USPS Parcel Select Ground (Now USPS Ground Advantage): What You Need to Know

Disclaimer

On July 2023, the USPS consolidated its three ground level services (USPS First-Class Package Service, USPS Parcel Select Ground, and USPS Retail Ground) into an umbrella service named USPS Ground Advantage, offering a faster and more affordable solution for domestic shipping.

USPS Ground Advantage™ offers:

• Delivery within 2–5 business days across all 50 states, U.S. territories, and military bases.
• Packages up to 70 lbs and 130 inches in combined length and girth.
• Free USPS Tracking® and $100 of included insurance.
• Free package pickup and support for return shipments.
• Hazardous materials shipping via ground transportation.

USPS Ground Advantage is often the cheapest way to ship large or heavy packages in the US. However, it's also one of the slowest at 2-5 business days.

USPS Ground Advantage is a great choice if you're short on money and long on time. And when you ship with this or any other USPS service with Easyship, you'll guarantee access to discounted shipping costs. 

What is USPS Ground Advantage?

USPS Ground Advantage is the spiritual successor of a now-lapsed USPS delivery service known as Parcel Post. This delivery service is designed to help merchants lower their shipping costs even if the packages are big and heavy.

USPS Ground Advantage Is Best For Cheap, Slow Shipping

USPS Ground Advantage is a good option for online merchants looking for a cheap way to ship heavy or large packages weighing less than 70 pounds. Since delivery speeds for Ground Advantage are 2-5 business days, this option should only be used when the recipient isn't in a rush to receive the package.

This is doubly true because Ground Advantage doesn't guarantee delivery dates. In other words, the quoted delivery lead time could be shorter or longer. While USPS Ground Advantage isn't the most reliable, however, it is a money-saver.

Delivery Areas For USPS Ground Advantage

USPS Ground Advantage delivers within the domestic US, but not internationally. You can use Ground Advantage when shipping to every state, including Hawaii and Alaska.

That said, you should expect deliveries to faraway regions to take at least 8 business days. For remote locations in Hawaii and Alaska, your deliveries could take longer than 8 business days.

How USPS Ground Advantage Rates Are Calculated

Rates for USPS Ground Advantage are based on the distance to delivery, package weight, and box dimensions.

Rates start at $7.01 for the regions (zones) closest to your origin address, then increase steadily the further away you want to send the package.

Here's the pricing table for USPS Ground Advantage if you are sending a 5 pound package from New York to Illinois.

As we can see with our free shipping rate calculator, there are two options. USPS - Ground Advantage Signature, and USPS - Ground Advantage. There is not much difference in the time, however, the price varies. In this scenario, you're probably better off opting for the Ground Advantage without signature if you can go without it.

However, these rates apply to any packages weighing 70 pounds or less. This means that Ground Advantage Ground is a great way to ship heavy or large packages.

For instance, if we are shipping a 60 pound package from New York to Chicago, here’s what the rates look like. 

However, if your package is oversized – measuring 108" in length, or a combined 130" or more in combined girth and length – you'll incur added fees for shipping an oversized package.

Delivery Times For USPS Ground Advantage

With USPS Ground Advantage, delivery times range between 2-5 business days. That said, if you're shipping to remote areas of faraway regions like Hawaii or Alaska, your delivery time can be even longer.

Delivery times for Ground Advantage are not guaranteed, either. This means they get there when they get there. If you use this service, make sure your packages don't need to arrive at a set time.

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Restrictions On USPS Ground Advantage

For domestic shipments made with Ground Advantage Ground delivery, the maximum weight for packages is 70lbs and the maximum combined length and girth is 140”. There are also limitations on restricted USPS which include smokeless tobacco and cigarettes.

USPS Ground Advantage Features

As a USPS service, Ground Advantage is entitled to the usual shipping features of USPS shipments, including:

USPS Ground Advantage Insurance

While Ground Advantage Ground doesn’t offer insurance in its fees, you can choose to pay an additional charge to insure your shipment.

Scheduled Pickup

With this USPS ground shipping service, your customers have the option to schedule a pickup at their own convenience.

USPS Ground Advantage Tracking

USPS Ground Advantage offers free tracking on all domestic shipments. This way, merchants and customers can track shipments en route until delivery is confirmed.

