Insight
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Navigating UPS, USPS, and FedEx Delivery Times with 3PL Center Insights
Compare UPS, USPS, and FedEx delivery times. See how 3PL Center helps you choose the best option and save on e-commerce shipping costs. Updated on August 11, 2025
Published on December 19, 2023
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Delivery speed is one of the biggest factors in customer satisfaction. Whether you ship with FedEx, UPS, or USPS, knowing their delivery windows helps you set accurate expectations, meet promises, and choose the right service for every order.
This guide covers the most common delivery times, weekend schedules, and holiday operations for each carrier — plus how partnering with 3PL Center can help you optimize shipping speed and cost.
Why Delivery Time Matters in E-Commerce
Delivery speed doesn’t just affect when a package arrives — it directly influences your bottom line. Studies show that slow or unreliable delivery can increase cart abandonment, reduce repeat purchases, and lead to more customer service inquiries.
For e-commerce merchants, even a one-day delay can be the difference between earning a loyal customer or losing them to a competitor. That’s why understanding carrier delivery schedules and choosing the right shipping service for each order is essential.
At 3PL Center, we help businesses use carrier delivery data strategically, ensuring customers get their orders on time while controlling costs.
UPS Delivery Times and Schedules
Typical UPS delivery hours
UPS Ground typically delivers between 9 am and 7 pm to residential addresses, Monday–Friday. Business deliveries are made during normal business hours.
How late UPS delivers
Residential deliveries can occasionally run past 7 pm and sometimes extend up to 9 pm.
End-of-day meaning for UPS
For commercial addresses, “end of day” means before close of business (around 5 pm). For home deliveries, UPS Ground end of day is 9 pm, though some packages may arrive later during busy periods.
UPS delivery speed by service
Ground: 1–5 business days in the contiguous U.S., up to 6–7 days for long-distance shipments.
Hawaii, Alaska, Puerto Rico: 3–7 business days.
Overnight: Next Day Air Early (by 8 am), Next Day Air (by 10:30 am), Next Day Air Saver (end of day).
Weekend deliveries with UPS
UPS delivers on Saturdays to residential and business addresses in select metro areas. Saturday pickups are also available, though not in Alaska or Hawaii.
Sunday deliveries with UPS
Limited Sunday delivery is available for economy packages via USPS partnership, only in certain locations.
UPS holiday schedule
UPS is closed on Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day.
FedEx Delivery Times and Schedules
Typical FedEx delivery hours
FedEx Ground delivers by the end of the business day, Monday through Friday. FedEx Home Delivery delivers to residential addresses up until 8 pm local time.
How late FedEx delivers
With FedEx Evening Home Delivery, packages arrive between 5 pm and 8 pm, Monday through Saturday.
End-of-day meaning for FedEx
For FedEx Ground, “end of day” generally means around 5 pm, though it’s not officially defined. For FedEx Home Delivery, it extends to 8 pm.
FedEx delivery speed by service
Ground: 1–5 business days in the contiguous U.S., 3–7 days for Alaska and Hawaii.
Express Freight: 1–3 business days to most U.S. locations.
Overnight: First Overnight (before 9:30 am), Priority Overnight (before 10:30 am), Standard Overnight (by 3 pm).
Weekend deliveries with FedEx
FedEx Home Delivery includes Saturday delivery at no extra cost. Saturday delivery for overnight services is available in select areas for an additional fee.
Sunday deliveries with FedEx
On Sundays, FedEx Home Delivery delivers in certain areas at no additional charge.
FedEx holiday schedule
FedEx does not operate on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day for most services. Some Express and Freight services may have modified schedules.
USPS Delivery Times and Schedules
Typical USPS delivery hours
Delivery times vary depending on the carrier’s route. Priority Mail Express guarantees delivery by 3 pm.
How late USPS delivers
Carriers aim to finish by 6 pm, but during peak seasons, deliveries can occur as late as 10 pm.
End-of-day meaning for USPS
For USPS, “end of day” means when all mail on the route has been delivered, which can vary widely.
USPS delivery speed by service
Priority Mail: 1–3 business days (sometimes up to 4).
First-Class Package Service: 1–3 business days (sometimes up to 4).
Priority Mail Express: 1–2 days, guaranteed.
Retail Ground / Media Mail: 2–8 business days.
Weekend deliveries with USPS
USPS delivers on Saturdays for all services.
Sunday deliveries with USPS
Priority Mail Express is delivered on Sundays for an additional fee. During peak seasons, Sunday deliveries expand to certain metro areas at no extra charge.
USPS holiday schedule
Closed on all federal holidays, including New Year’s Day, MLK Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day, Memorial Day, Juneteenth, Independence Day, Labor Day, Columbus Day, Veterans Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas. See our updated USPS holiday schedule here.
How 3PL Center Helps You Meet Delivery Commitments
At 3PL Center, we work closely with FedEx, UPS, and USPS to help our clients choose the right carrier and service level for every shipment. Our team stays up to date on delivery windows, cutoff times, and weekend coverage so you can meet promises and keep customers happy.
We also:
Secure discounted small parcel rates through carrier partnerships.
Integrate real-time carrier tracking into our WMS so you and your customers always know where shipments are.
Leverage strategically located warehouses nationwide for faster transit times.
Use an address verification tool to prevent costly delivery exceptions.
Whether you’re shipping across the country or across borders, we’ll help you optimize speed, cost, and reliability. Book a call today to learn more.
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