How to ship a package: USPS, UPS and FedEx basics (2026)
USPS publishes its full retail price list, so this page quotes it. UPS and FedEx prices depend on weight, size, distance and service, and both point you to their own rate tools. This page also covers what to bring, drop-off vs pickup, and tracking, using only each carrier's official pages.
How much does it cost to ship a package? Carrier-by-carrier table
Only what each carrier's own website says. USPS figures are retail prices at a Post Office from USPS Notice 123, effective Oct 4, 2026. "Zone" means distance: price depends on "how far it's going," and Zone 1 is the closest [1][2]. Ranges below run from Zone 1 to Zone 8.
| Carrier and service | Price | Delivery and what's included |
|---|---|---|
| USPS Ground Advantage | From $8.40 (up to 8 oz, Zone 1). 1 lb: $10.05 to $13.65. 5 lb: $13.75 to $27.45. 10 lb: $16.75 to $40.85 [1]. | 2-5 days, USPS Tracking included, up to 70 lbs. Use your own packaging [2]. |
| USPS Priority Mail (by weight) | From $11.50 (1 lb, Zone 1). 1 lb Zone 8: $17.95. 5 lb: $15.10 to $39.00. 10 lb: $18.60 to $63.40 [1]. | 2-3 days, tracking and up to $100 of insurance with most shipments. Priority Mail boxes and envelopes are free [3][4]. |
| USPS Priority Mail Flat Rate | $13.90 Flat Rate Envelope, $14.65 Small Box, $25.80 Medium Box, $36.10 Large Box [1]. | Same price to any state, up to 70 lbs, no weighing [3][4]. |
| USPS Media Mail | From $4.39 (1 lb). 5 lb: $7.34. 10 lb: $11.02. No zones [1]. | 2-8 days. Only eligible books and media. Packages may be opened and inspected [4]. |
| UPS | No simple published price. Cost depends on "origin, destination, service, package weight and other considerations" [8]. Retail rates apply at The UPS Store and UPS Customer Centers [7]. | Get an estimate with UPS's calculator, or download its Retail Rate and Service Guide and zone chart [7]. |
| FedEx | No simple published price. FedEx points you to its rate calculator [16]. | Prices depend on weight, size, distance and service. Use the FedEx calculator or ask at a FedEx Office counter. |
USPS online and commercial prices can be lower than retail. Extra services such as more insurance or signature confirmation cost extra.
How much does USPS charge to ship a package?
USPS publishes all retail prices in Notice 123. The current list is "Effective October 04, 2026" [1]. Some examples at a Post Office:
- Ground Advantage: priced by weight and zone. Items under 1 lb are rounded up to 4, 8, 12 or 15.999 oz. Heavier packages are charged by the pound up to 70 lbs [2]. Prices run from $8.40 (4 or 8 oz, Zone 1) to $204.30 (70 lbs, Zone 8) [1]. Long or large packages pay extra fees, listed in Notice 123 [1].
- Priority Mail: from $11.50. Except for Flat Rate packaging, prices are based on weight and zone [3]. Large, light packages over 1 cubic foot are priced by dimensional weight (length × width × height ÷ 139) [3].
- Priority Mail Flat Rate: Flat Rate Envelope $13.90, Legal Flat Rate Envelope $14.25, Padded Flat Rate Envelope $15.00, Small Flat Rate Box $14.65, Medium $25.80 and Large $36.10 [1].
- Priority Mail Express: from $37.05 by weight, or $38.25 for a Flat Rate Envelope [1][4].
- First-Class Mail letters: from $0.82. This is for envelopes, not packages [4].
What can I send by Media Mail?
Media Mail is for eligible books, media and educational materials, such as books of 8 or more pages, sound and video recordings, CDs and DVDs, printed music, manuscripts and computer-readable media. Video games and computer or digital drives don't qualify. Packages can weigh up to 70 lbs, and USPS may open and inspect them. If a package has items that aren't allowed, you or your recipient will pay higher postage [4]. It starts at $4.39 for 1 lb [1].
How much does UPS charge to ship a package?
UPS doesn't post one simple price. It says the cost "will depend on its origin, destination, service, package weight and other considerations" [8]. If you ship from a UPS retail location, such as The UPS Store or a UPS Customer Center, or don't have an account, retail rates apply. UPS's retail rates page has a calculator, the Retail Rate and Service Guide, and zone charts by ZIP code [7].
The UPS Store says you can bring in an item and staff will take it from there. Stores have boxes and packaging, and most locations can coordinate pickup [10]. Many UPS Store locations also sell USPS services such as Priority Mail and Media Mail [11]. Locations are individually owned, so ask your store what it charges.
How much does FedEx charge to ship a package?
FedEx doesn't post one simple price either. Its shipping page sends you to a tool to "Calculate shipping costs" [16]. You can drop off at FedEx Office, FedEx Ship Center, FedEx Authorized ShipCenter, FedEx Drop Box, Walgreens, Dollar General and grocery locations [14].
What do I need to bring to ship a package?
- Your item, packed. USPS Ground Advantage needs your own packaging [2]. Priority Mail boxes and envelopes are free from USPS [4]. The UPS Store and FedEx can help you pack [10][14]. FedEx says to tape all seams and black out old labels and barcodes [14].
- The full delivery address, and your return address.
- A label, or pay at the counter. You can buy USPS postage at a Post Office, a self-service kiosk or online [2]. No printer? USPS prints a Click-N-Ship label for you for $1.65 [1][3]. FedEx's mobile app can give you a barcode instead of a printed label, for drop-off at FedEx Office or a participating FedEx Ship Center [14]. To print a label yourself, see how much it costs to print.
- A way to pay. Need to mail a payment? See where to get a money order.
