ShipGopher
USPS vs UPS vs FedEx: which is cheapest for your package?
It depends on the box. USPS usually wins for light packages, UPS and FedEx for heavy or bulky ones. Here are real prices for four common packages, and how to check yours in a minute.
Real prices, side by side
The cheapest option from each carrier on ShipGopher, delivered to a home address, including the $1 + 5% service fee. Cheapest in bold.
| Package | USPS | UPS | FedEx |
|---|---|---|---|
|
1 lb box, 8×6×4 in Phoenix, AZ → Chicago, IL |
$9.36 USPS Ground Advantage, 4 days |
$10.16 UPS Ground Saver, 5 days |
$12.09 FedEx Ground Economy, 5 days |
|
5 lb box, 14×10×8 in Phoenix, AZ → Chicago, IL |
$14.40 USPS Ground Advantage, 4 days |
$15.88 UPS Ground Saver, 5 days |
$20.14 FedEx Ground Economy, 5 days |
|
10 lb box, 16×12×10 in Los Angeles, CA → New York, NY |
$28.93 USPS Ground Advantage, 5 days |
$24.12 UPS Ground Saver, 6 days |
$34.21 FedEx Ground Economy, 5 days |
|
20 lb box, 18×18×12 in Dallas, TX → Seattle, WA |
$114.11 USPS Ground Advantage, 4 days |
$39.09 UPS Ground, 4 days |
$40.57 FedEx Home Delivery, 4 days |
ShipGopher quotes from October 25, 2026. Days are the carrier's business-day estimate. Your price depends on the package, the route and the day you ship.
What decides the cheapest carrier
- Weight: under about 5 lb, USPS Ground Advantage is usually cheapest. Around 10 lb, UPS Ground Saver often wins.
- Box size: big, light boxes are priced by size, not just weight (called dimensional weight). In the 20 lb, 18×18×12 inch example, USPS costs almost three times as much as UPS or FedEx Ground.
- Distance: prices rise with distance, but not equally for every carrier, so the winner can change with the route.
- Speed: the cheapest options take 4 to 6 business days. Need it sooner? USPS Priority Mail and UPS 2nd Day Air are often the cheapest 2-day options; overnight costs much more with every carrier.
Online prices vs the counter
These are discounted online rates. Walking up to a carrier's counter usually costs more for the same service: in our October 2026 price check, a 5 lb UPS Ground box from Phoenix to Chicago was $58.61 at UPS retail and $16.24 on ShipGopher. See more examples.
Check your package
Enter the two ZIP codes and your box's weight and size on Get a Quote. You'll see USPS, UPS and FedEx side by side, with the cheapest and fastest options first, before you enter any addresses. No account needed.
More guides: Buy a label without an account · Ship with USPS without a printer