Key Points:

  • UPS Next Day Air® is usually more expensive and faster than UPS shipping times for slower delivery options like UPS 3 Day Select® or UPS® Ground
  • Easyship offers the best available UPS shipping rates with up to 86% off daily UPS rates

UPS delivers an average of 24 million packages daily to more than 220 countries and territories, with UPS delivery times ranging from same-day delivery to several days depending on the shipping service you use and the destination of your package.

That said, it is vital for eCommerce merchants to understand the exact UPS delivery times for the various services so that they can meet their customers' expectations through a seamless shopping experience. This article will help you understand UPS delivery times for the various domestic and international services.

With Easyship you gain access to a network of over 250+ shipping solutions, including UPS, so that you can delight your customers with impeccable delivery times at an affordable cost.

Take advantage of our shipping rates calculator to calculate UPS estimated shipping times and rates.

Table of Contents

Domestic UPS Delivery Times Per Service

Domestic shipping entails sending packages from one state to another within the US. UPS provides different delivery options to all 50 states, including, Hawaii, Alaska, and Puerto Rico. UPS delivery times vary depending on the domestic shipping service you choose, and how far your shipment is going.

UPS Electric Vehicle for Faster Delivery Times

From UPS Next Day Air® for faster delivery to UPS domestic ground shipping for slower deliveries, there is no shortage of domestic delivery services that you can use to get your shipments where they need to be.

The table below outlines the most popular domestic UPS delivery times per service, when sending a 2lb package measuring 10” x 5” x 5” from Brooklyn, New York to Miami, Florida using Easyship's Shipping Rate Calculator.

Courier Service Lead Time Estimated Cost
UPS Next Day Air® Early 1 business day $70.81
UPS Next Day Air® 1 business day $40.81
UPS Next Day Air Saver® 1 business day $34.81
UPS 2nd Day Air® 2 business days $17.09
UPS 3 Day Select® 3 business days $12.28
UPS® Ground 1-5 business days $10.12

*Discounts off UPS daily rates. Rates are limited to shipping from the U.S. only. Rates and any applicable discounts are subject to change at any time without notice

Related: A Guide to UPS Delivery Times for 2022

International UPS Delivery Times Per Service

UPS offers guaranteed time and day-definite international shipping services worldwide to more than 220 countries and territories. Merchants are at liberty to choose affordable like UPS Worldwide Expedited® or courier services like UPS Worldwide Saver® when shipping internationally.

The table below gives a ballpark of UPS's estimated delivery times and price when sending a 2lb package from the United States to China using Easyship's Shipping Rates Calculator.

Courier Service Lead Time Estimated Cost
UPS Worldwide Expedited® 2 business days $43.26
UPS Worldwide Saver® 2-5 business day $44.38

*Discounts off UPS daily rates. Rates are limited to shipping from the U.S. only. Rates and any applicable discounts are subject to change at any time without notice

Important Things to Know About UPS Delivery Times

Before sending your package with UPS, it is essential to understand how various metrics affect package delivery times. Armed with such knowledge, you will be able to accurately predict UPS shipping time and provide your buyers with estimated delivery times so that they can adequately prepare to receive it.
Here is a rundown of some things that you should note about UPS delivery times.

  1. UPS delivery times depend on the type of shipping option you choose: For example, UPS shipping times for faster, same-day delivery is offered via UPS Express Critical® while UPS delivery times for slower packages are offered via UPS®Ground, and can take up to five business days.
  2. Shipping cost increases with speed: UPS delivery times for faster shipping like UPS Next Day Air® are usually more expensive than UPS shipping times for slower delivery options like UPS 3 Day Select®. Somehow, you have to pay to play!
  3. Shipping rates Calculation: Before you select a delivery option, it is advisable that you use the Easyship Shipping Rate Calculator to calculate and compare different UPS estimated delivery times and rates for the different services. Simply enter the origin and destination address of your package to get an accurate estimate
  4. Urgent shipments: If you have urgent shipments that have a unique delivery timeframe, you should always consult with the UPS team for UPS special delivery services.
  5. UPS Holiday Schedule: The UPS estimated shipping times may change during holidays. Mostly, their offices remain closed during federal holidays. There are also shipping delays during Christmas and new year seasons.
  6. UPS delivery times to military bases: Delivery times to military bases might change depending on the prevailing operational conditions of the particular area.

UPS Shipping Time Estimate

As we have already seen, several factors come to play when determining UPS shipping times. To get an accurate estimate, you need to know how long it takes to send a package between the two locations. This will depend on the UPS shipping option chosen. Other factors such as holidays, weekends, and transport, & weather challenges also have a bearing on the carrier's ability to beat its delivery deadlines.

For example, the quickest way to deliver a package across the US is through the UPS Express Critical® where packages are delivered on the same business day. If you want your customers to receive their items the next day, then you are better off shipping with UPS Next Day options.

For oversized and non-urgent packages, UPS® Ground is your best bet because it is affordable, and you can expect your buyers to receive their items within 5 days.

For instance, let's say that you want to get UPS estimated delivery times for UPS® Ground, and your package is picked up by the carrier on Wednesday, 2 Dec 2020. It may take up to five business days to have your package delivered. Add five days from 2nd Dec, excluding weekends, and you will have your package delivered on Tuesday, 8 Dec 2020.

UPS Weekend Delivery

UPS offers weekend delivery with these services:

ServiceEstimated Delivery Time
UPS Next Day Air® EarlyDelivery by 9 am
UPS Next Day Air®Delivery by noon or 1:30 pm
UPS 2nd Day Air®End of the day
UPS 3 Day Select®End of the day (selected areas)
UPS® GroundEnd of the day (selected areas)

How Easyship Can Help

UPS provides reliable and affordable shipping options for eCommerce retailers to choose from. Understanding UPS delivery times for the different services are essential for businesses to provide the best shipping experience to buyers.

To further help eCommerce merchants the best shipping solutions to their buyers, especially when there are COVID-19 shipping delays. Easyship partners with the leading couriers to offer eCommerce merchants discounted shipping solutions to save on shipping costs.  

Through our platform, generate and print your shipping labels, schedule pickups, automate your shipping by using shipping rules, and expand your business by seamlessly offering cross-border shipping with fully landed costs at checkout.

Sign up for a free Easyship account today to save up to 91% on shipping and go global!

UPS Delivery Times FAQ

What are the stages of UPS shipping?

Ideally, UPS shipping follows some stages before they are delivered to the customer. First is the pickup stage where various packages are collected from different eCommerce merchants. Then there is the sorting stage where all the packages are taken to UPS facilities for sorting. After that, packages board delivery tracks or planes to be delivered to customers in a different location.

What is considered the end of the day for UPS delivery?

Simply put, the end of the day means that there is no guaranteed delivery time for the package. That means your package will be delivered past the guaranteed UPS delivery times for the particular service you chose. That can be 6 pm, 8 pm, or even as late as 10 pm.

How do I contact UPS about a missing package?

If you have any issues concerning your package, you can call Easyship to find out more information about your missing package. Check out our Help Center for 24/7 support.