Two-day Shipping Options: UPS, USPS, FedEx

E-commerce has changed the world of retail forever. While it has expanded the potential customer base, it has also made business more competitive. Consumer expectations have also changed: 90 percent of consumers now expect 2-3 day shipping,ⁱ and 24% will abandon their cart if shipping is too slow.ⁱⁱ To satisfy customers, you must choose your shipping options as carefully as you do your product offerings and pricing.

Fortunately, carriers offer a variety of 2-day shipping options. To help you determine which option is best for your business, this article will compare the many 2-day shipping services available from UPS, the USPS and FedEx.

What is 2-Day Shipping?

2-day shipping is a form of expedited shipping that provides fast delivery at more affordable rates than overnight shipping. The combination of speed and low price make 2-day shipping an excellent option for online sellers who need a way to get products into their customers’ hands quickly and at a low cost.

Be aware that delivery time only counts the actual transit time and does not include the day carriers receive and process your package. For example, if you bring a package to the Post Office on Wednesday and request 2-day shipping, the package will be delivered on Friday.

What are UPS 2-Day Shipping Options?

Of the three major carriers, UPS has the widest range of 2-day shipping options to choose from. They include:

UPS 2^nd Day Air A.M.
UPS 2^nd Day Air
UPS 2^nd Day Air Freight
UPS 2^nd Day Air Freight NGS

It’s important to note that UPS 2^nd Day Air A.M. is not available to residential addresses. Also, it’s possible to receive significant savings using UPS Ground for 2-day delivery of packages to nearby destinations.

Generally speaking, UPS 2-day shipping costs are very similar to FedEx rates. You can ship anything from an express envelope to freight pallets via UPS. If your package does not arrive on time, the company provides a money-back guarantee for most services. With each shipment, you receive free tracking and $100 insurance, with options for additional coverage. For retailers using UPS 2-Day Air, return labels and pickups are provided.

UPS 2-Day Shipping Options
	Timing	Weight limits	Size limits	Locations	On-time guarantee
UPS 2nd Day Air A.M	By 10:30 a.m. or 12:00 p.m. of 2^nd business day	150 lbs. Heavier packages are subject to an additional handling surcharge.	Packages will be subject to an additional handling surcharge if: Length plus girth exceeds105 inches The longest side exceeds 105 inches The 2^nd longest side exceeds 30 inches	Metropolitan commercial destinations in the 48 contiguous states*	Yes
UPS 2nd Day Air	By end of 2^nd business day			All 50 states and Puerto Rico, some limitations in Alaska & Hawaii	Yes
UPS 2nd Day Air Freight	By 12:00 p.m. or 5:00 p.m. on the second business day	No weight limitation, but minimum weight charges may apply. Pre-authorization is required for shipments that exceed 5,000 lbs.	Pre-authorization is required for shipments that exceed 120 inches in length, 84 inches in width, 76 inches in height.	Most major metropolitan areas within the 48 contiguous states, plus Puerto Rico and Canada	Yes
UPS 2nd Day Air Freight NGS	By 12:00 p.m. or 5:00 p.m. on the second business day			Major areas within and between the 50 states, Puerto Rico and Canada	No
UPS Ground*	By end of 2^nd business day to nearby zones. Refer to UPS Ground Time in Transit maps online to determine scheduled delivery.	Up to 150 lbs.	Up to 108” long	All 50 states and Puerto Rico	Day-definite delivery guarantee

* Where UPS Next Day Air delivery is committed by 10:30 a.m. or 12:00 p.m., respectively Not available to residential destinations, or to destinations where UPS Next Day Air service is committed by end of day.

What are USPS 2-Day Shipping Options?

There are many economical options with USPS 2-day shipping. Unlike other major carriers, USPS priority services have multiple-day delivery windows. USPS Priority Mail Express costs more but delivers within 1-2 business days, while USPS Priority Mail has lower rates and delivers within 1-3 business days. You can check the Priority Mail Delivery Map on the USPS web site to see exactly when your package will arrive.

Another important difference is that USPS delivers Monday through Saturday virtually anywhere in the U.S. There are no surcharges for remote or residential delivery. All three USPS services include free pickup, tracking and insurance coverage for up to $100 in declared value. However, the maximum package weight is only 70 lbs., less than half that of other carriers.

