It’s time to ship your products and you’re trying to decide which shipping carrier is the best option for your business. In this article, we’ll compare FedEx, UPS, and USPS so that you can make an informed decision about which carrier is right for you. We’ll break down the pros and cons of each shipping service provider and help you figure out which one is the best fit for your business. Let’s get started! Photo Credit: Unsplash CONTENT Which is better USPS, UPS, or FedEx? Is It Cheaper to Ship UPS, USPS or FedEx? Things to Consider in Choosing UPS vs USPS vs FedEx Where to Find Cheap Shipping Labels for UPS, USPS, and FedEx Which is better USPS, UPS, or FedEx? When finding the better shipping service in the US, you probably would consider the speed, cost, and reliability that fits best for your business. Definitely, each has advantages over the other, so we’ll break these differences down for you. (a) USPS vs UPS vs FedEx Highlights USPS UPS FedEx Best for small and lightweight parcels Best for shipping within the US Ideal for large packages (appliances, furniture, etc.) Good for fast international shipping Best shipping option for larger businesses with higher volume Also ideal for large packages Customers favor FedEx for shipping special goods like food and other perishable items (b) Speed: USPS vs UPS vs FedEx In terms of speed of delivery, you can opt for the fastest services from these shipping couriers. All of these shipping carriers provide overnight shipping services and priority shipping, so you can choose according to the availability and the speed you need your package delivered. USPS UPS FedEx Overnight Shipping Services Priority Mail Express Delivery date: Next day to two-day by 6 pm UPS Next Day Air Early Delivery date: Next business day (8:00 am – 9:30 am) UPS Next Day Air Delivery date: Next business day (10:30 am – 12:00 pm) UPS Next Day Air Saver Delivery date: Next business day (by 3:00 pm) FedEx First Overnight Delivery date: Next day delivery (8:00 am – 9:30 am) FedEx Priority Overnight Delivery date: Next day (to business addresses by 10:30 am and residences by 4:30 pm) Priority Shipping Priority Mail Express Delivery date: One to two day delivery by 3:00 pm UPS Next Day Air Shipping Delivery date: Next day 10:30 am – 12:00 pm, Monday to Friday FedEx 2Day AM Delivery date: Two business days by 10:30 am, Monday to Friday FedEx 2Day Delivery date: Two business days by 4:30 pm, Monday to Friday Is It Cheaper to Ship UPS, USPS or FedEx? Photo Credit: Unsplash In a nutshell, in terms of affordability, it is cheapest to ship with USPS, especially for small packages. To illustrate, let’s say you have to ship a package to be shipped by April 1 from Iowa to California. The package weighs 2 pounds and measures 10 x 5 x 3 in. Using the shipping calculator for UPS, USPS, and FedEx yields us these cost estimates: Shipping Service USPS Priority Mail 2-Day USPS Priority Mail Express 2-Day UPS Next Day Air Early UPS Next Day Air UPS Next Day Air Saver UPS 2nd Day Air UPS Ground FedEx First Overnight FedEx Standard Overnight FedEx 2Day Delivery Date Tuesday, April 5 Monday, April 4 Saturday, April 2 Saturday, April 2 Monday, April 4 Tuesday, April 5 Thursday, April 7 Saturday, April 2 Monday, April 4 Tuesday, April 5 Cost $9.45 $50.35 $152.82 $117.87 $93.03 $45.45 $13.66 $155.99 $99.33 $48.37 You can see that USPS provides the most affordable shipping with their USPS Priority Mail 2-Day for $9.45. The next in line for affordability is UPS Ground, which costs $13.66, but has a later date of delivery on April 7. The only thing that holds USPS back is its lower weight limit of 70 pounds per package. UPS and FedEx, on the other hand, have their weight limit at 150 pounds. But as stated earlier, when you aren’t shipping large and heavy packages, USPS may be the way to go. To find the ideal shipping service for you, you can try out the shipping calculations online from these shipping providers: UPS Calculate Time and Cost, USPS Retail Postage Price Calculator, FedEx Calculate Shipping Rates Things to Consider in Choosing UPS vs USPS vs FedEx Photo Credits: Unsplash Aside from pricing and delivery speed, here are other things you should take consider: 1. Tracking USPS, UPS, and FedEx all provide competitive tracking features, making it simple to ship items. FedEx and UPS provide real-time tracking and notify consumers in the event of a service interruption. On the other hand, The United States Postal Service (USPS) recently overhauled its package tracking system, which is now regarded as the industry standard, although UPS and FedEx still provide better tracking. If you or your customer want the precise tracking for your package’s movement, you may want to go with either FedEx or UPS. But all differences aside, if you are unable to locate your package, all three companies provide customer service. 