Ground Shipping Explained: Costs, Delivery Times & eCommerce Benefits

Ground shipping is an affordable way to get your products to your customers, especially for domestic deliveries. Freight services usually handle this service - deliveries are made with trucks by road, which is why the service was given its name. Deliveries made by road take a longer time to be made compared to those sent by air freight. Nevertheless, it’s the most popular domestic delivery method in the US.

But, this type of road service can still be useful in international shipping. Even though most international deliveries involve freight moving by sea to ports around the world, on reaching their destinations, the parcels still have to travel by ground to get to their final destination. Essentially, it is used for last-mile delivery in international shipping.

What is Ground Shipping?

Any shipping that involves parcels being sent by road or rail is referred to as such. Generally, these deliveries are handled by freight companies. Plus, the cost of services like USPS Ground Advantage over other USPS services are low enough that you may even be able to offer free shipping for your eCommerce store. That’s a huge bonus. Not only will you save money, but you may even see an improvement in conversions and sales. If you’re able to offer free - or affordable - shipping to your customers by sending packages by road, they’re more likely to make a purchase; customers love cheap delivery options, after all!

Compared to air and sea shipping, sending parcels by road may take a longer time, but it’s significantly cheaper. Because of this, customers often don’t mind waiting a little longer to receive their orders. Cost is clearly an important factor in the purchasing decision. In fact, 75% of online shoppers want free delivery, even for orders under US$50. Plus, 65% agree that they check whether free or cheap shipping is available before they even consider adding an item to their cart. This proves how important affordable shipping by ground is for your online business.

How Does It Work?

You will first need to figure out how you can integrate ground services. Will it work for all your domestic orders? Can you use it for last-mile delivery for international deliveries? To answer these questions, you will need to look at what destinations you’re shipping to and what types of items you’re selling. This will help you decide whether this service is realistic for you and whether you can use it to offer free or cheap shipping.

To use ground shipping effectively, start by mapping your orders:

• Example: If most customers are within a few states, services like UPS Ground or FedEx Ground can deliver in 2–3 days at half the cost of air.
• For heavier, non-urgent items, choose ground to avoid high air rates — e.g. a 10 lb package costs ~$8 by USPS Ground Advantage vs $25+ by air.
• For international shipments, use ground for the last-mile leg once parcels reach the destination country.

Once you’ve decided all the above, you can look at the different ground mailing services offered by FedEx, USPS, and UPS, among others. Easyship can help you compare these different services and decide which one will work best for you depending on the regions covered, rates offered, and service types.

For instance, if you want to ship a 2 pound package from Chicago to New York, the Easyship rate for your Ground Shipping is likely to be as follows:

Category: Accessory (no battery)

Weight: 2 lbs

Origin: Chicago

Destination: New York

Clearly, UPS Ground is the most value centric when it comes to Ground Shipping from Chicago to New York.

Top 5 Tips for Using Ground Shipping Effectively

Want to get the most out of ground shipping for your online store? Here are five simple ways to make this cost-effective delivery option work smarter for your business:

1. Offer Free Shipping on Ground Orders

Use the low cost of ground shipping to your advantage by offering free shipping on domestic orders. Customers love it, and it can help reduce cart abandonment.

2. Use Packaging That Minimizes Dimensional Weight

Courier rates often factor in package size as well as weight. Use compact, right-sized packaging to keep your ground shipping rates as low as possible.

3. Set Clear Delivery Expectations

Ground shipping is slower than express services, so let customers know up front how long delivery will take. Transparency helps manage expectations and reduces customer service issues.

4. Automate Rate Comparisons

Use a shipping platform like Easyship to automatically compare real-time ground rates across UPS, USPS, FedEx, and 550+ courier services—so you always ship at the best price.

5. Track Performance and Delivery Times

Monitor your ground shipments regularly. Reliable tracking is usually included, and reviewing delivery performance helps you identify and switch away from underperforming couriers.

What is the Difference Between Standard Shipping and Ground Shipping?

Many carriers consider both services to be the same thing. Essentially, they’re both regular, affordable shipping services that are delivered overground. In most cases, it’s also the cheapest option available. In addition, ground shipping tracking is almost always available so that you (and your customers) always know where your package is while in transit. However, there are some subtle differences in the service definition offered by the different couriers. For example, parcels sent across water by boat counts as ground shipping USPS. However, shipping by ground with UPS, FedEx, and USPS covers the 48 contiguous states in the US, as well as Canada and Mexico.

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How Long Does Ground Shipping Take?

In terms of ground shipping time, UPS and FedEx are usually 1-5 business days; USPS states that items sent by its road services will usually be delivered between 2-8 days. If you’re sending a parcel from one coast to the other, you can expect it to take five days; if it’s only going to the next state, it could be delivered within two.