- FedEx, "Shipping": fedex.com/en-us/shipping.html (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
USPS packages that use only stamps for postage and weigh more than 10 ounces, or are more than half an inch thick, must be handed to a retail counter employee at a Post Office [6].
Drop-off vs pickup: what does each cost?
| Carrier | Drop-off | Pickup |
|---|---|---|
| USPS | Post Office counter, collection box or your home mailbox, within size and postage limits [6]. | Free Package Pickup during regular mail delivery for eligible packages. Pickup on Demand for a 2-hour window is $26.50 per pickup [1][5][6]. |
| UPS | UPS retail locations such as The UPS Store; retail rates apply [7]. | Price not shown on the pickup page. UPS says fees are per pickup request and listed under "Value-Added Services – Pickup Options" in its Rate and Service Guide. Residential, area and fuel surcharges may apply [9]. |
| FedEx | Free at a retail location. "There are no additional fees for dropping off a package" [12][14]. | On-call pickup, per stop, Monday to Friday: $9.00 for a future day scheduled online, $14.75 same day online. Phone and Saturday pickups cost more, and a $5.95 residential surcharge may apply [13]. |
USPS free pickup is for certain packages only, such as Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, Ground Advantage, returns and international items, and you schedule it online [5][6]. FedEx's pickup rates are from its rate sheet "effective August 18, 2025," the current one linked from its pickup page [12][13]. A FedEx Drop Box takes packages under 20" x 12" x 6" [14].
How do I track a package?
USPS: most services include USPS Tracking, except First-Class Mail [4]. Ground Advantage and Priority Mail include it [2][3]. Keep your receipt or label with the tracking number.
UPS and FedEx: enter the tracking number on the carrier's tracking page. The UPS Store points you to its tracking tool for an estimated arrival date [10], and FedEx's tracking page takes one or more tracking numbers [15].
FAQ
What is the cheapest way to ship a package with USPS?
It depends on weight, distance and contents. At a Post Office, Ground Advantage starts at $8.40, and Media Mail starts at $4.39 but is only for eligible books and media [1][4].
How much is a USPS Flat Rate box?
At retail, the Small Flat Rate Box is $14.65, Medium is $25.80 and Large is $36.10. The Flat Rate Envelope is $13.90 [1].
Does USPS pick up packages for free?
Yes, for eligible packages during regular mail delivery. A time-specific Pickup on Demand costs $26.50 per pickup [1][5].
Does FedEx charge to drop off a package?
No. FedEx says there are no additional fees for dropping off a package. On-call pickup costs extra, from $9.00 per stop for a future-day pickup scheduled online [13][14].
How much does UPS charge to ship a package?
UPS doesn't publish one simple price. Cost depends on origin, destination, service and weight, and retail rates apply at The UPS Store. Use UPS's calculator or its Retail Rate and Service Guide [7][8].
Can I ship a package without a printer?
Yes. You can pay at a Post Office counter, have USPS print a Click-N-Ship label for $1.65, or use the FedEx mobile app barcode at FedEx Office or a participating FedEx Ship Center [1][2][14].
Related guides
- How much it costs to print: per-page prices at Staples, FedEx Office, The UPS Store, Office Depot, CVS, Walgreens and public libraries.
- Where to get a money order, and what it costs: USPS fees and limits, Walmart, Western Union, MoneyGram and 7-Eleven, plus cashier's checks.
- Where to make photocopies: per-page copy prices at Staples, FedEx Office, The UPS Store, CVS and public libraries.
- Where to get something notarized, and what it costs: banks, credit unions, libraries, AAA, The UPS Store and online notary, plus state fee limits.
- How much it costs to fax: The UPS Store, FedEx Office, Staples and public libraries, including free library options.
- Notarize and copy in one trip: which places notarize, copy and ship in the same visit, and what to bring.
- All guides
Sources
All sources last checked Oct 27, 2026. Prices change. USPS retail prices are from the Notice 123 edition effective Oct 4, 2026, and FedEx pickup rates are from its rate sheet effective Aug 18, 2025.
- USPS Postal Explorer, "Notice 123: Price List" (effective October 4, 2026): pe.usps.com/text/dmm300/Notice123.htm (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- USPS, "Ground Advantage": usps.com/ship/ground-advantage.htm (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- USPS, "Priority Mail": usps.com/ship/priority-mail.htm (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- USPS, "Mail & Shipping Services": usps.com/ship/mail-shipping-services.htm (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- USPS, "Schedule a Pickup": tools.usps.com/schedule-pickup-steps.htm (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- USPS Postal Explorer, "Sending and Receiving Mail": pe.usps.com/text/dmm100/sending-receiving.htm (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- UPS, "UPS Retail Rate Guides": ups.com/us/en/support/shipping-support/shipping-costs-rates/retail-rates (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- UPS, "Shipping Zones and Rates": ups.com/us/en/support/shipping-support/shipping-costs-rates (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- UPS, "One-Time Pickup": ups.com/us/en/business-solutions/pickup-dropoff-options/ups-on-call-pickup (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- The UPS Store, "Domestic Shipping": theupsstore.com/pack-ship/domestic-shipping (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- The UPS Store, "Stamps & Postage": theupsstore.com/pack-ship/stamps-postage (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- FedEx, "Schedule & Manage Pickups": fedex.com/en-us/shipping/schedule-manage-pickups.html (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- FedEx, "FedEx U.S. Pickup Options with rates" (rates effective August 18, 2025, PDF): fedex.com/…/FedEx-US-Pickup-Options-with-rates-2025.pdf (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- FedEx, "Drop Off Packages": fedex.com/en-us/shipping/drop-off-package.html (last checked Oct 27, 2026)
- FedEx, "Tracking": fedex.com/en-us/tracking.html (last checked Oct 27, 2026)