For e-commerce businesses, finding a cost-effective and reliable package delivery service is important because it can directly impact customer satisfaction and experience. Poor delivery service can negatively impact the business by damaging its reputation, leading to negative publicity.
Today, we will dissect one of the popular package delivery companies, UPS, and when to use its ground shipping services.
What is UPS ground shipping?
UPS ground shipping is a domestic package delivery service that uses trucks or rails to deliver packages across 50 US states and Puerto Rico.
It is usually considered as a slow delivery as compared to UPS Next Day Air® Shipping or 2nd Day Air® shipping. Because of in-ground delivery, the order takes a ground route using trucks and trains. Irrespective of that, it is still one of the most highly used domestic delivery services in the US for everyday orders.
What is UPS ground shipping delivery time?
The time it takes for UPS to deliver a package via ground depends on the location. The farther the destination, the more days it will take for delivery. Usually, the delivery time is 1-5 business days, with 90% of orders being delivered on the 3rd day or sooner.
What are the package size and weight limits for UPS ground?
UPS Ground offers larger size and weight limits compared to many competitors:
- Maximum weight: 150 pounds per package
- Maximum size: 165 inches in length and girth combined
- Maximum length: 108 inches for any one side
These limits are much higher than USPS Ground Advantage, which restricts packages to 70 pounds.
What is Saturday Delivery?
UPS Ground service now includes Saturday delivery for most residential addresses in over 100 metro areas across the U.S. at no extra charge. This improvement ensures that packages are not delayed over weekends.
What are the tracking and delivery options?
UPS Ground offers free tracking that’s available anytime, so senders and recipients can see where their packages are in real-time. It also includes delivery photo confirmation and several management options via UPS My Choice.
Which new services are being added or replaced in UPS Ground?
UPS has expanded its ground shipping options in 2025.
1. UPS Ground Saver®
This service offers an economical shipping option for less urgent packages. It delivers in a timeframe similar to UPS Ground but with an extra 1-2 days. It replaces UPS SurePost and handles delivery directly without involving USPS.
SurePost to Ground Saver Transition
UPS Ground Saver was previously known as SurePost.
SurePost was the economical shipping option by UPS. UPS handled the initial delivery, which was then transferred to USPS for the final delivery.
In the new update, SurePost has been replaced with Ground Saver with additional features.
UPS now handles end-to-end delivery instead of using USPS for the final mile
No longer delivers to PO Boxes, military addresses, Alaska, Hawaii, or Puerto Rico
Liability coverage decreased from $100 to $20 per package
Available features include delivery photo confirmation and an option to upgrade to faster UPS Ground through UPS My Choice.
2. UPS Ground with freight pricing
This service is designed for shipments over 150 lbs. It provides the reliability of small package delivery at reduced LTL (Less-than-Truckload) prices, with no extra fees for lift-gate service, inside delivery, or pallet weight.
What are UPS’s ground shipping rates?
Rates may vary depending on the distance (Zone), package weight, and dimensions. To get the exact rates, see UPS’s official website, where rates are mentioned divided by zone.
UPS ground vs other ground services
1- UPS Ground vs. UPS Ground Saver
| Feature | UPS Ground | UPS Ground Saver |
| Delivery Speed | Standard delivery time (1–5 days) | 1–2 days slower than UPS Ground |
| Cost | Standard rates | Lower rates than UPS Ground |
| Surcharges | May include residential, fuel, peak | No residential, peak, or fuel surcharges |
| Delivery Days | Monday–Saturday | Monday–Sunday |
| Best For | Faster delivery, standard packages | Non-urgent packages under 10 lbs, cost savings |
2) UPS Ground vs. FedEx Ground
| Feature | UPS Ground | FedEx Ground |
| Delivery Speed | 1–5 business days | 1–5 business days |
| Best Rates | Packages under 5 lbs | Packages over 5 lbs |
| Tracking | Slightly better tracking | Good tracking |
| Coverage | Broad ground service network | Broad ground service network |
| Best For | Small/light packages, reliable tracking | Heavier packages, competitive rates |
3) UPS Ground vs. USPS Ground Advantage
| Feature | UPS Ground | USPS Ground Advantage |
| Delivery Speed | 1–5 business days | 2–5 business days |
| Weight Limit | Up to 150 lbs | Up to 70 lbs |
| Cost | Competitive for heavy packages | More affordable for lighter packages |
| PO Box Delivery | Not available | Available |
| Reliability | More reliable timeframes | Reliable, but less so for heavy parcels |
| Best For | Heavier packages needing reliability | Light packages, PO Box delivery, lower cost |
Benefits for e-commerce businesses
1- Cost-effectiveness:
Domestic shipping is one of the most cost-effective methods. This helps businesses stay competitive while offering affordable shipping rates to customers.
2- High reliability
UPS delivers an average of 19.1 million packages daily in the U.S. with strong on-time performance that showcases high reliability, loyalty, and trust of businesses within UPS.
3- Comprehensive tracking
UPS provides customers with detailed shipment updates using a portal that ultimately reduces customer service inquiries.
4- Weekend delivery
Saturday delivery at no extra cost helps businesses meet customer expectations for faster delivery.
5- Sustainability initiatives
UPS has committed to carbon neutrality by 2050 and offers various environmental shipping options, which again give businesses a visible reason to choose UPS.
Conclusion
If you are an e-commerce business looking for a cost-effective yet reliable delivery option, choosing UPS would be a good option. You can check the rates and the ones you want to cover, and start your account with them.
