ShipGopher
USPS vs FedEx: which is cheaper for your package?
Short answer: USPS is usually cheaper for small and medium boxes and for 2-day delivery. FedEx is usually cheaper for big or heavy boxes and for next-day delivery. Enter your box to see USPS and FedEx side by side, at discounted rates with no account.
USPS vs FedEx prices, four example boxes
The cheapest ground service from each, for the same box and route.
| Box and route | USPS | FedEx |
|---|---|---|
|
2 lb box, 10×8×4 in Phoenix → Chicago |
$10.33 USPS Ground Advantage |
$20.80 FedEx Ground Economy |
|
10 lb box, 16×12×10 in Los Angeles → New York |
$28.93 USPS Ground Advantage |
$34.21 FedEx Ground Economy |
|
20 lb box, 18×18×12 in Dallas → Seattle |
$114.11 USPS Ground Advantage |
$40.57 FedEx Home Delivery |
|
50 lb box, 24×18×18 in Los Angeles → Denver |
$137.69 USPS Ground Advantage |
$50.69 FedEx Home Delivery |
ShipGopher quotes from October 25, 2026, to a home address, including the $1 + 5% service fee. Cheapest in bold. Your price depends on the box, the route and the day you ship; the calculator above shows yours.
Faster delivery: 2-day and next day
The cheapest service from each that the carrier expects to deliver in that time.
| Speed, box and route | USPS | FedEx |
|---|---|---|
|
2-day, 2 lb box Phoenix → Chicago |
$16.18 USPS Priority Mail |
$37.00 FedEx 2Day |
|
2-day, 10 lb box Los Angeles → New York |
$48.45 USPS Priority Mail |
$78.02 FedEx 2Day |
|
Next day, 2 lb box Phoenix → Chicago |
$66.64 USPS Priority Mail Express |
$60.39 FedEx Standard Overnight |
|
Next day, 10 lb box Los Angeles → New York |
$174.70 USPS Priority Mail Express |
$110.28 FedEx Standard Overnight |
Same quotes as above (October 25, 2026). Delivery days are the carrier's business-day estimate.
When USPS is the better choice
- Small and medium boxes. The 2 lb box was $10.33 by USPS Ground Advantage vs $20.80 by FedEx Ground Economy, and the 10 lb box $28.93 by USPS Ground Advantage vs $34.21 by FedEx Ground Economy.
- 2-day delivery. USPS Priority Mail vs FedEx 2Day: $16.18 vs $37.00 for the 2 lb box, $48.45 vs $78.02 for the 10 lb box.
- No printer. USPS labels come with a QR code; a participating Post Office prints the label for you (how it works). FedEx labels need printing.
When FedEx is the better choice
- Big, light boxes. USPS prices boxes over 1 cubic foot by size, so the 20 lb, 18×18×12 inch box was $40.57 by FedEx Home Delivery vs $114.11 by USPS Ground Advantage.
- Heavy boxes. The 50 lb box was $50.69 by FedEx Home Delivery vs $137.69 by USPS Ground Advantage. Over 70 lb, only FedEx (up to 150 lb) takes it.
- Next day. FedEx Standard Overnight was cheaper than USPS Priority Mail Express: $60.39 vs $66.64 for the 2 lb box, $110.28 vs $174.70 for the 10 lb box.
Check UPS too: for the 10, 20 and 50 lb boxes, UPS was cheaper than both ($24.12, $39.09 and $43.71). See UPS vs USPS and UPS vs FedEx.
USPS and FedEx side by side
| USPS | FedEx | |
|---|---|---|
| Heaviest package | 70 lb | 150 lb |
| Biggest box | 130 in length plus girth (Ground Advantage) | 108 in long, 165 in length plus girth |
| Priced by size | Boxes over 1 cubic foot: L × W × H ÷ 139, when that's more than the weight | Any box: L × W × H ÷ 139, when that's more than the weight |
| Cheapest services | Ground Advantage | Ground Economy and Home Delivery |
| No printer? | Show a QR code at a participating Post Office; the clerk prints the label | Print the label and tape it on |
| Drop-off | Any Post Office | FedEx Office or any FedEx drop-off location |
Sources: USPS Ground Advantage, FedEx dimensional weight, FedEx size and weight limits (EasyPost), checked October 25, 2026.
Questions
Is USPS or FedEx cheaper?
For small and medium boxes, USPS usually is: $10.33 by USPS Ground Advantage vs $20.80 by FedEx Ground Economy for a 2 lb box. For big or heavy boxes, FedEx usually is: $40.57 by FedEx Home Delivery vs $114.11 by USPS Ground Advantage for a 20 lb, 18×18×12 inch box. The calculator on this page checks both for your box.
Is USPS or FedEx faster?
Their cheapest services take a similar time: USPS Ground Advantage was estimated at 4 to 5 days and FedEx Ground Economy at 5 days in our examples. For 2-day delivery USPS Priority Mail was cheaper; for next day, FedEx Standard Overnight was.
Can USPS ship a package over 70 lb?
No. USPS takes packages up to 70 lb. FedEx and UPS take up to 150 lb.
Do I need a printer?
Not for USPS: show the QR code at a participating Post Office and the clerk prints the label (how it works). FedEx labels need to be printed and taped to the box.
Do I need a USPS or FedEx account?
No, and no ShipGopher account either. Your email gets the label, receipt, tracking number and cancel link.
Is the calculator's price the one I'll pay?
It's ShipGopher's price right now for those ZIP codes and that box, including the $1 + 5% service fee. When you buy, the price is checked again with the full addresses before you pay, and if it changed you see both prices first.
More: UPS vs USPS · UPS vs FedEx · Compare all three carriers · USPS vs UPS vs FedEx prices