Who has the cheapest flat rate shipping

Dimensions: 1-100 cubic inches
Common Box Dimensions: 4 in x 4 in x 4 in, 6 in x 4 in x 4 in, 8 in x 6 in x 2 in
Size Samples: Sunglasses, t-shirt, ceramic mug or cellphone

Dimensions: 101-250 cubic inches
Common Box Dimensions: 6 in x 6 in x 6 in, 8 in x 6 in x 5 in, 12 in x 9 in x 2 in
Size Samples: Hardcover book, tissue box or ream of paper

Dimensions: 251-650 cubic inches
Common Box Dimensions: 8 in x 8 in x 8 in, 12 in x 9 in x 6 in, 13 in x 11 in x 2 in
Size Samples: Shoebox or three-inch, three-ring binder

Dimensions: 651-1,050 cubic inches
Common Box Dimensions: 10 in x 10 in x 10 in, 12 in x 12 in x 7 in, 15 in x 11 in x 6 in
Size Samples: Regulation basketball or 14-inch laptop

Dimensions: 1,051-1,728 cubic inches
Common Box Dimensions: 12 in x 12 in x 12 in, 16 in x 12 in x 9 in, 18 in x 12 in x 6 in
Size Samples: Small appliances or tennis racket

Emails, texts and messaging may have largely replaced physical letters, but there is only so much you can send over the internet. Shipping carriers will continue to do brisk business so long as there are online auction items to deliver and long-distance birthday gifts to give.

The three main shipment companies in the United States – the U.S. Postal Service, UPS and FedEx – all provide relatively reliable service. However, you still might find yourself wondering:

• Which is cheaper: UPS or USPS?
• Which is cheaper: FedEx or UPS?
• Are some companies better at rush deliveries?
• Should you use an alternative shipping carrier?

“People have different things they are looking for,” notes Marc Gorlin, founder and CEO of Roadie, a delivery and logistics platform based on crowdsourcing and owned by UPS.
Finding the cheapest way to ship packages is most important for some people while others may say the best way to ship is whichever option is fastest. Depending on your priorities, some shipping companies may be better than others.

“It really depends on what you’re shipping and how much you want to spend,” says John Haber, chief strategy officer for Transportation Insight, a logistics services provider. He says the USPS tends to be cheapest for lightweight packages. However, for larger, bulky deliveries, UPS and FedEx are comparable choices. “There’s not a large difference in prices between the two,” according to Haber.

Keep reading for a look at which carriers generally offer the best service and the lowest rates.

Cheapest Ways to Ship Based on Delivery Speed

While the USPS often has the most cost-effective prices, they have struggled in recent years with some shipping delays. For small items, the USPS is still likely the way to go. However, for larger packages, consider the delivery speed relative to the price.

“UPS and FedEx are the most reliable,” says Brendan P. Keegan, CEO of Merchants Fleet, a fleet management company and one of the largest last-mile delivery providers in the U.S. “That’s just how it is.”

Here’s a look at the cheapest postal service options for packages and how fast they will arrive:

• First Class: Prices start at $4.80 for delivery in 2-5 business days.
• Priority Mail: Prices start at $9 for delivery in 1-3 business days.
• Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes: Prices range from $10.40 to $22.45 for delivery in 1-3 business days.

There are limitations though. First Class mail is only available for light packages weighing up to 13 ounces. After that, you’ll need to move to Priority Mail, but that $9 starting price is only for 1-pound packages being delivered to nearby zones.
For the USPS, flat rate boxes may be the best value since they can contain up to 70 pounds and be shipped across the county for a relatively low rate.

Both UPS and FedEx also offer ground delivery service with delivery times between one and five days, but their starting rates are $11 and $9.36, respectively, for 1-pound packages that are delivered in a nearby zone.

UPS and FedEx also have one rate boxes that are similar to the USPS flat rate boxes. Simple rate ground shipping for UPS runs from $9.45 for extra small packages to $24.30 for extra large packages delivered in the contiguous 48 states. With FedEx, small boxes start at $12.05 and go to $39.10 for extra large boxes and three-day delivery within 150 miles.

One benefit of the USPS is the lack of extra fees. “You don’t have a lot of surcharges,” Haber says. “The fuel surcharge is built into the USPS (pricing).”

Flat rate shipping options with UPS and FedEx may also be exempt from surcharges, but regular shipments may be subject to additional costs. For instance, UPS currently charges a peak/demand surcharge for some large domestic packages.

Best Way to Ship Next Day

If you need delivery to be in a matter of hours, rather than days, you’ll need an express service such as same day or next day delivery.

Priority Mail Express from the USPS will likely be your cheapest option among the three major carriers. Delivery times range from next day to two days, with regular pricing starting at $27.25 for a half-pound package. Holiday and Sunday delivery costs extra.

Meanwhile, UPS Next Day Air Saver will deliver by the end of the next day for prices that start at $29.66 for a 1-pound shipment. This service may not be available in all areas, and Saturday delivery is not an option. FedEx Standard Overnight runs $31.22 for next day delivery of a 1-pound shipment by 4:30 p.m., assuming the delivery location is within 150 miles.

