While many shipping titans like UPS offer a range of shipping services, ground shipping is consistently the least expensive option, making it great for those on a budget.
But how fast is UPS Ground shipping, and what do you need to know before you use it to ship.
How Fast is UPS Ground In 2024?
All UPS Ground packages have a guaranteed delivery date of 1 to 5 business days, depending on how far the package needs to travel. UPS Ground is faster than standard ground shipping and is typically cheaper depending on certain factors. UPS 3 Day Select guarantees delivery within 3 days and only delivers domestically.
If you’re considering using UPS Ground for shipping your next package or just want to know more about this popular service, read on!
Is UPS Ground Shipping Faster Than Standard Ground Shipping?
Standard ground shipping, otherwise known as USPS Ground, is one of UPS Ground’s biggest competitors.
UPS Ground shipping is, however, the faster option between the two, and is usually cheaper as well.
UPS Ground shipping guarantees delivery between 1 and 5 business days, whereas USPS Ground shipping typically delivers within 2-8 business days.
The cost of shipping varies based on your package’s weight, dimensions, and final destination.
However, based on these factors, UPS Ground shipping is typically the cheaper of these two options as well.
Another point in UPS Ground shipping’s favor is the fact that UPS offers built-in package insurance of $100 with all UPS Ground packages, while USPS insurance for ground shipments is only available at an additional cost.
If you’re interested in seeing a more comprehensive comparison of these two ground shipping services, you can check out this Shipping School page for an in-depth analysis on when to use which ground shipping service.
What is the Difference Between UPS Ground and UPS 3 Day Select Shipping?
UPS Ground and UPS 3 Day Select are both incredibly similar services offered by UPS- so what’s the difference, and how do you know when to use either service?
First, let’s start with the ways in which these services are similar: they are the two least expensive shipping services offered by UPS, they both travel by ground transport rather than plane, and they both deliver on Saturdays.
So, how are these two UPS shipping services different?
One example is that UPS 3 Day Select shipping guarantees the delivery of your package by the end of 3 business days, whereas UPS Ground shipping only guarantees the delivery of your package within 1 to 5 business days.
UPS Ground also offers a day-definite delivery time, which means that when your package is accepted by UPS, they will tell you exactly what day it will be delivered.
In contrast, UPS 3 Day Select can leave the delivery day vague.
UPS Ground also delivers in all 50 states and Puerto Rico, whereas UPS 3 Day Select only delivers in the 48 contiguous states, meaning it’s only available for domestic shipments excluding Alaska and Hawaii.
Another key difference between UPS Ground and UPS 3 Day Select is that UPS Ground is always the less expensive option.
This means it will be the better choice if you have a non-urgent shipment and are on a budget.
Both of these shipping services have their merits and are better suited to individual situations, but there are a few situations in which you will need to use one or the other.
For example, if you’re shipping hazardous materials, you’ll almost always be required to ship using one of these services.
However, if you’re shipping a hazardous material such as dry ice, you should always use UPS 3 Day Select.
Does UPS Ground Shipping Deliver on Sundays?
UPS Ground offers weekend delivery at no extra cost, provided that the packages are for residential delivery and not commercial delivery.
If you need weekend delivery for commercial packages, you can expect to pay $4 more per package.
Monday through Saturday package delivery is included for all UPS shipping services, and Sunday package delivery is included for all residential deliveries.
UPS is one of the only carriers that offer weekend pick-ups as well as deliveries.
However, weekend pick-ups are only available on Saturday and not Sunday.
If you want to learn more about UPS delivery, you can also see our posts on UPS jewelry shipping, UPS shipping restrictions, and what does “out for delivery” mean in UPS.
Conclusion
UPS Ground shipping has a guaranteed delivery window between 1 and 5 business days and travels exclusively by ground. UPS Ground is a faster choice than standard ground shipping and is typically cheaper as well.
