Last updated: November 10, 2026
FedEx vs UPS has no single winner in 2026. Price depends on weight, box size, distance and service. Fuel and residential surcharges change the total too. FedEx Home Delivery adds Sunday residential delivery in many areas. UPS runs Monday to Saturday, with no Sunday service.
UPS moved about 4.7 billion U.S. parcels in 2024. FedEx moved about 3.7 billion. That is 21% and 17% of U.S. parcel volume, per the Pitney Bowes Parcel Shipping Index (June 2025).
For a small online store, the real question is simpler. Which carrier should take this box, today? This FedEx vs UPS guide compares rates, speed, weekend delivery, fees and coverage. Carrier facts link to each carrier's own pages.
FedEx vs UPS in 2026: At a Glance
- UPS delivers Monday to Saturday, with no Sunday service.
- FedEx Home Delivery delivers Saturday and Sunday in many areas.
- Both carriers include $100 of carrier liability by default.
- Both carriers adjust fuel surcharges weekly.
- Both let recipients reroute, hold or reschedule deliveries.
- UPS® and USPS labels built in for US shipments
- UPS® and Canada Post labels built in for Canadian shipments
- FedEx® labels on your own account (US and Canada)
- Purolator® labels on your own account (Canada only)
- Rate comparison sorted by best value, price or speed
- No label fee on your first 200 labels, once per account
- Web, iOS and Android apps
FedEx vs UPS: Which Costs Less to Ship With?
Neither carrier costs less on every package. Price depends on billable weight, distance and service level. Fuel, residential and large-package surcharges add to it. In Rollo Ship, UPS® rates come discounted: up to 81% off UPS® Ground.* FedEx® runs on your own account, at your own rates.
What drives the price of a FedEx or UPS label?
- Billable weight: the greater of actual weight and dimensional weight.
- Distance: carriers price by zone, from origin to destination.
- Service level: ground costs less than two-day or overnight.
- Surcharges: fuel, home delivery and oversize fees stack on top.
Dimensional (DIM) weight prices a box by its size. UPS daily rates use a divisor of 139. Check any box with the dimensional weight calculator.
Available in Rollo Ship: up to 81% off UPS® Ground. Up to 75% off UPS 2nd Day Air® and UPS Next Day Air®. Up to 85% off UPS® international services.* USPS is built in too, with up to 90% off retail USPS rates on select services. Rollo Ship applies no discount to FedEx®.
*Discounts off UPS daily rates. Rates are limited to shipping from the U.S. only. Rates and any applicable discounts are subject to change at any time without notice. The 81% off UPS® Ground figure applies to dimensional rates.
Cost tip: Ship a mix of box sizes? Split orders between carriers. Compare each label before you buy it, not after.
Ground, Express and Overnight: How Do the Services Compare?
Both carriers sell ground, two-day and overnight services. UPS names include UPS® Ground, UPS 2nd Day Air® and UPS Next Day Air®. FedEx names include FedEx Ground®, FedEx Home Delivery® and FedEx 2Day®. Transit times vary by origin, destination and cutoff time. Check each carrier's time-in-transit tool for exact days.
| Speed | UPS® | FedEx® |
|---|---|---|
| Ground | UPS® Ground; UPS Ground Saver® (US only) | FedEx Ground®; FedEx Home Delivery® for residences |
| Two-day | UPS 2nd Day Air® | FedEx 2Day® |
| Overnight | UPS Next Day Air® | FedEx Standard Overnight®, Priority Overnight® and First Overnight® |
Available in Rollo Ship: UPS® Ground, UPS Ground Saver®, UPS 3 Day Select®, UPS 2nd Day Air® and UPS Next Day Air®. UPS Ground Saver® delivers Monday to Saturday only. FedEx® services appear when you connect your own account.
Promising next-day delivery? Compare overnight rates for every order. Our overnight shipping cost guide walks through the options.
Does FedEx or UPS Deliver on Weekends?
FedEx Home Delivery delivers on Saturdays and Sundays. FedEx says Sunday service reaches about two-thirds of the U.S. population. UPS runs Monday through Saturday. UPS has no Sunday pickups or deliveries. Weekend home delivery has no extra fee with either ground service.
| Carrier | Saturday | Sunday | Weekend fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| UPS® | Saturday home and business delivery, by area | No pickups or deliveries | None for UPS® Ground residential; a fee applies to commercial Saturday delivery |
| FedEx® | FedEx Home Delivery®, plus several express services | FedEx Home Delivery® to about two-thirds of the U.S. population | None for FedEx Home Delivery®; express weekend delivery carries a fee |
Sources: UPS weekend pickups and deliveries; FedEx Saturday and Sunday delivery. Checked November 10, 2026.
Sell gifts or fast-moving goods? Weekend coverage keeps orders moving. Build any weekend fees into your shipping prices.
Surcharges and Fees: Fuel, Residential and Large Packages
Surcharges often decide the final price more than the base rate. Both carriers adjust fuel surcharges weekly. Both add charges for home addresses and for large or heavy boxes. Small weekly changes add up across hundreds of labels. Check the surcharge pages before a big promotion.