However, for short-distance deliveries, the best way to ship may not be with a traditional carrier at all. Gorlin says customers may spend as little as $9 to have a small item delivered locally by tapping into the driver network crowdsourced through Roadie's platform.

“(Users) set up a gig from here to there, and our proprietary algorithm pairs the best driver to pick up and deliver,” Gorlin says. The process takes a sender minutes to complete, and in most cases, drivers can deliver on the same day. Roadie drivers are screened, and each delivery is automatically protected up to $100, although more coverage can be purchased.

The Roadie driver network reaches more than 27,000 zip codes in the U.S., with some deliveries going as far as 250 miles. Gorlin says the average delivery is around 12 miles.

Best Way to Ship Internationally

Pricing for international shipments will vary dramatically depending on the destination. Canada is among the cheapest destinations, and pricing from the major carriers is as follows:

• USPS Priority Mail International Canada: Prices start at $40.45 for a 1-pound package or $30.70 for a small flat rate box of up to 4 pounds.
• UPS Worldwide Saver: Prices start at $75.39 for next day delivery of a 1-pound package.
• FedEx International Ground: Prices start at $22.61 for a 1-pound package.

DHL is another popular carrier for international shipments. Its pricing relies on the weight and size of the package and sending a small 1-pound box from the U.S. to Canada will cost an estimated $81.24.

Cheapest Ways to Ship Packages by Size

The cost to ship items depends heavily on their size and weight so choose wisely when packing goods. If items will fit in poly mailers or envelopes, that could be less expensive than a box.

Another money-saving option is to have gift items sent from retailers to recipients. “You don’t pay the same rates as (retailers),” Keegan says. Big businesses have access to shipping discounts that aren’t available to individual consumers. “It can be cheaper to ship items directly,” he notes.

However, if you want to mail packages yourself, here are the cheapest ways to ship based on what you are mailing.

• Best shipping method for gift cards: USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope.
• Best shipping method for small packages: USPS Priority Mail Small Flat Rate Box.
• Best shipping method for medium and large packages: UPS Simple Rate or FedEx One Rate.
• Best shipping for oversized items: UPS Ground Service.

Best Shipping Method for Gift Cards: USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope

If you are mailing a gift card to someone, the cheapest way to send it would be to slip it into an envelope and send it first class mail from the post office. That would cost less than a dollar.

However, the USPS recommends using a padded envelope or other sturdy packaging to ensure gift cards reach their destination safely. By the time you buy the right envelope and add insurance, you may be better off going with a USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate Envelope, which costs $9.90.

The postal service will provide a free envelope for priority shipping. Plus, most priority mail comes with free tracking and up to $50 of insurance should the package be lost or damaged.

Best Shipping Method for Small Packages: USPS Priority Mail Small Flat Rate Box

Small gifts, such as socks, T-shirts and jewelry, may be best sent using the USPS Priority Mail Small Flat Rate Box for $10.40. This box is approximately 8 inches long by 5 inches wide by 1 inch wide and comes with free tracking, insurance up to $50 and expedited delivery.

The runner-up in this category is FedEx Express Saver, which has prices starting at $12.05 for a small box sent through the FedEx One Rate service. Delivery will take approximately three days. Or you could use UPS Ground Service, with rates starting at $10.15, but delivery could take a week.

Best Shipping Method for Medium and Large Packages: UPS Simple Rate or FedEx One Rate

For medium and large packages, UPS Simple Rate and FedEx One Rate offer similar values.

When using UPS Simple Rate, prices for medium boxes start at $14.95 while large boxes of up to 1,050 cubic inches have rates beginning at $19.60. FedEx is priced similarly with starting rates of $15.70 for a FedEx medium box and $24.20 for a FedEx large box.

For books, movies or music, packages will be eligible for USPS Media Mail, which is the cheapest way to ship a box. Prices start at $3.49 for a 1-pound package. However, it is also the slowest method to ship and will take two to eight business days. Plus, media mail doesn't come with tracking or insurance, which makes it less than ideal for gifts or other important shipments.

Best Shipping for Oversized Packages: UPS Ground Service

For furniture and other heavy or bulky items, you'll have to look elsewhere than the USPS. Priority Mail through the USPS can't weigh more than 70 pounds. That means UPS or FedEx will be your best bet for oversized packages. Both carriers will ship up to 150 pounds with their regular shipping services.

Pricing for large packages can depend on weight, dimensions and the destination. Assuming you are sending a 100-pound box from New York to California, UPS Ground Service is slightly less expensive than FedEx Home Delivery. UPS quotes $191.64 with a seven-day transit time while FedEx Home Delivery charges $194.34 for six-day delivery.

If you only need to move something across town, rather than across the country, the option to crowdsource drivers through a platform such as Roadie might be more economical.

Regardless of which service you use, remember that shipping rates may see increases if inflation and fuel costs don’t come down. The prices above are subject to change at any time.

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