
Takeaway: If you plan on shipping a 2-pound package domestically in a medium-sized box, UPS shipping would give you a better rate than FedEx. Volumetric weight for a 13” x 12” x 2” box using UPS international: 3 lbsįor FedEx, the volumetric weight for a 13” x 12” x 2” box, regardless of whether it’s being shipped internationally or domestically, is 3 lbs.Volumetric weight for a 13” x 12” x 2” box using UPS domestic: 2 lbs.This helps FedEx to reduce costs and accelerate delivery times for domestic shipping.įor the specific case of our experiment: UPS shipping uses different volumetric weight formulas for domestic and international shipments, seen below: FedEx handles most of the shipment transport via jet, then hands off the last mile delivery to USPS for final delivery. This means UPS can be a partner as you scale into global eCommerce sales.įedEx has partnered with the US Postal Service for many eCommerce shipments. UPS also offers Supply Chain and Freight services like supply chain management, customs brokerage, and freight distribution. Both companies have physical store locations around the US, though FedEx has far more. This suggests that FedEx should offer cheaper rates on international shipping and UPS better rates on domestic.īoth companies offer a range of shipping services at various delivery speeds and prices, from Ground to Overnight and Flat Rate services. FedEx specializes in global air express freight and has double the airplanes as UPS.

UPS specializes in domestic ground package delivery and has a larger fleet of ground vehicles. Before we talk about exact prices, let's highlight the ways in which FedEx and UPS differ in their approach to service.