Fuel surcharges
UPS fuel surcharges change every Monday. UPS ground surcharges follow the U.S. average diesel price. Air surcharges follow a jet fuel price. UPS updated both surcharge tables on November 2, 2026.
FedEx fuel surcharges also adjust weekly. FedEx Ground and Home Delivery follow diesel prices. Other FedEx services follow jet fuel prices.
Residential and large-package charges
Home addresses usually cost more than business addresses. If buyers can receive orders at work, they may pay less. Oversize or heavy boxes carry extra handling charges with both carriers.
Weigh tip: A wrong weight can trigger an adjustment later. Weigh every box on an accurate shipping scale before you buy the label.
Pickups: How Do Boxes Get to FedEx and UPS?
You can drop boxes at carrier locations or book a pickup. UPS lets you add a Saturday driver pickup in its pickup settings. Changes can take up to three business days. FedEx pickups are booked with FedEx directly. Here is how pickups work in Rollo Ship.
Available in Rollo Ship: Free USPS® pickups can be scheduled in Rollo Ship for shipments from the USA. UPS® pickups can be scheduled in Rollo Ship in the US and Canada; UPS sets the pickup fee (Rollo adds no markup), and it depends on the pickup date you choose. Canada Post, FedEx® and Purolator® pickups can't be booked in Rollo Ship; book them directly with the carrier.
Tracking and Delivery Changes
Both carriers let recipients change a delivery after it ships. FedEx Delivery Manager and UPS My Choice handle holds, reroutes and instructions. Some changes carry a fee. Shippers can restrict some options.
| Option | FedEx Delivery Manager | UPS My Choice |
|---|---|---|
| Hold for pickup | Hold at a nearby FedEx location or store | Hold at a UPS location |
| Reroute | Reroute to another home address, from $5.55 | Reroute to another address, in certain cases |
| Vacation hold | Up to 14 days | Up to seven days |
| Delivery instructions | Yes | Yes |
Available in Rollo Ship: tracking notifications for every label you buy. Your buyers can still use FedEx or UPS tools for changes.
Insurance and Declared Value
FedEx and UPS both include $100 of carrier liability by default. To cover more, declare a higher value at shipment creation. The carrier charges for the added coverage. FedEx lists maximums for some items, such as jewelry and artwork.
Available in Rollo Ship: carrier insurance only, based on declared value. Set the declared value when you create the label.
International and Canada Shipping
Both carriers ship to most countries worldwide. Customs forms, duties and taxes apply on most international parcels. In Rollo Ship, UPS® international services come at up to 85% off.* FedEx® international rates use your own account. International: duties, taxes and customs brokerage are billed separately by UPS.
*Discounts off UPS daily rates. Rates are limited to shipping from the U.S. only. Rates and any applicable discounts are subject to change at any time without notice.
See how customs forms work on our international shipping page.
Shipping from Canada
From Canada, UPS® and Canada Post are built in. FedEx® and Purolator® use your own account. UPS® from Canada to the U.S. is available, including UPS® Standard and UPS 3 Day Select®. In Rollo Ship, get up to 63% off UPS® Standard to the U.S. Get up to 76% off UPS Express®, UPS Express Saver® and UPS Expedited® to the U.S.*
*Discounts off UPS® daily rates. Rates are limited to shipping from Canada only. Rates and any applicable discounts are subject to change at any time without notice. Inclusive of applicable fuel and residential surcharge. Not including other additional applicable charges and taxes.
Canada Post shipments to the U.S. are temporarily unavailable in Rollo Ship while Canada Post updates its U.S. prepaid-duty requirements. We'll update this as soon as it's back. For U.S.-bound parcels from Canada, use UPS®. Learn more on the Rollo Ship Canada page.
What Happens When You Pick a Carrier by Habit?
Most small businesses overpay because they pick carriers by habit. They use one carrier for every box. They miss a lower rate on the other carrier. They learn about surcharges after the invoice arrives. A comparison step before each label fixes most of this.
| Step | Without a comparison step | With a comparison step |
|---|---|---|
| Choosing a carrier | Same carrier for every box | Best value, price or speed per box |
| Surcharges | Found on the invoice | Seen in the rate before buying |
| Weekend orders | Wait until Monday | Pick a carrier that covers the weekend |
| Time spent | Rate lookups across carrier websites | One screen for every rate |
Who this guide is not for
This guide covers parcels, not freight. If you ship pallets, talk to a freight carrier. If one carrier already wins every lane, keep it.
Compare FedEx and UPS in One App with Rollo Ship
Knowing where the cost leakage is happening is only useful if you can act on it. Rollo Ship is multi-carrier shipping software that compares UPS, USPS, Canada Post, FedEx and Purolator rates in one dashboard. UPS® and USPS are built in for US shipments. FedEx® uses your own account, so you keep your own rates.
