If you’ve done a bit of shipping in the past, then you know that FedEx services are split up into two main categories: Express and Ground. Express shipments get delivered in less than 3 days (and sometimes overnight). Ground shipments may take up to 5 days.
FedEx Ground is a great choice for casual or budget customers looking for a comprehensive, easily-trackable, and economical shipping option. In this article, we’ll give you more details about how fast FedEx ground is and how it stacks up to the competition, so keep reading!
How Fast Is FedEx Ground In [currentyear]?
FedEx Ground promises delivery in 1 to 5 business days, with delivery to Alaska and Hawaii taking 3 to 7 business days in [currentyear]. Exact delivery times vary based on the shipment’s origin and the distance to the destination. For shipments within the contiguous United States, FedEx Ground and UPS Ground have comparable delivery times.
If you still need more information about what to expect from FedEx Ground, then we hope you keep reading for more useful facts and tips!
What Is FedEx Ground?
When it was first founded, FedEx was mainly an express delivery service.
That changed in 2000 when the company created FedEx Ground and started offering low-cost ground shipping options.
While Ground shipping is much cheaper than the company’s express options, customers still benefit from FedEx’s comprehensive delivery network and best-in-class tracking options.
FedEx Ground is split up into two services: Ground and Home Delivery.
Both services are similar, allowing customers to ship packages weighing up to 150 pounds to addresses in all 50 states.
In addition, both use a combination of contracted drivers and FedEx drivers.
What’s different is that Ground serves commercial customers, while Home Delivery handles residential deliveries.
How Fast Is FedEx Ground?
As mentioned above, FedEx Ground serves commercial customers. Because of this, deliveries are only made on weekdays.
This means Ground services are a bit slower than Home Delivery; however, customers can still expect to receive their package in 1 to 5 business days.
Shipments going to or coming from Alaska and Hawaii take an average of 3 to 7 business days.
Exact delivery times depend on where the package is being shipped from and the distance to the destination.
For example, it will only take 1 day to ship a package from Boston, Massachusetts, to Concord, New Hampshire, but it will take 2 days to ship from Boston to New York City.
If you’re curious to find out exact delivery times, you can use FedEx’s Ground service map or ask an employee in-store.
How Fast Is FedEx Ground Home Delivery?
FedEx Home Delivery is the other half of the Ground shipping network and covers residential deliveries.
Because it’s focused on home delivery, the service runs on Saturday and Sunday in most locations.
Having these 2 extra delivery days per week can shorten delivery times. In addition, this service allows for evening or appointment delivery so you can choose a time that’s convenient for you.
Within the “Lower 48” states, Home Delivery takes 1 to 5 days. Shipping between the continental United States and Alaska or Hawaii takes closer to 3 to 7 days.
As with Ground shipping, exact delivery times depend on the distance between the point of origin and the destination.
It’s a good idea to use FedEx’s Ground service map to get an accurate estimate of your delivery time.
Is FedEx Ground Faster Than USPS?
In general, USPS Priority Mail (the service handling the bulk of the Postal Service’s package deliveries) is faster than FedEx Ground.
Whereas FedEx Ground’s average delivery times are between 1 to 5 business days, Priority Mail averages 1 to 3 business days for delivery.
This is also true for USPS’ other parcel service, First-Class Package. First-Class packages also arrive in 1 to 3 business days on average.
Still, speed doesn’t come without a price. One company compared the shipping prices of a 10-pound package sent through FedEx Ground and USPS Priority Mail.
They found that it cost $34.96 with FedEx Ground and $44.55 for USPS Priority Mail.
That’s a pretty significant difference, so if you’re not in a rush, FedEx Ground is the superior option.
Which Is Faster- FedEx Ground or UPS Ground?
FedEx Ground and UPS Ground are comparable in terms of delivery speed. Both companies advertise an average of 1 to 5 business days for delivery.
That being said, destination plays a big part in determining how fast a package arrives.
In other words, shipping a package from one location to another may be faster with one service compared to the other, depending on the destination.
Notably, UPS Ground tends to be faster than FedEx Ground for shipments bound for Alaska and Hawaii.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on whether or not FedEx Ground has tracking, how long does FedEx hold packages, and do FedEx tracking numbers expire.
Conclusion
For most destinations, FedEx Ground delivers in 1 to 5 business days. If you’re shipping to or from Alaska or Hawaii, the average time is closer to 3 to 7 business days. Ultimately, exact shipping times depend on the distance a package needs to travel.
While FedEx Ground and UPS Ground offer comparably fast shipping times, the Postal Service has both companies beat with an average delivery time of 1 to 3 business days.
