS, FedEx and USPS on your actual box.
Which is cheapest: UPS, FedEx or USPS?
It depends on the size, the weight, and where it's going. For small, light packages, USPS is usually lowest. For heavier boxes, UPS Ground or FedEx Ground usually wins. We check all three at the counter so you don't have to guess.
People come in sure that one carrier is always cheaper. It isn't. We see the same box come back with a different winner depending on the ZIP code it's going to, and a box a few inches smaller can flip the answer too.
That's why we ask you to bring the item in before you buy a label online. Once you've paid for a label, you're locked in. At the counter, we weigh it, measure it, look up all three, and show you the options side by side. You pick.
Here's how it usually shakes out:
| Carrier | Usually the better pick for | Keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| USPS | Small, light packages. PO boxes. Military APO and FPO addresses. | 70 pound limit. Heavier boxes get expensive fast. |
| UPS | Heavier boxes going by ground. Business addresses. | Can't deliver to PO boxes. Adds a charge for delivering to homes. |
| FedEx | Heavier boxes going by ground. Shipping to India. | Can't deliver to PO boxes. Adds a charge for delivering to homes. |
Shipping to Mexico, Central or South America? We also ship with Meest, which is often worth checking for those countries. See how to ship a package to Mexico.
Have a prepaid label already? Read where to drop off a UPS package in Freehold.
Is UPS cheaper than USPS?
For heavier boxes, often yes. For small, light packages, USPS is usually cheaper. The crossover is different for every box, so we check both.
USPS Ground Advantage is built for lighter packages, and it's hard to beat there. As the weight goes up, UPS Ground tends to catch up and pass it. A box of books or a small appliance is where UPS often comes out ahead.
USPS doesn't add a charge for delivering to a home. UPS and FedEx do. That narrows the gap on packages going to a house, so don't assume UPS is cheaper just because the box is heavy. Let us run both.
Is UPS cheaper than FedEx?
They're close, and the winner changes from box to box. UPS Ground and FedEx Ground are built for the same kind of shipment, so it comes down to your box and where it's going.
This is the comparison where it's most worth letting us check. The two are usually close enough that you can't tell which will win without looking it up. Sometimes UPS is lower, sometimes FedEx. We'll show you both.
If the package has to go to India, it goes FedEx. That's the only carrier we use for India.
Which is fastest: UPS, FedEx or USPS?
For ground shipping inside the US, all three usually take about 1 to 5 business days depending on distance. If you need it there sooner, UPS and FedEx both have 2-day and next-day air, and USPS has Priority Mail Express.
Every delivery time is an estimate from the carrier, not a guarantee. Bad weather and the holiday rush both slow things down.
From Freehold, a ground box to somewhere else in New Jersey or nearby states often arrives in a day or two. Across the country, plan on closer to five business days. If something has to arrive by a certain date, tell us at the counter. We'll show you which services give you the best shot and what each one costs before you decide.
Our daily pickup times matter here too. UPS picks up from us at 4 PM, FedEx at 5 PM, and USPS at noon, Monday to Friday. If you're in after USPS has left, your package goes out the next business day with USPS, or that same day with UPS or FedEx.
Why does a big, light box cost so much?
Because UPS, FedEx and USPS all charge by size as well as weight. A large box with a light item inside can be billed as if it weighed much more. A smaller box fixes it.
This is called dimensional weight, and it's the reason a pillow can cost more to ship than a pair of boots. Each carrier uses its own formula, so the same box can come back with a big difference between carriers.
The fix is the box. If your box is bigger than the item needs, we can sell you a smaller one, or cut down and reshape your box so it fits. Don't tape it shut at home before you know. Read how we cut your box down to save on shipping for how it works.
Which carrier is best for shipping to a PO box?
USPS. UPS and FedEx can't deliver to a post office PO box, so if the address says "PO Box," it has to go USPS.
Before you ship, ask the person if they have a street address. If they do, all three carriers are back on the table and we can compare. Military APO, FPO and DPO addresses are USPS only too.
If someone is renting a mailbox at a store like ours, that address has a street number and a box number, like "2103 Devon Dr #123." That's not a PO box, and the carriers that store accepts can deliver there. For more, read PO box vs private mailbox.
No appointment. Bring the item and we'll compare all three.
Tell us what you need and we'll sort it out
Call 732-730-5230 or walk in during store hours. If it's something we don't do, we'll point you to who does.