Is Priority Mail Express the Best Overnight Shipping Service?

We live in an age of instant gratification, where additional buffering or a long line can send us into a frenzy.  With the excitement that comes with receiving a package, it’s no surprise that people want their deliveries and they want them now.  Delivery services are only too happy to comply - for a price. Naturally, overnight shipping costs are going to be more expensive than the standard shipment methods, but who is able to offer the most affordable overnight shipping?

The common response is USPS Priority Mail Express, but what does that entail? How much does overnight shipping cost, generally? Who are the key competitors? Is one service always better than the others, or does it vary?

USPS Priority Mail Express

To start, we need to address Priority Mail Express, USPS’ quickest delivery service.  An overnight service, it provides 2 day shipping with a money-back guarantee. The overnight service aims to have the package delivered by 10:30 AM, with Sunday and holiday delivery available for an additional fee.

The service includes free tracking and up to $100 in insurance for domestic deliveries.  A signature confirmation can be added for no additional charge and free package pickup can be orchestrated from your home or office.  It is also worth noting that USPS is the only overnight shipping carrier that is able to deliver packages to a P.O. Box.

Sizing requirements dictate that your package is 70 lbs max, and that the combined length and girth (the distance around the thickest part of the package) does not exceed 108”.  The addition of flat rate envelopes is also a great addition feature to this service.

UPS Next Day Air 

UPS’ overnight shipping option has 3 tiers, priced from most to least expensive:

• UPS Next Day Air Early: this service is overnight, arriving by 8 AM.
• UPS Next Day Air: overnight shipping service, arriving before 10:30 AM.
• UPS Next Day Air Saver: this service opens up your shipping window to 3 PM.

These services offer guaranteed, time-sensitive delivery or your money back, and they come with tracking services.

FedEx Overnight

The best overnight shipping option for FedEx is called FedEx Overnight.  FedEx Overnight is usually priced as the most expensive overnight option between the carriers.  Much like UPS, it allows a breakdown of services based on delivery windows.

• FedEx First Overnight: delivery is first thing in the morning, arriving by 8 AM.
• FedEx Priority Overnight: delivery is expected by midmorning, arriving by 10:30 AM, or a little later in remote areas.
• FedEx Standard Overnight: the delivery window for Standard Overnight is 3 PM for businesses, with as late as 8 pm for residences.

Please note that these delivery times may vary outside of the contiguous United States. You can use the Online Shipping Calculator for a more accurate time frame estimate.

These services deliver from Monday to Friday, with Saturday delivery available in certain areas for an additional charge. Saturday hold at location is available at no additional charge.

With regards to sizing and weight maximums, you can ship up to 150 pounds.  Your package dimensions should not exceed 119” in length, and 165” in length plus girth. FedEx also offers free Express packaging, with up to 12 different packaging options for overnight shipments. They even offer cold shipping boxes, for items that need to be delivered next day and stay cold overnight. These boxes are able to maintain a constant range of 35.6 - 46.4 degrees Fahrenheit (2 - 8 degrees Celsius). The boxes are very user-friendly and they even have a hotline for guided use.

Who Has the Cheapest Overnight Shipping?

Knowing the breakdown of competitor services, who has the most affordable overnight shipping?  While we have a very good idea, I’d like to give you a case study example to paint just how steep the difference can be.

Let’s say you are shipping a 11 x 8 x 6 package, weighing at 3 lbs from Miami, Florida to Denver, Colorado.  You’re wondering which options between FedEx, UPS, and USPS are going to save you the most money, while arriving in an overnight time frame. Using the Online Shipping Calculator, you can save yourself the time of clicking between web pages and directly compare all relevant features on one page.

As we can see, FedEx is able to offer overnight services between the retail rates of $104.49 - $150.34.  UPS falls within the same zone, at an ever-so-slightly higher rate of $105.64 - $150.41.  USPS offers an overnight service at essentially half the rate of its competitors and with the help of Stamps.com’s discounted label services, you could buy your shipping for as low as $48.90.  USPS Priority Mail Express sweeps the competition and is able to provide the lowest consistent overnight shipping cost.  However, by using the Online Shipping Calculator, the other competitors and their services are less financially daunting with the discounts available.