So, if you have a package that must be delivered urgently, you’d do better by choosing a same-day, overnight, or next-day mailing option, even though this will cost you more.

What Are the Rates for Shipping by Road?

One fact is undeniably true, though. Shipping parcels by ground is are far cheaper than those of any other shipping service. But, these charges depend on the courier company you’re using. And, they will also differ according to the package’s destination and weight and dimensions. Ground shipping USPS, FedEx, and UPS all come with different costs, but you can use the Easyship calculator to get an estimate for how much a particular package will cost to send.

What Are the Benefits of This Service?

The main benefit of shipping by ground is the cost. It’s far cheaper than any other delivery service. Here are a few other benefits of this service:

1. You can send almost anything, whether it’s furniture, art or food. As long as it’s not illegal, you can probably send it by road.
2. There’s no size limitation on packages. You can send small, medium and large parcels. And, with full truckload (FTL) and less than truckload (LTL) options, you can send heavier consignments or fewer items, too.
3. There are fewer delivery delays because drastic weather conditions don’t affect the service as much as it does air freight.
4. It’s the easiest way to ship across the country.
5. It offers pickup and drop-off facilities.
6. Tracking is usually offered and normally quite reliable.

Which Couriers Offer This Service?

All domestic and international companies offer ground shipping as it is the most popular shipping service, especially within the US. Here are some examples of ground shipping from different couriers and their features:

UPS Ground Shipping

UPS offers cost-effective ground services.

• The minimum package rate is US$7.57/1lb, with US$3.60 residential surcharge and US$0.67 fuel surcharge; the total minimum rate is US$11.84.
• It takes 1-5 business days for delivery.
• Tracking is offered by UPS - and, they will confirm the day and time at which the item will be delivered before it arrives.

USPS Retail Ground

This was initially called standard post, but it’s now the road shipping service for USPS.

• Prices start from US$7.35.
• USPS takes 2-8 business days to deliver but can take up to 14 days.
• Tracking is included in this service.

FedEx Ground

FedEx Ground can be defined in three words; reliable, convenient, and fast.

• The minimum base rate is US$36, but you can easily calculate this on their website.
• FedEx takes 1-5 business days to deliver, depending on the destination.
• You can easily track your package through your mobile.

Deliver Better With This Affordable Service

Ground shipping is a great option for sending packages domestically. With this service, you can offer your customers cheap - or even free - delivery options. This is important since it can translate into more sales for you. Many couriers offer road-based services and you will have to compare them properly to find one that works for you. Easyship can help you with this. We partner with many domestic and international courier companies and can set you up with a great variety of services. Sign up for a free account now to start shipping!

Ground Shipping FAQ

What is ground shipping?

Ground shipping refers to packages being delivered by road or rail (instead of air or sea). It’s the most affordable method for domestic deliveries and is widely used for last-mile delivery of international shipments.

How long does ground shipping usually take?

Typical delivery times are:

• UPS Ground: 1–5 business days
• FedEx Ground: 1–5 business days
• USPS Ground Advantage: 2–8 business days

Delivery depends on distance, weight, and courier service levels.

Is ground shipping cheaper than standard shipping?

Usually, “standard” and “ground” shipping mean the same thing, and ground is almost always the cheapest available courier service. It’s slower than air, but significantly more cost-efficient for domestic orders.

What can I ship via ground?

Almost anything legal — from apparel and books to furniture, art, and packaged food. There are no strict size or weight limits, and couriers offer full truckload (FTL) and less-than-truckload (LTL) options for large freight.

Is ground shipping reliable?

Yes. Ground services usually come with full tracking and experience fewer weather delays compared to air freight. However, delivery can take longer over long distances.

Can I offer free shipping with ground services?

Yes — and many sellers do. Because ground is so cost-effective, it’s ideal for offering free or discounted shipping to boost conversions and reduce cart abandonment.

Which couriers offer ground shipping?

All major carriers provide ground services, including:

• UPS Ground – 1–5 days, tracking included
• USPS Ground Advantage – 2–8 days, budget-friendly
• FedEx Ground – 1–5 days, fast and reliable

You can compare all of them side-by-side using Easyship’s shipping rate calculator.

Can I track my ground shipments?

Yes. All major couriers provide tracking numbers and delivery confirmation, so you and your customers know where the package is at every stage.

When should I NOT use ground shipping?

Avoid ground shipping if:

• The package is time-sensitive or urgent
• It needs to arrive overnight or next-day
• It’s going to a remote destination where ground transit is unreliable

In these cases, express or air services are more suitable despite the higher cost.