USPS vs FedEx vs UPS Pricing

Cheapest Way to Ship a Package – Updated Monthly

We rank and analyze the pricing of the top shipping carriers in the United States. Understand which carriers offer the best deals for shipping your parcels with our tables and special offers.

Prices last updated on April 2, 2026 01:09:25 (UTC)

Summary (TL;DR)

The Results

Under a pound, UPS Ground Saver wins most often — cheapest on 87% of 12 oz routes, with a typical cheapest-rate of $5.88.

At 1 lb, UPS ranks cheapest on 90% of routes; median cheapest $6.85.

At 5 lb, UPS leads (90% of routes) with a median cheapest of $7.15 across 2,550 state-pair routes.

For heavier parcels (20 lb), UPS wins on 88% of routes; typical cheapest-rate $7.28.

Cheapest service by weight

Today's Leaders

Weight Cheapest service Typical winner share Median price
12 oz UPS Ground Saver 87% of routes $5.88
1 lb UPS Ground Saver 90% of routes $6.85
5 lb UPS Ground Saver 90% of routes $7.15
20 lb UPS Ground Saver 88% of routes $7.28