To get the cheapest shipping, use shipping software like ShippingEasy or Stamps.com. They provide automatic discounts to USPS and UPS. To get more deals, check out our shipping discounts guide.
All prices on this site are discounted commercial rates booked through shipping software (Stamps.com, ShippingEasy, Shippo, ShipStation, Easyship), not retail prices at a post office or UPS Store. Retail counter prices can be 50–88% higher than what you see here — see our discounts comparison for examples.
For most packages it matters less than people think which carrier you pick. Based on our live rate data for a small box (NY to LA), USPS Ground Advantage and UPS Ground Saver come within pennies of each other from 1 oz up to about 20 lb — sometimes literally a 1¢ difference. Picking the carrier whose drop-off is on your route saves more time than chasing the cheapest sticker price. Above 20 lb, UPS Ground Saver pulls ahead more meaningfully — by $5–10 in the 21–25 lb range and by $50+ on heavy packages near 70 lb. FedEx Ground is generally the most expensive of the three for small-box shipments. Large lightweight boxes get billed by dimensional weight, which can flip the rankings entirely. Use the calculator for your exact shipment, or read our in-depth carrier comparison.
Dimensional weight is a billing weight calculated from a package's volume rather than its actual weight. Carriers compute it as length × width × height ÷ 139 (in inches) and charge whichever is higher — actual or dimensional. A large box stuffed with light items can cost the same as one twice as heavy. The biggest DIM-weight surcharges come from oversized boxes, so picking a snug box matters as much as picking the cheapest carrier.
Ground Advantage delivers in 2–5 business days at the lowest USPS rates for parcels up to 70 lb, with tracking and $100 of insurance included. Priority Mail delivers in 1–3 business days, includes free flat-rate boxes and envelopes, and includes $100 of insurance for most rate types. Ground Advantage replaced First-Class Package and Parcel Select in July 2023 as USPS's default cheapest tracked service. Full comparison here.
USPS delivers Priority Mail Express seven days a week, including Sundays and holidays. USPS also delivers Amazon packages on Sundays in many parts of the country. Standard First-Class Mail and regular Priority Mail do not deliver on Sundays. More on Sunday delivery.
The length of standard shipping can vary depending on the shipping carrier, the shipping method selected, and the destination of the package. In general, standard shipping refers to ground shipping. It can take anywhere from a few days to a few weeks if the shipment is from overseas.
In the United States, for example, the United States Postal Service (USPS) offers Parcel Select, with delivery times ranging from 1-8 business days depending on the option chosen and the distance between the origin and destination.
Other shipping carriers, such as UPS and FedEx, also offer ground shipping options with delivery times ranging from 1-7 business days depending on the service selected and the destination of the package.
It's important to note that delivery times are not guaranteed, as they can be affected by factors such as weather conditions, customs processing, and other unforeseen circumstances. If you need a guaranteed delivery date, you may need to choose an expedited shipping option. More details about standard shipping options can be found in our guide.
Post offices are open Monday through Friday. Some are open on Saturdays and are closed on Sundays and federal holidays. See our page to see if the post office is open and the mail runs today.
YES - The post office will be open on Good Friday. Mail will also be delivered on that day. See our guide on USPS Holidays.
Our guide lists online and retail store locations where you can buy postage stamps as an alternative to the post office.
A book of 20 First-Class Forever stamps costs the current Forever rate × 20. USPS adjusts the Forever stamp price periodically, typically once or twice a year. Forever stamps stay valid for 1 oz First-Class letters at any future rate, so they hold their value through price increases. See our stamps pricing guide for the current cost and history of stamp prices.
You can request hold mail for free from USPS by logging in and filling out the hold form. This guide lets you know what to expect.
Generate a prepaid label through any shipping software (Stamps.com, ShippingEasy, Shippo, ShipStation), email it to your recipient as a PDF, and they tape it onto the package and drop it off. With most platforms you only pay if the label is actually used. Step-by-step instructions.
We detail the steps on where to write recipient and sender addresses in this illustrated guide.
Schedule a free pickup directly from USPS's site. See our guide for details, on-demand pick up options and fees.
For most international packages, the best balance of price, delivery time, and tracking comes from UPS booked through shipping software like ShipStation or ShippingEasy — these accounts apply discounts that retail rates can't match, and tracking stays reliable after the package crosses the border. DHL Express is a close second and tends to deliver more reliably in parts of Asia and Europe. For very light packages (under 4 lb), USPS First-Class Package International Service is often the cheapest sticker price, but tracking weakens once the package leaves US soil. Avoid retail counter rates — they're significantly higher than online prices across all carriers. Full international shipping guide.
LTL stands for Less-Than-Truckload. It is a type of shipping service offered by carriers for shipments that do not require a full truckload.
LTL shipments typically weigh between 150 and 15,000 pounds, and are too large to be shipped as parcels, but not large enough to require a full truckload. Examples of LTL shipments include pallets of goods, large boxes, or crates.
In LTL shipping, multiple LTL shipments from different shippers are consolidated onto a single truck, which allows carriers to maximize their use of space and reduce transportation costs. LTL carriers use a hub-and-spoke distribution network to pick up and deliver shipments, often stopping at multiple terminals along the way to consolidate and deconsolidate shipments.
LTL shipping can be a cost-effective option for small and mid-sized businesses that need to ship goods, as it allows them to pay only for the space they need on a truck, rather than paying for an entire truckload. LTL carriers also typically offer tracking and other value-added services, such as liftgate delivery, inside delivery, or white glove service, to accommodate different shipping requirements. See our article for more on LTL Freight.
A pallet is a flat platform typically made of wood, plastic, or metal, that is used to support goods or materials during storage, transportation, and handling. Pallets are designed to be lifted and moved by forklifts, pallet jacks, or other lifting devices, and they are commonly used in warehouses, factories, and shipping yards.
Pallets come in various sizes and types, but most standard pallets are typically 48 inches by 40 inches in size. They are designed to be durable and reusable, and they are often used to transport goods across long distances, as they can be stacked on top of each other and loaded onto trucks or shipping containers.
Pallets are an important part of modern logistics and supply chain management, as they make it easier and more efficient to move large quantities of goods and materials from one location to another. Learn more about pallets and skids here.
Freight factoring, also known as trucking factoring or transportation factoring, is a financial transaction in which a trucking company sells its outstanding invoices or accounts receivable to a third-party financing company, called a factoring company, at a discounted rate. The factoring company then provides immediate cash to the trucking company, typically covering around 90% of the invoice value, while retaining the remaining 10% as a reserve.
In essence, freight factoring allows trucking companies to access cash flow quickly and easily, rather than waiting for customers to pay their invoices on net 30, 60, or 90-day terms. The factoring company takes on the responsibility of collecting the invoice payments from the trucking company's customers, and the trucking company pays a fee or percentage of the invoice value to the factoring company for this service.
Freight factoring can be a useful tool for trucking companies that need to maintain steady cash flow to cover expenses such as fuel, maintenance, and payroll. It can also help companies that are experiencing rapid growth or seasonal fluctuations in business. For more details, see our guide.