USPS, UPS, FedEx and label services side by side: drop-off, pickup, tracking, weight limits, coverage and which marketplaces sell their labels.
Side by side
In our order of preference. Each fact is checked on the carrier’s own site; N/A means we couldn’t confirm it.
| 1USPS | 2Pirate Ship | 4UPS | 5FedEx | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hand it over at | Post officeMailbox | Post officeMailboxDrop-off store | Drop-off storeLocker | Post officeDrop-off store |
| Home pickup | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Tracking | Some services | All services | All services | All services |
| Heaviest package | 70 lb | N/A | 154 lb | 150 lb |
| Included coverage | Up to $100 on Ground Advantage and Priority Mail | N/A | N/A | Up to $100 declared value included |
| Flats and envelopes | Yes | No | N/A | No |
| Labels sold by |        | | | |
Carrier by carrier
Who each one suits, and what to watch for, in our order of preference.
USPS
Our pick #1
USPS carries most packages home sellers ship. Ground Advantage covers anything up to 70 lb with tracking and $100 of insurance included, and Priority Mail adds Flat Rate boxes for heavy, dense items. Free Package Pickup means your mail carrier can collect prepaid labels from your door.
Best for
- Clothing, cards and small items under a few pounds on Ground Advantage
- Prepaid labels from Poshmark, Mercari, eBay, Etsy and Whatnot
- Heavy, dense items that fit a Priority Mail Flat Rate box
Watch out for
- Plain First-Class letters have no tracking, so keep them for low-value cards.
- Holiday surcharges usually apply in Q4, so check the current rates before you set shipping prices.
Pirate Ship
Our pick #2
Pirate Ship is a free label tool, not a carrier: you buy USPS and UPS labels at discounted commercial rates with no monthly fee, print them and hand the package to USPS or UPS. It imports orders from eBay, Etsy and other stores, and it offers USPS Cubic pricing for small, heavy boxes.
Best for
- Orders you ship yourself rather than on a platform label
- Small, heavy boxes that price lower on cubic rates
- Comparing USPS and UPS prices side by side
Watch out for
- Platforms with a fixed prepaid label, like Poshmark, expect you to use theirs.
- Claims go through the carrier or the insurance you add, so check the cover before shipping anything valuable.
UPS
Our pick #4
UPS Ground carries packages up to 150 lb, and every shipment has tracking and $100 of declared value. Drop off at The UPS Store or a UPS Access Point, or schedule a pickup. eBay labels and Pirate Ship both sell discounted UPS Ground rates.
Best for
- Boxes over 5 lb, such as electronics, boots and home goods
- eBay and Pirate Ship users comparing UPS Ground with USPS
Watch out for
- Retail rates at the counter cost far more than label tool rates, so buy the label online first.
- On-demand pickup has a fee, while dropping off at an Access Point is free.
FedEx
Our pick #5
FedEx Ground and Home Delivery suit heavier and bulky boxes, up to 150 lb a package, with tracking on every shipment. You can drop off at a FedEx Office or a retail partner such as Walgreens or Dollar General, or pay for a pickup from home.
Best for
- Boxes over 5 lb, where FedEx Ground often beats USPS
- Bulky items like small furniture, gear and home goods
Watch out for
- On-demand pickup from home costs extra, so drop off at a FedEx location when you can.
- Dimensional weight applies, so measure the box and price on the larger of actual and dim weight.
