Is It Cheaper to Overnight FedEx or UPS? Real 2026 Rates Compared

When you need something delivered tomorrow - a replacement part, a legal document, or a last-minute gift - you don’t want to overpay. But choosing between FedEx and UPS for overnight shipping isn’t as simple as picking the first one that shows up in your search. The truth? The cheaper option changes depending on where you’re sending it, how heavy it is, and even what day of the week it is.

How FedEx and UPS Charge for Overnight Shipping

FedEx and UPS don’t have fixed prices. Their overnight rates are built on a mix of weight, distance, delivery speed, and package dimensions. Both use zone-based pricing: the farther your package travels, the more it costs. A box sent from New York to Los Angeles will cost more than one sent from Chicago to Milwaukee, even if they weigh the same.

FedEx Express Saver, FedEx Priority Overnight, and FedEx Standard Overnight are their main next-day options. UPS has UPS Next Day Air Saver, UPS Next Day Air, and UPS Next Day Air Early. The names sound similar, but the delivery windows and prices differ. FedEx Standard Overnight guarantees delivery by 3 p.m. to most U.S. addresses. UPS Next Day Air delivers by 10:30 a.m. to businesses and noon to residences - and that faster window usually costs more.

Weight Matters More Than You Think

Let’s say you’re shipping a 5-pound box. For a shipment from Atlanta to Seattle, FedEx Standard Overnight might cost $89.40. UPS Next Day Air? $92.75. At first glance, FedEx wins. But if you bump that package up to 10 pounds? FedEx jumps to $134.20. UPS? $128.90. Suddenly, UPS is cheaper.

That’s because UPS has more competitive rates on heavier packages. FedEx tends to price aggressively on lighter items under 5 pounds, especially for residential deliveries. But once you hit 7 pounds or more, UPS often pulls ahead. Why? Their ground network handles more volume, and they’ve optimized their pricing for heavier freight. If you’re shipping a laptop, a small appliance, or a stack of documents in a padded envelope, FedEx is usually the better deal. If you’re shipping a box of tools or inventory, check UPS first.

Residential vs. Business Addresses Change Everything

Most people don’t realize that delivery type - home or business - can swing the price by 15% or more. FedEx charges a $4.50 residential surcharge on most overnight packages. UPS adds $4.25. Sounds small? Multiply that by 20 shipments a month, and you’re paying an extra $90 a month just for delivery to homes.

If you’re shipping to a business, both services waive the surcharge. But if you’re shipping to a home, that fee stacks on top of the base rate. For example, a 3-pound package from Houston to Denver costs $68.10 with FedEx if it’s going to a business. To a home? $72.60. UPS charges $69.40 to a business and $73.65 to a home. The gap is narrow, but it’s there.

Pro tip: If you’re shipping to a home, always enter the recipient’s work address if they’re okay with it. Many people pick up packages at work anyway - and you save money.

Weekend and Holiday Surges Are Real

Shipping on Friday? You’re paying a premium. Both FedEx and UPS charge higher rates for weekend deliveries - and they don’t always make it obvious. FedEx Saturday Delivery costs $16 extra per package. UPS Saturday Delivery? $14. But if you ship on Thursday for Friday delivery, you avoid the surcharge entirely.

Holidays are worse. If you need to ship the day before Thanksgiving, both services hike rates by 20-30%. FedEx’s rate increase is more predictable - they publish it on their site. UPS is sneakier. They don’t always show the surcharge until you enter the destination. Always check rates two days before you plan to ship, especially around holidays.

What About Package Size? Dimensional Weight Can Kill Your Budget

Here’s where people get burned. Both carriers calculate dimensional weight - also called dim weight - for packages that are large but light. Think of a box filled with pillows or foam packing peanuts. Even if it weighs 2 pounds, if it’s 18x18x18 inches, they’ll charge you as if it weighs 10 pounds.

FedEx and UPS use the same dim weight formula: (length × width × height) ÷ 139. But they measure differently. FedEx measures the outer dimensions of the box. UPS sometimes measures the inner space if the box is overstuffed. If you’re shipping bulky items, use a smaller box. Or better yet, pack it tightly. A 10-pound box that’s 12x12x12 inches costs $87.50 with FedEx. The same weight in a 18x18x18 box? $132. That’s a 50% price jump.

Real-World Example: A 4-Pound Package from Chicago to Miami

Let’s break this down with real numbers from February 2026:

• FedEx Standard Overnight (business address): $71.20
• FedEx Standard Overnight (residential address): $75.70
• UPS Next Day Air (business address): $73.40
• UPS Next Day Air (residential address): $77.65

FedEx wins by $2.20 on business deliveries. But if you’re shipping to a home? UPS is cheaper if you use a UPS Access Point. Many people don’t know this: you can drop off your package at a UPS Store, CVS, or Walgreens, and they’ll ship it as a business address. That means you avoid the residential surcharge. With UPS Access Point, that same 4-pound package to a home in Miami costs $71.80 - cheaper than FedEx.

How to Save Even More

You don’t have to pay retail rates. Both FedEx and UPS offer discounts if you ship regularly:

• FedEx: Sign up for a FedEx account and you can get 15-40% off retail rates depending on volume. Small businesses can qualify with just 5 shipments a week.
• UPS: Their UPS My Choice program gives you access to discounted rates and package tracking. If you ship 10+ times a month, you can get up to 30% off.

Third-party shipping platforms like Shippo, Pirate Ship, or Easyship often beat both carriers’ retail prices by 20-35%. They negotiate bulk rates and pass the savings to you. A 3-pound package from Philadelphia to San Francisco costs $79.99 on FedEx.com. On Shippo? $58.45. That’s a $21.54 saving - and it’s legal. No hidden fees. Just a simple label print.

When to Choose FedEx

• Shipping under 5 pounds
• Need delivery by 3 p.m. on weekdays
• Shipping to a business address
• Using FedEx Office locations for drop-off (they handle fragile items better)

When to Choose UPS

• Shipping 7 pounds or more
• Shipping to a home and can use a UPS Access Point
• Shipping on a Friday for Saturday delivery
• Need early morning delivery (UPS Next Day Air Early delivers by 8 a.m. in many metro areas)

Final Verdict

There’s no single answer to whether FedEx or UPS is cheaper. It depends. For light packages under 5 pounds going to a business? FedEx usually wins. For heavier items, weekend deliveries, or residential addresses where you can use a UPS Access Point? UPS often comes out ahead. And if you’re shipping more than a few times a month? Skip retail rates entirely. Use a third-party platform like Shippo - you’ll save 20-35% without changing your process.

The key? Always compare. Don’t assume one carrier is cheaper. Enter your exact package details, address type, and delivery window into both websites. You’ll be surprised how often the cheaper option flips.