Cheapest Carrier in 2021: Overnight Shipping Rates

As of October 19, 2022, ShippingEasy now offers the lowest USPSⓇ shipping rates in the industry, and the rates reflected on this page are prior to this change and may not be accurate. For more information on these new rates, check out our blog!

Overnight shipping, while expensive and usually complex, has become a necessary feature from shipping carriers for customers that need orders as fast as possible. 2021 sees an increase in overnight shipping rates, which should not come as a surprise to anyone, considering how much goes into overnight shipping. We’ve compared rates for overnight orders by carrier based on different weight classes and picked the best for each class and zone, charted below.

For the current 2023 USPS rates, visit our USPS 2023 Shipping Rate Changes: Flat Rate, Priority, First Class, w/Tables blog!

Your choice of carrier is based on a complex mix of criteria including:

  • Delivery time frame
  • Package weight
  • Package dimensions
  • Delivery distance
  • Discounts you may have negotiated (or may be able to negotiate) with a carrier

Overnight Delivery

 

Typically least expensive carrier

Cheapest overnight shipping rates 2021 USPS FedEx UPS

USPS now dominates the Overnight Delivery segment with its Priority Mail Express® (PME) service, at least from a cost-effectiveness perspective. As shown in the table, for most weights/zones in which they compete, USPS is the lowest-cost option. As a perk, USPS also offers free Saturday delivery while the others charge extra.

Areas where USPS can’t compete with its rivals in this segment include packages that weigh more than 70 lb. and packages requiring guaranteed morning delivery. If you are considering USPS, it is important to note that Priority Mail Express Flat Rate® envelopes are generally the best option for any shipment that will fit into them (and weighs not more than 70 lb.). Standard ($22.75) and padded ($23.25) flat-rate envelopes measure 12.5″ x 9.5″, while legal ($22.95) flat-rate envelopes measure 15″ x 9.5″. These rates fall below the lowest 2021 undiscounted prices available from FedEx or UPS.

Here, we let you see 2021 rates from all major shipping carriers in one place. We’ve compiled various rate charts for different weights and packages going to different shipping zones across UPS, FedEx, and USPS. See how they compare. In this article, we’ll look at overnight shipping.

Overnight Shipping Rate 2021 Comparison Table: FedEx, UPS & USPS

2021 cheapest overnight shipping rates 5 pound chart

Pricing shown in these rows represents the 0.5 lb. price for USPS; for FedEx and UPS, the price shown is for a carrier-provided letter-size envelope, which can weigh up to 0.5 lb.

Rate Considerations

Consider that UPS and FedEx have average fuel and residential surcharges added to their rates, which are typically added to your invoice after a label is paid for and delivered to a customer. Also, many online sellers can negotiate better rates from FedEx and UPS, however, they do not post those rates online, and the rates used were the lowest publicly available rates. For more rate information, visit our Resource Center.

 

This is from ShippingEasy’s E-commerce Seller’s Guide to 2021 Rate Changes:

2021 shipping rate changes header

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