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Shipping Cost Comparison: USPS vs. UPS vs. FedEx

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Shipping Cost Comparison: USPS vs. UPS vs. FedEx

Cheapism compared the cost of shipping parcels from New York (before Hurricane Sandy disrupted service) to residential addresses in Chicago and San Francisco via FedEx, UPS, and the U.S. Postal Service, using the sender's own 12" x 9" x 6" packaging or a flat-rate box from the Postal Service. Each shipping provider offers standard ground delivery, various two- or three-day options, and overnight service. The U.S. Postal Service charges different prices depending on whether a customer mails a package from the Post Office or prints a shipping label at home and schedules a pickup via USPS.com.

NEW YORK TO CHICAGO

Service/Estimated Delivery Time
5-Pound Package
10-Pound Package
FEDEX
UPS
U.S. POSTAL SERVICE
FEDEX
UPS
POST OFFICE
USPS.com
 FEDEX
UPS
POST OFFICE
USPS.com
N/A
N/A
Media Mail*
8 days (typically 2-8 days)
N/A
N/A
$4.15
N/A
N/A
N/A
$6.19
N/A
Home Delivery
2 business days (typically 1-7 business days)
Ground
2 business days (typically 1-5 business days)
Parcel Post
6 days (typically 2-8 days)
$13.95
$15.50
$10.34
N/A
$15.30
$17.06
$13.16
N/A
Express Saver
3 business days 7 p.m.
3 Day Select
3 business days
Priority Mail Regional Rate**
3 days (typically 2-3 days)
$24.86
N/A
N/A
$10.80
$33.99
N/A
N/A
$10.80
2Day
2 business days 7 p.m.
2nd Day Air
2 business days
Priority Mail Flat Rate***
3 days (typically 2-3 days)
$33.48
$33.48
$11.35
$10.85
$48.24
$48.24
$11.35
$10.85
2Day A.M.
2 business days 10:30 a.m.
2nd Day Air A.M.
2 business days 10:30 a.m.
Priority Mail
3 days (typically 2-3 days)
$38.02
N/A
$14.55
$12.50
$54.99
N/A
$23.00
$20.70
Standard Overnight
Next business day 3 p.m.
Next Day Air Saver
Next business day 3 p.m.
Express Mail Flat Rate***
Next business day 12 p.m.
$74.17
$74.17
$39.95
$39.95
$101.19
$101.19
$39.95
$39.95
Priority Overnight
Next business day 10:30 a.m
Next Day Air
Next business day 10:30 a.m.
Express Mail
Next business day 12 p.m.
$80.53
$80.53
$44.15
$33.46
$107.60
$107.60
$64.35
$47.35
First Overnight
Next business day 8 a.m.
Next Day Air Early A.M.
Next business day 8 a.m.
N/A
$115.71
$115.71
N/A
N/A
$142.78
$142.78
N/A
N/A


NEW YORK TO SAN FRANCISCO

Service/Estimated Delivery Time
5-Pound Package
10-Pound Package
FEDEX
UPS
U.S. POSTAL SERVICE
FEDEX
UPS
POST OFFICE
USPS.com
 FEDEX
UPS
POST OFFICE
USPS.com
N/A
N/A
Media Mail*
8 days (typically 2-8 days)
N/A
N/A
$4.15
N/A
N/A
N/A
$6.19
N/A
Home Delivery
5 business days (typically 1-7 business days)
Ground
5 business days (typically 1-5 business days)
Parcel Post
8 days (typically 2-8 days)
$15.88
$17.79
$12.70
N/A
$19.50
$21.75
$17.29
N/A
Express Saver
3 business days 7 p.m.
3 Day Select
3 business days
Priority Mail Regional Rate**
3 days (typically 2-3 days)
$37.28
$37.28
N/A
$15.46
$55.10
$55.10
N/A
$15.46
2Day
2 business days 7 p.m.
2nd Day Air
2 business days
Priority Mail Flat Rate***
3 days (typically 2-3 days)
$50.11
$50.11
$11.35
$10.85
$76.84
$76.84
$11.35
$10.85
2Day A.M.
2 business days 10:30 a.m.
2nd Day Air A.M.
2 business days 10:30 a.m.
Priority Mail
3 days (typically 2-3 days)
$57.15
N/A
$19.25
$17.88
$87.91
N/A
$33.20
$31.26
Standard Overnight
Next business day 3 p.m.
Next Day Air Saver
Next business day 3 p.m.
Express Mail Flat Rate***
Next business day 12 p.m.
$85.07
$85.07
$39.95
$39.95
$116.17
$116.17
$39.95
$39.95
Priority Overnight
Next business day 10:30 a.m.
Next Day Air
Next business day 10:30 a.m.
Express Mail
Next business day 12 p.m.
$91.76
$91.76
$52.20
$39.14
$121.62
$121.62
$76.95
$53.69
First Overnight
Next business day 8 a.m.
Next Day Air Early A.M.
Next business day 8 a.m.
N/A
$126.95
$126.95
N/A
N/A
$156.80
$156.80
N/A
N/A

* Available only for "educational materials" such as books and DVDs.
** Available only online. Must use 12" x 10 1/4" x 5" or 15 7/8" x 14 3/8" x 2 7/8" box provided.
*** Must use 11" x 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" or 13 5/8" x 11 7/8" x 3 3/8" box provided.

by Louis DeNicola (Google+ Profile)

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