When shipping a package, we usually look for the cheapest option possible. Not only do our customers prefer in most cases to pay as little as possible for shipping (leaving more of their money for purchases), but your business would prefer to keep expenses down.
Of course, how much you’ll pay for shipping your customers’ purchases depends on the prices calculated upon the size and weight of the package. It also depends on where packages are being shipped and how fast you and your customers need them to get to their destination.
There are a few different shipping companies to choose from and each varies in pricing depending on the type of shipping. It is hard to know at times which is the best shipping company to choose to meet your business and customer needs.
Let’s take a look at the three major shipping options available in the United States and see how they rank for sending a two-pound package.
USPS – United States Postal Service
USPS is the official and top most used mail courier service in the United States. They deliver to almost every single residential and business address across the country and are required to adhere to strict delivery schedules and guidelines. So, you’re always sure your packages are safe with USPS shipping.
USPS Domestic Shipping – 2 Pound Package
| USPS Retail Ground | USPS Priority Mail Express | USPS Priority Mail | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price range | $8.55-$13.80 | $27.15-$72.65 | $8.55-$26.75 |
| Ship time | 2-8 days | Next day-2 days by 6pm | 1-3 days |
| Other features | Tracking & Insurance available | Tracking and $100 insurance included | Tracking and $50 insurance included |
USPS International Shipping- 2 Pound Package
| USPS Priority Mail Express International | USPS Priority Mail International | |
|---|---|---|
| Price range | $55.65-$82.40 | $50.00-$64.15 |
| Ship time | 3-5 business days | 6-10 business days |
| Other features | Tracking & up to $200 Insurance included | Tracking & up to $200 Insurance included |
UPS – United Postal Service
Once used as the main telegraph sending service in the United States, UPS has been around for a long time (over 100 years). They are an American company with multi-national roots. UPS Shipping; either domestically or internationally is easy because of its strong ties with businesses and other shipping companies around the world.
UPS Domestic Shipping- 2 Pound Package
| UPS Next Day Early | UPS Ground Shipping | UPS 2nd Day Air A.M. | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price range | $62.51-$123.72 | $9.42-$46.76 | $20.86-$72.50 |
| Ship time | Next business day, 8:00-9:30 am | 1-5 days | 2 days, 10:30am-12:00pm |
| Other features | Free UPS packaging included | Guaranteed delivery | Free UPS packaging/td> |
UPS International shipping- 2 Pound Package
| UPS Worldwide Express | UPS Worldwide Expedited | |
|---|---|---|
| Price range | $76.33-$189.64 | $91.52-$162.18 |
| Ship time | 1-3 business days, 10:30am-12:00pm | Depends on location. Guaranteed delivery date will be given |
| Other features | Custom clearance & 3 delivery attempts | Custom clearance & 3 delivery attempts |
FedEx – Federal Express
FedEx is another strong contender in shipping companies based in the United States. With a dedication to speed, FedEx shipping is typically the first choice for many businesses to get their packages to their customers at the fastest rates possible – for possibly not the cheapest rates though.
FedEx Domestic Shipping – 2 Pound Package
| FedEx Ground Shipping | FedEx Standard Overnight | FedEx 2 Day | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price range | $10.80-$14.39 | $33.48-$93.96 | $22.57-$43.58 |
| Ship time | Contiguous US: 1-5 business days; Alaska and Hawaii: 3-7 business days | 1-5 days | 2 days, 10:30am-12:00pm |
| Other features | Available in all 50 states in the US & Canada | Available in all 50 states in the US | Available in all 50 states in the US/td> |
FedEx International Shipping – 2 Pound Package
| FedEx International Priority | FedEx International Economy | |
|---|---|---|
| Price range | $111.67-$164.70 | $100.99-$154.51 |
| Ship time | 1-3 business days by close of business | 2-5 business days |
| Other features | Available to over 220 countries & territories. | Available to over 215 countries & territories |
Which is the cheapest shipping option in the United States: USPS, UPS or FedEx?
According to the rates outlined above, USPS does beat out both UPS and FedEx for the cheapest pricing for both domestic and international shipping. Although FedEx and UPS do have some faster international shipping options if your customers want to get their parcels faster regardless of the price of shipping.
Regardless of which shipping carrier you choose, or if you prefer to use them all, you can implement the best shipping features right into your website through PluginHive’s Shopify shipping app and WooCommerce shipping plugin. PluginHive allows users to directly streamline their shipping process right from cart to doorstep through real-time shipping prices, tracking options, automation of shipping labels and more.
PluginHive allows users to directly streamline their shipping process right from cart to doorstep through real-time shipping prices, tracking options, automation of shipping labels and more. Learn more about integrating PluginHive into your Shopify, WooCommerce, or another eCommerce platform by reaching out to our customer support team.
