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Overnight shipping has become more than just a convenience—it’s a customer expectation. Whether you're fulfilling last-minute orders, shipping perishables, or meeting tight SLAs, selecting the right overnight service is critical.
Overnight shipping has become more than just a convenience—it’s a customer expectation. Whether you’re fulfilling last-minute orders, shipping perishables, or meeting tight SLAs, selecting the right overnight service is critical.
In this guide, we’ll compare popular overnight shipping options from USPS, UPS, and FedEx, highlight costs and delivery times, and show you how to save with tools like ShipStation.
Overnight shipping (also called next-day delivery) is a service that ensures packages arrive the day after they’re sent—typically by the next business day.
Need it fast? Keep reading to compare options and make shipping more affordable.
Not always. Here’s the difference:
Make sure your customers know when to expect their orders—especially if you’re promising “overnight” service.
Prices vary by carrier, service speed, weight, zone, and dimensions. Here’s a general breakdown for a 5 lb package shipped domestically:
Want exact overnight rates for your products? Start your free 30-day trial with ShipStation to compare real-time carrier pricing.
Use shipping software like ShipStation to compare final rates before buying a label.
See your discounted rates on UPS labels
See your FedEx rates instantly
See USPS overnight discounts
To avoid missed shipments, automate your order flow and set clear customer-facing cutoff times at checkout.
Need weekend coverage? Clarify expectations in your shipping policy.
Overnight shipping is ideal when:
It depends on the destination, carrier, service speed, weight, zone, and dimensions. Overnight shipping starts around $28 with USPS and can exceed $150 with early morning FedEx or UPS services. Use software to compare.
FedEx First Overnight® and UPS Next Day Air® Early offer delivery as early as 8:00 AM the next day.
USPS Priority Mail Express® is typically the most affordable, especially for lightweight packages.
Yes, but it often requires a surcharge unless you’re using USPS, which includes Saturday service by default.
Generally, overnight means delivery by the next business day, but the exact time depends on the service level chosen (e.g., by 8 AM, 10:30 AM, or end of day).
Some carriers like FedEx and DHL offer international next-day delivery to select cities, but it’s expensive and limited to specific routes.
Overnight shipping doesn’t have to mean stress or high costs. With ShipStation, you get:
Start your free 30-day trial
James Messer is a copywriter specializing in shipping, logistics, and ecommerce.