As a savvy consumer, you know that sometimes speed matters when it comes to shipping packages. Whether you‘re up against a tight deadline, trying to get a thoughtful last-minute gift delivered on time, or shipping something valuable or perishable, expedited shipping can be worth the extra cost for the peace of mind it provides.
If you‘re considering using expedited shipping from the United States Postal Service (USPS), here‘s a complete guide to how fast it is, what‘s included, how much it costs, and insider tips for ensuring on-time delivery.
What Is Expedited Shipping?
Expedited shipping is an umbrella term that encompasses any shipping method that is faster than a courier‘s standard or economy shipping option. Depending on the carrier, there are usually multiple tiers of expedited shipping available, ranging from next-flight-out and overnight service to 2-day, 3-day, or "express" shipping.
With expedited service levels, you are paying a premium in exchange for faster, guaranteed delivery. It‘s an important option for time-sensitive packages that must arrive by a certain date. Expedited services also usually come with additional benefits like real-time tracking, insurance, and proactive delivery alerts.
How Fast Is USPS Priority Mail Express?
USPS‘s fastest expedited shipping option is Priority Mail Express. It offers guaranteed next-day to 2-day delivery by 6 PM to the majority of domestic destinations:
- Next-day delivery is available to most metropolitan areas if dropped off before the cut-off time (typically 3-5 PM)
- 2-day delivery is provided to extended areas, including Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico
- Overnight delivery is not available to some remote or rural locations, which are 2-day delivery only
For your package to arrive the next day, it must be brought to the Post Office before the posted cut-off time, which varies by location but is usually between 3 PM and 5 PM on weekdays. Items dropped off after this time will be delivered in 2 days instead. Packages picked up by your mail carrier go out the next business day.
Sunday and holiday delivery are available with Priority Mail Express to many major markets, but there is an additional $12.50 charge. Items shipped with this premium get delivered by 10:30 AM on average.
Internationally, Priority Mail Express offers 3-5 business day service to over 190 countries, with rates starting at $45.95. Some destinations have guaranteed delivery dates and/or money-back guarantees while others do not.
According to the latest USPS annual report, Priority Mail Express has a stellar on-time performance record, with 97.6% of packages delivered by the guaranteed date in 2020. On-time performance has been over 97% consistently since 2015. In consumer surveys, Priority Mail Express also earns high marks, with 91% of users reporting that they are satisfied or very satisfied with the service.
What‘s Included With Priority Mail Express?
Unlike USPS‘s non-expedited mail classes, Priority Mail Express comes with a host of value-added features in its published rates:
- Money-back delivery guarantee (for domestic addresses only)
- $100 of insurance coverage against loss or damage ($200 for international)
- Free packaging, including flat-rate envelopes and boxes
- Scheduling of free package pickup during regular mail delivery
- USPS tracking number for real-time updates
- Proof of delivery signature record upon request
- Flat-rate pricing option for simplicity if package is under 70 lbs
These inclusions make Priority Mail Express an attractive option compared to the lack of extras with regular Priority Mail or First-Class Package Service. The money-back guarantee is especially valuable, as you are entitled to a full postage refund in the rare event that a package isn‘t delivered on time. This guarantee creates a strong incentive for USPS to meet its promised delivery dates and gives consumers recourse if the service falls short.
Priority Mail Express Pricing
Rates for Priority Mail Express start at $26.95 for a flat-rate envelope. Beyond that, pricing depends on your package‘s weight, dimensions, and shipping distance. Pricing is zone-based, meaning you will pay more the further away your package is traveling, up to 70 lbs max.
As an alternative to zone-based pricing, USPS also offers flat-rate Priority Mail Express boxes and envelopes. With flat-rate packaging, the price is uniform based on the box/envelope size regardless of destination. This option provides simple, predictable pricing and can be cost-effective for dense items or packages going cross-country.
Here‘s a pricing chart showing sample rates for common weights and zones:
| Package Weight | Zone 1 & 2 | Zone 3 | Zone 4 | Zone 5 | Zone 6 | Zone 7 | Zone 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 lb | $26.35 | $27.10 | $28.50 | $29.65 | $29.95 | $32.20 | $35.35 |
| 1 lb | $26.75 | $28.50 | $29.80 | $32.75 | $34.30 | $39.35 | $43.80 |
| 2 lb | $27.40 | $30.45 | $31.85 | $35.50 | $37.05 | $45.20 | $54.75 |
| 5 lb | $31.85 | $34.85 | $38.35 | $49.35 | $58.95 | $64.10 | $77.60 |
| 10 lb | $44.10 | $49.00 | $57.30 | $64.45 | $72.85 | $87.35 | $96.55 |
As you can see, prices go up quickly the heavier and further your package is going. If your item is 70 lbs or less, compare the zone-based rate to the applicable flat-rate packaging to see which is cheaper:
- Flat Rate Envelope: $26.95
- Legal Flat Rate Envelope: $27.10
- Padded Flat Rate Envelope: $27.50
- Small Flat Rate Box: $48.45
- Medium Flat Rate Box: $68.10
- Large Flat Rate Box: $76.40
Use the USPS Postage Price Calculator to compute the exact rate for your shipment.