USPS 2-Day Shipping Options
Timing	Weight limits	Size limits	Locations	On-time guarantee
In 1-2 days, Mon. – Sat. Sunday & holiday delivery available for an additional charge.	Up to 70 lbs.	Maximum combined length and girth (the distance around the thickest part) is 108″	Any U.S. address or P.O. box	Yes
In 1-3 business days
In 2-5 business days		Maximum combined length and girth (the distance around the thickest part) is 130 inches.	All 50 states, U.S. military bases, territories, possessions, and Freely Associated States

What are FedEx 2-Day Shipping Options?

FedEx 2-day shipping costs are closely aligned with UPS rates. The company offers three choices for 2-day shipping, including:

FedEx 2Day A.M.
FedEx 2Day
FedEx 2Day Freight

FedEx 2Day A.M. ships to both businesses and residences. Packages shipped to businesses arrive earliest, by 10:30 am of the second business day. Residential deliveries are completed by noon. FedEx 2Day has later delivery times, but the cost is lower.

The company also has two ground services that can be used for 2-day shipments to nearby zones. FedEx Ground only ships to businesses, while FedEx Home Delivery delivers to residential addresses. Before shipping, you should check the ground transit map on the FedEx website to confirm transit times. All FedEx 2-day services include free tracking and insurance. FedEx has temporarily suspended its on-time guarantees for its 2Day, Ground and Home Delivery services, but photo proof of delivery is available.

FedEx 2-Day Shipping Options
	Timing	Weight limits	Size limits	Locations	On-time guarantee
FedEx 2Day A.M.	In 2 business days by 10:30 a.m., Mon. – Fri.	Up to 150 lbs. Heavier packages are subject to an additional handling surcharge.	Up to 119" in length, 165" in length plus girth (L+2W+2H)	All states except Hawaii	Currently suspended
FedEx 2Day	In 2 business days by 5:00 p.m. or 8:00 p.m. Mon. – Fri. Saturday delivery available for an additional charge.		Up to 119" in length, 165" in length plus girth (L+2W+2H)	All 50 states
FedEx Ground	1-2 days to nearby zones. Refer to FedEx ground transit maps online.		Up to 108" in length, and 165" in length plus girth (L+2W+2H)	Commercial addresses in all 50 states
FedEx Home Delivery	1-2 days to nearby zones, 7 days per week. Refer to FedEx ground transit maps online.			Residential addresses in all 50 states
FedEx 2Day Freight	In 2 business days Mon. – Fri. Saturday delivery available for an additional charge.	Skids over 2,200 lbs. require prior approval.	Skids exceeding 70" high, 119" long, 80" wide require prior approval.	All 50 states

How Much Does 2-day Shipping Cost?

In part your costs are determined by your choice of carrier. UPS 2-day shipping costs will be slightly different that FedEx 2-day shipping costs. Your total shipping cost is determined by a variety of factors, including but not limited to:

Carrier and service used: Rates vary from one carrier to another, and express services can cost up to three times as much as slower ground services.

Point of origin: For example, shipping from a remote location such as Alaska or Hawaii will cost more than shipping within the 48 contiguous states.

Destination shipping zone: The higher the destination zone, the higher the cost.

Dimensional weight and package characteristics: You’ll pay more for lightweight packages that take up a lot of cargo space. Carriers also impose additional charges for non-standard packaging and package shapes.

Date and time you are shipping: If you are shipping on Friday and next-day delivery, you are likely to be charged extra for Saturday delivery.

Peak period: Carriers may impose peak surcharges during times of high demand, such as the holiday season.

Type of products you are shipping: You may be charged additional fees to ship dangerous goods or hazardous materials.

Extra services: For example, there is a cost to replenish dry ice for perishable food items.

If you’re a high-volume shipper, you may be able to lower your costs by negotiating with carriers—but you’ll need to be prepared with detailed data, if you want to negotiate successfully.

How can you prepare to save on shipping and mailing costs in 2023?

Using 2-day shipping services is a smart strategy to lower your shipping costs. But if you want to use 2-day shipping as cost-effectively as possible, you’ll want the ability to rate shop across all three of the major carriers. Pitney Bowes makes rate shopping quick and easy. Enter your package size, weight and destination to see real-time rates for all available shipping options. Thanks to our long-standing partnerships with USPS and UPS, you’ll enjoy exclusive discounts that aren’t available anywhere else, surcharge waivers and free pickups within the application. Plus you’ll have full visibility and control over all your shipping and mailing spend, even across multiple locations.

ⁱRetail Industry Leaders Association https://www.rila.org/leading-retail-insights/retail-speaks

ⁱⁱBaymard Institute https://baymard.com/lists/cart-abandonment-rate