Rate comparison
Rollo Ship sorts every rate by best value, price or speed. You pick the service per shipment. See rate comparison
Grouped orders
Group similar orders and buy their labels in one go. Saved presets speed up repeat groups.
Mobile apps
Ship from your phone on iOS or Android. Label printing from the app needs a compatible printer, such as the Rollo Wireless Printer over Wi-Fi.
Rollo Rewards
No label fee on your first 200 labels, once per account. Then 5¢ down to 1¢ per label by level. See Rollo Rewards
16 store integrations
Rollo Ship integrates with Shopify, Amazon, eBay, Walmart, Best Buy and more. Orders import automatically.
Free inventory
Track stock across stores in USD or CAD. See inventory management
Rollo Ship is rated 4.8★ on Capterra. Rollo has 500,000+ users across the US and Canada.
Ship your next order with Rollo Ship. No paid plans or monthly fee.
Ship your next order with Rollo ShipNo credit card needed to sign up. Discounted postage is paid directly to the carrier through a funded account.
Print and pack faster
Rollo Wireless Printer
Thermal printing with no ink or toner. Prints 4×6 labels over Wi-Fi. See the printer
Labels and supplies
Thermal labels, mailers and tape for every order. Shop supplies
Shipping scale
Accurate weights help you avoid carrier adjustments. Get a scale
Watch: shipping tips from Rollo
- International shipping tips on TikTok
- Express delivery tips on TikTok
- Fuel surcharge tips on TikTok
- Package tracking tips on TikTok
- Small business shipping tips on TikTok
FedEx vs UPS: Final Words
There is no universal winner in FedEx vs UPS. FedEx adds Sunday home delivery in many areas. UPS covers Saturday home and business delivery, by area. Both include $100 of liability and weekly fuel surcharges. The right carrier depends on each box.
The difference between reactive shipping and structured shipping is one workflow change. Rollo Ship is not a carrier. It is shipping software that gives you carrier choice without lock-in. Read more in our guide to picking the best shipping carrier.
Ship your next order with Rollo Ship. No paid plans or monthly fee.
Create your first shipmentNo credit card needed to sign up. Discounted postage is paid directly to the carrier through a funded account.
Carrier services, fees and delivery days come from carrier pages checked November 10, 2026. They can change at any time. Check the carrier's site before you rely on them.
FedEx vs UPS: Frequently Asked Questions
Which costs less to ship with, FedEx or UPS?
Neither carrier costs less on every package. Price depends on weight, box size, distance and service. Fuel and residential surcharges also change the total. Both carriers adjust fuel surcharges weekly. The reliable answer is to compare each shipment. Rollo Ship shows UPS® rates and your own FedEx® rates side by side. It sorts them by best value, price or speed.
Does FedEx or UPS deliver on Sunday?
FedEx Home Delivery delivers on Saturdays and Sundays. FedEx says Sunday service reaches about two-thirds of the U.S. population. Weekend Home Delivery has no extra charge. UPS runs Monday through Saturday. UPS has no pickups or deliveries on Sunday. UPS Ground residential delivery on Saturday has no extra fee, by area.
Which is better for small businesses, FedEx or UPS?
It depends on what you ship and where it goes. FedEx Home Delivery adds Sunday residential delivery in many areas. UPS offers Saturday home and business delivery, by area. Both carriers include $100 of carrier liability by default. Many small businesses use both carriers. They pick a carrier per shipment, not by habit. Rollo Ship compares UPS® and your own FedEx® rates in one app.
How much insurance do FedEx and UPS include?
Both carriers include $100 of carrier liability by default. To cover more, declare a higher value when you create the shipment. The carrier then charges for the added coverage. FedEx lists maximums for some items and services. Check each carrier's limits before you ship high-value items. In Rollo Ship, coverage is carrier insurance only, based on declared value.
How often do FedEx and UPS change fuel surcharges?
Both carriers adjust fuel surcharges every week. Ground surcharges follow the U.S. average on-highway diesel price. Air surcharges follow a jet fuel price index. UPS updated its fuel surcharge tables on November 2, 2026. Check each carrier's fuel surcharge page before a big promotion. Small weekly changes add up across hundreds of labels.
Can I compare FedEx and UPS rates in one place?
Yes. Rollo Ship is multi-carrier shipping software for US and Canadian shippers. UPS® and USPS are built in for US shipments. Connect your own FedEx® account to see your FedEx rates. Rollo Ship shows every rate side by side. It sorts them by best value, price or speed. There are no paid plans or monthly fee. There's no label fee on your first 200 labels.
Can I ship UPS from Canada to the US with Rollo Ship?
Yes. From Canada, UPS® and Canada Post are built in. FedEx® and Purolator® use your own account. UPS® ships to U.S. addresses, including UPS® Standard and UPS 3 Day Select®. Canada Post shipments to the U.S. are temporarily unavailable in Rollo Ship while Canada Post updates its U.S. prepaid-duty requirements. We'll update this as soon as it's back. For U.S.-bound parcels from Canada, use UPS®.