When Is Expedited Shipping Worth It?
As a general rule of thumb, expedited shipping is worth the extra expense when you have a package that must be delivered by an exact date or within 1-2 days max. Some common reasons to opt for expedited shipping include:
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Overnight delivery needed for work/business: such as shipping a laptop to a remote employee, contracts that need to be signed ASAP, etc. The ability to send something cross-country literally overnight can help avoid project delays.
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Last-minute gifts for birthdays/special occasions: expedited shipping means you can procrastinate gift shopping a bit longer without the recipient being any the wiser that you waited until the 11th hour. Just make sure to order before the guaranteed delivery cut-off dates, which are earlier than usual for major holidays.
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Perishable or time-sensitive items: such as food, fresh flowers, live plants/animals, medical supplies like medications, important paperwork with deadlines, etc. With guaranteed overnight shipping, perishable goods stay fresh and legal documents like tax returns get where they need to go on time.
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High-value items: the included insurance with Priority Mail Express covers up to $100, which is fine for most everyday shipments. But if you‘re shipping something worth more than that, like jewelry or electronics, it‘s smart to pay for expedited service to minimize time in transit. You can (and should) add on additional insurance for high-ticket items too.
Ultimately, expedited shipping is an investment in peace of mind. If the success of your personal or professional projects depends on a shipment arriving by a certain date, it‘s better to spend a bit more upfront for guaranteed service than to have to deal with the stress and negative consequences of a delayed delivery.
How Does USPS Compare to FedEx and UPS?
USPS isn‘t the only game in town when it comes to expedited shipping. Private couriers FedEx and UPS are the brand names in guaranteed, time-definite package delivery. But how do their options stack up compared to USPS Priority Mail Express? Here‘s a quick overview:
USPS Priority Mail Express
- Overnight delivery by 6 PM to many urban areas, with 2-day to some rural locations
- Rates start at $26.95
- Includes $100 insurance, tracking, plus some free packaging
- Sunday/holiday delivery available to many areas for extra fee
FedEx Overnight Options
- First Overnight: delivery by 8 AM to major metros, 9:30 AM to most areas
- Priority Overnight: delivery by 10:30 AM to most areas
- Standard Overnight: delivery by 3 PM to most areas (8 PM to residential addresses)
- Rates start at $32.50 for Standard Overnight
- Includes tracking and up to $100 insurance
UPS Overnight Options
- Next Day Air Early: guaranteed delivery by 8 AM to major cities
- Next Day Air: guaranteed delivery by 10:30 AM, 12 PM, or end of day, depending on destination
- Next Day Air Saver: guaranteed delivery by 3 PM or 4:30 PM to businesses, end of day to residences
- Rates start at $32.47 for Next Day Air Saver
- Includes tracking and up to $100 insurance
In general, USPS Priority Mail Express is the most economical choice, with prices up to 20% less than comparable UPS and FedEx overnight services, on average. USPS is especially cost-effective for lightweight shipments under 3 lbs.
However, both FedEx and UPS offer more nuanced service levels, with guaranteed delivery as early as 8:00 AM to more destinations. They also have stronger on-time delivery performance. Per data from ShipMatrix, in 2020 UPS delivered 98.4% of packages on time, and FedEx 97.4%, compared to 97.6% for USPS Priority Mail Express.
FedEx and UPS also earn slightly higher customer satisfaction scores for overnight service compared to USPS. In the most recent ACSI (American Customer Satisfaction Index) study, UPS scored 85 out of 100 on overnight air satisfaction, FedEx 84, and USPS overnight 82.
If your shipment absolutely must arrive on time or you need a specific early morning delivery window, it may be worth paying extra for FedEx or UPS. But if your priority is keeping rates low while still getting guaranteed 1-2 day service, USPS is your best bet.
The Future of Expedited Shipping
The most exciting innovations in the expedited shipping space are happening around same-day and on-demand delivery. Thanks to the meteoric growth of ecommerce, consumer expectations around shipping speeds are increasing. Huge players like Amazon and Walmart are making same-day delivery a reality in dozens of major metro areas.
Traditional couriers are responding in kind. In 2020, UPS launched an Express Critical service that offers 1-3 hour delivery windows 24/7/365 in hundreds of markets. FedEx offers SameDay City service to over 1,800 cities, and USPS has been experimenting with limited on-demand delivery options through third-party providers.
Drones, autonomous vehicles, and delivery robots are another area to watch. All the major players are investing heavily in these cutting-edge solutions to offer faster delivery at lower costs. As adoption increases and regulatory hurdles are overcome, these technologies will allow for expedited shipping in as little as 30 minutes for a widening range of products.
For now, guaranteed overnight and 2-day service remain the backbone of the expedited shipping market as consumers have come to rely on this quick yet cost-effective way to send critical or time-sensitive packages. But the future of the industry is bright, with many more ultra-fast options on the horizon to meet evolving customer needs.
