You are an online shopper or a seller, you might have wondered when does UPS start delivering packages in your area. UPS is one of the largest and most reliable couriers in the world, delivering millions of packages every day to more than 220 countries and territories.
UPS delivery times and schedules can vary depending on several factors, such as the service you choose, the origin and destination of your package, the time of the year, and the weather conditions.
We will provide you with a guide to UPS delivery times and schedules, so that you can plan your shipments accordingly and avoid any delays or disappointments.
UPS Delivery Times Domestic Shipping Services
UPS offers a range of domestic and international shipping services, each with different delivery times and costs. Depending on how fast you want your package to arrive, you can choose from the following options:
UPS Next Day Air Early:
This is the fastest domestic service offered by UPS, delivering your package by 8:00 a.m. or 9:00 a.m. the next business day to most major cities in the U.S. This service is ideal for urgent or time-sensitive shipments that require early morning delivery.
UPS Next Day Air:
This service delivers your package by 10:30 a.m., 12:00 p.m., or end of day the next business day to most addresses in the U.S. This service is suitable for shipments that need to arrive by midday or afternoon the next business day.
UPS Next Day Air Saver:
This service delivers your package by 3:00 p.m. or 4:30 p.m. the next business day to most commercial destinations in the U.S. This service is a more economical option for shipments that do not require early morning delivery but still need to arrive by the end of the next business day.
UPS 2nd Day Air:
This service delivers your package by end of day the second business day to most addresses in the U.S. This service is a good choice for shipments that are not urgent but still need to arrive within two business days.
UPS 3 Day Select:
This service delivers your package by end of day the third business day to most addresses in the U.S. This service is a cost-effective option for shipments that can afford a longer transit time but still need guaranteed delivery within three business days.
UPS Ground:
This is the most economical domestic service offered by UPS, delivering your package within one to five business days depending on the distance between origin and destination. This service is best for shipments that are not time-sensitive and can tolerate a longer transit time.
International Shipping Services
UPS Worldwide Express Plus:
This is the fastest international service offered by UPS, delivering your package by 8:30 a.m. or 9:00 a.m. the next business day to most major cities in over 60 countries and territories. This service is ideal for urgent or time-critical international shipments that require early morning delivery.
UPS Worldwide Express:
This service delivers your package by 10:30 a.m., 12:00 p.m., or 2:00 p.m. the next business day to most addresses in over 120 countries and territories. This service is suitable for international shipments that need to arrive by midday or afternoon the next business day.
UPS Worldwide Saver:
This service delivers your package by end of day the next business day to most addresses in over 220 countries and territories. This service is a more economical option for international shipments that do not require early morning delivery but still need to arrive by the end of the next business day.
UPS Worldwide Expedited:
This service delivers your package within two to five business days to most addresses in over 220 countries and territories. This service is a good choice for international shipments that are not urgent but still need guaranteed delivery within a few business days.
UPS Standard:
This is the most economical international service offered by UPS, delivering your package within two to eight business days depending on the distance between origin and destination. This service is best for international shipments that are not time-sensitive and can tolerate a longer transit time.
Important Things to Know About UPS Delivery Times
While UPS strives to deliver your packages on time and according to their estimated delivery times, there are some important things you should know about UPS delivery times:
- UPS delivery times are based on business days, which are Monday through Friday, excluding holidays and weekends.
- Are estimates and not guarantees, meaning they can be affected by factors such as weather, traffic, customs clearance, peak seasons, and other unforeseen events.
- Depend on the origin and destination zip codes of your package, as well as the time of day you drop off or schedule your pickup. You can use the UPS Time and Cost Calculator to get a more accurate estimate of the delivery time and cost for your specific shipment.
- Are subject to change without notice, especially during peak seasons such as Christmas, Black Friday, or Cyber Monday. You can check the [UPS Service Alerts] page to see if there are any service disruptions or delays in your area or destination.
- Do not include the time it takes for your package to be processed and scanned by UPS. This can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours depending on the volume of packages and the availability of staff at the UPS facility.
UPS Shipping Time Estimate
If you want to get a quick estimate of how long it will take for your package to be delivered by UPS, you can use the following formula:
UPS Shipping Time Estimate = Processing Time + Transit Time + Delivery Time
Processing Time:
This is the time it takes for your package to be prepared, labeled, and scanned by UPS. This can vary depending on the volume of packages and the availability of staff at the UPS facility. Typically, this can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours.
Transit Time:
This is the time it takes for your package to travel from the origin to the destination. This depends on the service you choose, the distance between origin and destination, and the customs clearance process if applicable. Typically, this can take anywhere from one to eight business days depending on the service you choose.
Delivery Time:
This is the time it takes for your package to be delivered from the final UPS facility to your doorstep. This depends on the time of day your package arrives at the final UPS facility, the availability of drivers, and the traffic conditions in your area.
Typically, this can take anywhere from a few minutes to a few hours depending on these factors.
For example, if you are shipping a package from New York to Los Angeles using UPS Ground, you can estimate the shipping time as follows:
- Processing Time: Assume it takes 1 hour for your package to be processed and scanned by UPS.
- Transit Time: According to the UPS Time and Cost Calculator, it takes 5 business days for your package to travel from New York to Los Angeles using UPS Ground.
- Delivery Time: Assume it takes 1 hour for your package to be delivered from the final UPS facility to your doorstep.
Therefore, the estimated shipping time is:
UPS Shipping Time Estimate = 1 hour + 5 business days + 1 hour = 5 business days and 2 hours
Of course, this is just an estimate and not a guarantee, so you should always allow some extra time for possible delays or disruptions.
UPS Weekend Delivery
UPS does not deliver packages on weekends by default, except for some special services such as UPS Express Critical or UPS Worldwide Express Plus.
You need your package to be delivered on a Saturday or Sunday, you can request for a weekend delivery option at an additional cost.
This by selecting the Saturday Delivery or Sunday Delivery option when creating your shipment online or by calling 1-800-PICK-UPS (1-800-742-5877) and speaking to a customer service representative.
The weekend delivery option is available for select domestic and international services, such as:
Saturday Delivery:
This option allows you to have your package delivered on a Saturday by end of day. This option is available for domestic services such as UPS Next Day Air, UPS Next Day Air Saver, UPS 2nd Day Air, and UPS Ground, as well as international services such as UPS Worldwide Express Plus, UPS Worldwide Express, and UPS Worldwide Saver.
Sunday Delivery:
This option allows you to have your package delivered on a Sunday by end of day. This option is only available for domestic services such as UPS Next Day Air Early, UPS Next Day Air, and UPS Next Day Air Saver.
The weekend delivery option is subject to availability and may not be available in all areas or for all services. You can check the availability of weekend delivery options for your specific shipment using the Ups Ground Shipping Time Calculator.