Additional Information

This service comes with longer transit times and unfortunately, that also means higher risks. There’s a higher chance of your package being jostled and handled roughly while making its way to your customer. That’s why it’s important that your packages are properly packed and sealed. That way, you minimize any potential damage. Additionally, this service does not offer a return option. Other perks of using this option include:

• Signature confirmation
• Adult signature
• Discounted retail pricing
• Additional confirmation options offered with extra fees

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Convenience is hugely important when considering shipping service. That’s why you should know that Ground Advantage Ground is not widely available at post office locations. However, if you’re a merchant who uses authorized USPS business partners, you may still be able to use this service from a post office.

How To Get Volume Discounts on USPS Ground Advantage?

USPS Ground Advantage is particularly well-suited for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and volume shippers seeking affordable ground shipping in the U.S. Key benefits include:

• Bulk Shipping Discounts: Businesses that ship in volume receive lower commercial pricing, offering significant savings compared to retail rates.
• Streamlined Pricing: Packages up to 70 lbs are covered, and pricing is competitive for items under 20 lbs. There are no extra fees for residential delivery, which is valuable for SMEs focused on B2C shipments.
• Included Features: Free package pickup, $100 insurance, tracking, and free return-to-sender/forwarding enhance value and efficiency for bulk senders.

Recent reports note a surge in volume and new customer contracts for Ground Advantage, signaling its growing popularity and acceptance in the market, especially among business shippers.

In case the cost factor continues to be an issue, SMEs and volume shippers looking for alternatives may consider:

USPS Ground Advantage remains highly competitive for lighter parcels, but comparing rates, surcharges, and features with these providers is recommended.

Third-Party Logistics Provider can Further Sweeten the Deal!

3PL providers like Easyship offers several advantages for businesses shipping in bulk:

• Discounts: Access to shipping rates discounted by up to 91%, using Easyship's pre-negotiated agreements with major carriers—including USPS, UPS, and FedEx—without minimum volume commitments.
• Bulk Order Automation: The platform enables processing and batch labeling for bulk shipments, dramatically reducing manual labor for SMEs.
• Easy Tracking: Ease of tracking helps businesses view and manage all shipments across multiple carriers in a single dashboard—helpful for businesses handling high parcel volumes.

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Why Should You Consider USPS Ground Advantage?

Since USPS Ground Advantage encompasses all the ground courier services, it brings in a multitude of benefits for shippers as well. Some of the benefits include:

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• Fast Deliveries: Incredibly fast deliveries across the United States. Expect your packages to be delivered within 2-5 business days. 
• Automatic insurance: With USPS Ground Advantage, you automatically get insurance worth $100 coverage. However, you can make an additional purchase to secure coverage up to $5000.
• HAZMAT Approved: The Ground Advantage service is perhaps the only option for sending hazardous materials that cannot be shipped via air.

How Easyship Can Help

If you’re sending out shipments domestically, things could be a lot easier and cheaper for you if you use one of the USPS Ground Advantage Package options. All you need to do is pick a service that suits your needs. Easyship partners with USPS and offers their over 100,000 customers many ways to improve their shipping.

Create your free account today to use Ground Advantage and save money with discounted shipment rates. Also, if you send fewer than 100 shipments per month – Easyship is 100% free for you to use, and you'll only pay for your discounted rates.

FAQs

1. What does USPS Ground Advantage mean?

USPS Ground Advantage is an affordable shipping service offered by the United States Postal Service for domestic deliveries. It’s designed for sending packages that don’t require fast delivery, offering reliable service with tracking and delivery in 2–5 business days. It replaced previous services like USPS Retail Ground and Parcel Select Ground in 2023, simplifying USPS’s ground shipping options under one name.

2. How long does USPS Ground Advantage take to arrive?

USPS Ground Advantage typically takes 2 to 5 business days for delivery, depending on the distance between the origin and destination. It's a cost-effective option for non-urgent shipments that still require tracking and reliable delivery.

3. Is USPS Ground Advantage better than Priority Mail?

It depends on your shipping needs.

USPS Ground Advantage is more affordable and ideal for non-urgent deliveries.

Priority Mail is faster (1–3 business days), includes up to $100 insurance, and may be better for time-sensitive shipments.

If speed is not a priority and you want to save money, Ground Advantage is often the better choice.

4. Is USPS Ground Advantage the cheapest?

Yes, USPS Ground Advantage is one of the cheapest USPS shipping options for packages over 1 lb that don’t need fast delivery. It's more affordable than Priority Mail and a good alternative for budget-conscious shippers, especially for heavier parcels traveling short to medium distances.

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