What is UPS Ground?
UPS Ground is the most economical day-definite service UPS offers for packages that don't need to move overnight. It delivers in 1 to 5 business days within the contiguous US, and tracking is included on every shipment.
If cost matters more than speed, this is usually the service you want.
How fast it is
UPS Ground is day-definite, which means UPS commits to a specific delivery day rather than a time of day. The window runs 1 to 5 business days, and the exact number depends on how far the package travels. A cross-town delivery lands faster than a coast-to-coast one.
You see the committed delivery date at the time you create the label.
Where it goes
UPS Ground covers all 50 states plus Puerto Rico. Shipments to Alaska and Hawaii ship by air on the ground service, so transit can run longer than the lower-48 window.
Size and weight limits
UPS Ground handles most ecommerce parcels without trouble. The limits are:
- Up to 150 lbs per package
- Up to 165 inches in length and girth combined
- Up to 108 inches in length
Anything past these moves to UPS Freight instead of Ground.
What it costs
Ground rates depend on the distance the package travels and its billable weight, which is the greater of actual weight or dimensional weight. Larger, lighter boxes get priced on size, so pack tight. Tracking is built in, and you can add insurance for an extra charge.
When to use it
Reach for UPS Ground on standard orders where a 1 to 5 day delivery works and you want to keep shipping costs down. Save the overnight and 2-day air services for the orders that actually need the speed.
Not sure which service fits a given order profile? Talk to us.