Cheapest Way to Ship a Package - Updated Monthly

So which carrier offers the lowest shipping prices? The results show that USPS First-Class (now known as USPS Ground Advantage) will always win for the lowest price for parcels under 16 ounces. The cheapest ranking carrier at the 1 pound (16 ounces) mark has USPS Ground Advantage as also ranking as the cheapest. UPS Ground becomes cheaper at 12 pounds. USPS becomes the cheapest again until 20 pounds.

For packages that weigh more than 20 pounds, UPS is cheaper than USPS. UPS Ground becomes the preferred service for those who are looking for the lowest cost for heavier packages.

In general, if you are shipping a variety of different weighted parcels USPS will be your best bet in terms of economical shipping. If you are shipping anything over 20 pounds, UPS Ground will give you the best rates.

To get the same rates we did, sign up for Stamps.com or EasyShip. Their built-in UPS and USPS accounts provide discounts (up to 80% off) as soon as you sign up. They are multi-carrier, so you can choose the cheapest shipping option from either of those services.

Which shipping service is the cheapest? Well, it depends... Size, weight, distance, and shipping speed all factor into the cost. Heavier, larger parcels will be more expensive. If you need the package to arrive the next day, you'll be paying a premium.

It is often purported that packages over 2 or 5 pounds are best shipped over UPS or FedEx as that's when prices become more favorable over USPS, however this didn't really match with our experiences in shipping. We decided to map out the rates to see if there was a clear winner in terms of what services offer the cheapest shipping. Our charts ended up showing that UPS becomes the cheapest only after your package weights more than 20 pounds. USPS generally leads in the low cost rankings.

The bump charts below plot the rankings of which carriers are the cheapest. They make it easy to spot which carriers offer the cheapest shipping. In the example on this page, we took the rates of shipping a package from Los Angeles to New York and ranked them by price. We used the dimensions of 12 x 9 x 2 inches and charted the prices through a range of weights from 1 ounce to 40 pounds. We then ranked each USPS, FedEX, and UPS service level by price and charted out our findings below.

Rates have been ranked using a bump chart. Hover over the lines to see how the carriers and service levels change as the weights increase.

Rates were fetched from EasyShip, which is a multi-carrier shipping software that offers discounts for USPS, UPS, and FedEx postage. We wanted to compare the lowest prices anybody could easily achieve without the need for shipping high volumes, negotiating rates, or paying monthly fees. The prices and rankings on this page are the same as anyone would get as soon as you signed up to Stamps.com, EasyShip, ShippingEasy or other shipping software. Whether you are running an online store, small business, or just need to ship a single package as an individual.

Size and weight of your package and distance to the destination are the main factors in determining shipping prices. Smaller, lighter, packages that are sent shorter distances will be less expensive. Our cross-country shipping example might not be as applicable to you if you often ship short distances, however, we think it provides a good example that will dispel the often held rules of thumb around which shipping carriers are the least expensive. To get the most accurate costs for your shipping situation, your best bet is to sign up to a multi-carrier shipping software and do comparisons using locations and dimensions you ship with most.

The cheapest shipping for items under 1 pound (16 ounces) is without a doubt USPS First-Class. The chart below shows that USPS First-Class is ranked number 1 in terms of being the lowest cost carrier for light-weight packages.

As you can see from the chart below, the rankings stay pretty steady. The only change in rankings is at the 8 ounce mark where USPS Priority Mail Express becomes more expensive than UPS Next Day Air Saver.

While USPS First-Class/Ground Advantage postage isn't offered above 13 ounces on the official USPS Click-N-Ship site, you can purchase discounted First-Class postage up to 15 ounces through services like ShippingEasy or Stamps.com (link goes to free trial offer and $5 credit). Both of these services offer discounts on USPS retail prices.

As you can see from the above table, a light-weight package that is 15 ounces or below will end up with the USPS being the cheapest pricing with USPS Ground Advantage. If speed is a concern, USPS Priority Mail will get there faster in 2 days instead of 5, but you'll be paying an extra $4.16 for the quicker delivery times.

If you need faster delivery speeds, you many want to consider USPS flat rate services. While the postage costs might end up being pretty close, the free boxes could save you money and time. They can be ordered online straight from USPS.

Pricing gets a little less predictable when your parcel crosses the 1 pound mark. UPS Ground Saver comes in at the cheapest for the 1 pound package at $7.03, and with an estimated 5 delivery days. However, to get your package delivered in 5 days, you can pay an extra $1.76 with USPS Priority Mail, which may be worth the cost to provide a speedier delivery experience for your recipient.

In this comparison we are using a package that's going from Los Angeles to New York City. If you are shipping cross-country very often, and instead are shipping regularly to a particular geographic area, the cheapest carrier may vary. Check prices for your specific situation by signing up to a free ShippingEasy account.

At 2 pounds, the ranking of the cheapest carrier changes. UPS Ground Saver ($7.03) becomes the cheapest and USPS Ground Advantage ($9.52) comes in second, while UPS Ground is third at $10.09. The price difference between first and third place gets a bit wider at this weight level at $0.87.

At 4 pounds, the ranking of the carriers once again changes, but this time the second and third place positions swap places. UPS Ground Saver ($9.22) remains the cheapest. USPS Ground Advantage ($9.52) comes in second, while UPS Ground is third at $10.38. The price difference between first and third place becomes: $1.16.

From 4 pounds and above, the rankings for the cheapest shipping stay pretty steady up until you go over 20 pounds. While the rankings themselves are pretty steady, the price differences between second and third place carriers become extreme!

By using UPS Ground Saver you save $4.35 compared to third place USPS Priority Mail. UPS Ground Saver gets you 5-day shipping at $10.14 for a 20 pound package, while USPS Priority Mail would take 2 days and $13.87. You get both faster delivery for considerably less money using UPS Ground Saver in this case. To get this discounted USPS rate, sign up to Stamps.com.

For a package of 21 pounds, UPS Ground Saver becomes the cheapest way to ship. UPS is cheaper than USPS at these weights for standard ground shipping. However, getting faster 2-day delivery comes at a high premium, with nearly double the cost. Carrier rankings stay fairly stable with UPS Ground Saver keeping the top (cheapest) spot for packages up to 40 pounds. If the majority of goods you are shipping are over 20 pounds, being loyal to UPS will save you money.

Third and fourth place swap places at 24 pounds and fifth place (2-day shipping) ranks change at 26 pounds.

For larger, heavier items, such as pallets, consider using a freight forwarder like Clear Freight. If you are looking to ship bulky items like furniture or even construction equipment, a service like uShip can be a great match.