Cheapest Way to Ship a Package - Updated Monthly

Which carrier offers the lowest prices? At 15 ounces, UPS Ground Saver wins at $7.40—that's 1% cheaper than runner-up USPS ($7.45).

At 1 pound, UPS Ground Saver ranks cheapest at $8.56, saving you $0.50 compared to third-place USPS.

For packages over 20 pounds, UPS takes the lead. At 21 pounds, UPS Ground Saver costs $33.92—0% less than UPS Ground ($33.97). This gap widens as weight increases.

Quick recommendation: Under 1 pound? Use UPS. 1–20 pounds? UPS dominates. Over 20 pounds? Switch to UPS.

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 carrier costs least? Size, weight, distance, and speed all affect the price. Heavier parcels cost more. Next-day delivery commands a premium.

Conventional wisdom says UPS or FedEx beats USPS above 2–5 pounds. Our data shows otherwise: UPS only wins after 20 pounds. UPS leads for most weights.

The bump charts below rank carriers by price. We shipped a 12 x 9 x 2 inch package from Los Angeles to New York, testing weights from 1 ounce to 40 pounds. Each USPS, FedEx, and UPS service appears ranked by cost. Hover over lines to see rankings shift.

Rates come from EasyShip, a multi-carrier platform with USPS, UPS, and FedEx discounts. These prices require no volume commitments, rate negotiations, or monthly fees—the same rates you get from Stamps.com, EasyShip on day one.

Our cross-country example tests long-distance shipping. Your routes may differ. For accurate costs, compare rates using your actual origins, destinations, and package sizes.

At 15 ounces, UPS Ground Saver ranks #1 at $7.40. The chart below shows rankings throughout the lightweight range.

USPS Click-N-Ship caps First-Class at 13 ounces, but EasyShip and Stamps.com sell discounted First-Class postage up to 15 ounces.

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 3 days instead of 6, but you'll be paying an extra $5.41 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 shifts at the 1 pound mark. UPS Ground Saver costs $8.56, with an estimated 6 delivery days. However, to get your package delivered in 5 days, you can pay an extra $0.50 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 Easyship account.

At 2 pounds, the ranking of the cheapest carrier changes. UPS Ground Saver ($9.24) becomes the cheapest and USPS Ground Advantage ($9.74) comes in second, while UPS Ground is third at $9.90. The price difference between first and third place gets a bit wider at this weight level at $0.66.

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 ($9.24) remains the cheapest. UPS Ground ($9.38) comes in second, while USPS Ground Advantage is third at $9.74. The price difference between first and third place becomes: $0.50.

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 USPS Ground Advantage you save $6.31 compared to third place UPS Ground. USPS Ground Advantage gets you 5-day shipping at $9.74 for a 20 pound package, while UPS Ground would take 5 days and $12.08. You get both faster delivery for considerably less money using USPS Ground Advantage in this case. To get this discounted USPS rate, sign up to Stamps.com.

At 21 pounds, UPS Ground Saver costs $33.92—the cheapest option. Faster 2-day delivery costs nearly double. Rankings hold steady through 40 pounds, with UPS Ground Saver on top. Ship heavy goods regularly? Stick with UPS.

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.