2. Insurance Insurance premiums are calculated depending on the declared worth of the contents of the package. Unless otherwise requested, courier services may provide standard insurance coverage. Damages and misplaced packages during the shipping procedure can be covered by insurance. FedEx: Standard insurance provides $100 of coverage. For additional coverage, the declaration of the product value is needed. UPS: Same with FedEx, UPS can cover $100 for your package. Additional insurance coverage of up to $50,000 is also available at additional costs. USPS: USPS provides up to $5,000 in coverage for packages that are damaged or lost under their custody. Additionally, USPS can insure registered mail for up to $50,000. 3. Operating hours Of course, choosing a courier that can match your operating hours can be crucial. USPS stands out from the three in case you need a shipping service that’s available all the time. UPS: Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 7:00 pm. Weekend operation is available in some areas. USPS: Open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week FedEx: Open from 9:00 am to 8:00 pm, 7 days a week 4. Pick Up options and Drop Off USPS: Packages can be dropped off at the nearest post office, but you can also have it pick up from your address free of charge. FedEx: FedEx pick-ups and drop-offs are accessible at each retail location during business hours. Pick-ups and drop-offs come with additional costs, however. UPS: Self-service UPS drop boxes are available 24/7. Customers can drop off packages at UPS Access Points, UPS Stores, or Customer Counters, all of which provide for simple package dropoffs. Where to Find Cheap Shipping Labels for UPS, USPS, and FedEx For reliable, yet affordable shipping label supplies, you can check out enKo Products! Compatible with your UPS, USPS, or FedEx shipping labels, available in sheets, rolls, and stacks. Labels Label Specifications Compatible Printer Brand 4″ x 6″ Direct Thermal Labels 1″ Core – Zebra Compatible 220 Labels Per Roll AS LOW AS $7.47/ROLL Datamax, Sato, Zebra 4″ x 6″ Fanfold Labels – 2 Labels / Fold – Direct Thermal Labels 2000 Labels Per Stack AS LOW AS $25.37/STACK Datamax, Intermac, Sato, Zebra Half Sheet Shipping Label 8-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ – 2 Labels Per Sheet – Avery 5126 ® Compatible 100 Sheets Per Pack 2 Labels Per Sheet AS LOW AS $11.77/PACK Laser and InkJet Printers Brother DK-1241 Compatible Die-Cut White 4”x 6” Shipping Labels 200 Labels Per Roll AS LOW AS $8.55/ROLL Brother QL-1050 Brother QL-1050N Brother QL-1060N Brother QL-1100 Brother QL-1110NWB 4″ x 6-1/2″ Direct Thermal Labels – 1″ Core 250 Labels Per Roll AS LOW AS $9.19/ROLL Datamax, Sato, Zebra Printers Dymo 4×6 Labels | Dymo 1744907 LabelWriter 4XL Compatible Shipping Labels 220 Labels Per Roll AS LOW AS $5.86/ROLL Dymo LabelWriter 4XL 4 x 6 Direct Thermal Labels with 1″ Core for Shipping & Postage – Zebra Compatible 450 Labels Per Roll AS LOW AS $9.14/ROLL Datamax, Intermac, Sato, Zebra 4″ x 6″ Direct Thermal Labels – 3″ Core 1000 Labels Per Roll AS LOW AS $23.54/ROLL Datamax, Intermac, Sato, Zebra 4″ x 6″ Direct Thermal Fanfold Labels – 1 Label / Fold 500 Labels Per Stack AS LOW AS $15.01/STACK Datamax, Intermac, Sato, Zebra Full Sheet Labels 8.5″ x 11″ – 1 Shipping Label Per Sheet – Avery 8165 ® Compatible 100 Sheets Per Pack 1 Label Per Sheet AS LOW AS $11.77/PACK Laser and InkJet Printers 4 Labels Per Sheet of 3-1/2″ x 5″ Shipping Labels – Avery 5168® Compatible Blank Stickers 100 Sheets Per Pack 4 Labels Per Sheet AS LOW AS $11.77/PACK Laser and InkJet Printers Brother DK2243 Compatible Continuous White Paper Labels 4” x 100′ 100 Ft Per Roll AS LOW AS $7.07/ROLL Brother QL-1050 Brother QL-1060N Brother QL-1110NWB Fedex vs UPS vs USPS So, what’s the verdict? In our opinion, USPS is the best shipping carrier for small businesses. They offer the most competitive rates and they have a wide reach across the United States. If you need to ship internationally, FedEx is your best bet, but be prepared to pay a bit more for that service. UPS is great for larger packages and offers some of the fastest delivery speeds out there. Whatever route you decide to go, make sure you take advantage of shipping labels from enKo Products! Related Articles: How to Print USPS Labels on a Dymo LabelWriter 450 Creating PayPal Shipping Label Using a Rollo Printer How to Print Shipping Labels on eBay with a Dymo 4XL LabelWriter Facebook Twitter Youtube Instagram Like & follow our social media pages to see more updates and promotions ! Gene Paul Lim
