What is Expedited Shipping: UPS, USPS, FedEx.
Is It Fast and Is It Worth It?

Who likes to wait for their packages indefinitely? No one. Imagine buying something online and then seeing a message at checkout that your package will arrive in 3 weeks. It’s frustrating, to say the least.

That's why companies have come up with the idea of expedited (superfast) shipping. Speedy delivery is definitely a selling point, isn’t it? So, if you want to please your customer, provide them with the expedited shipping option and see them come back to your shop again and again!

Comparing standard and expedited shipping is simple: with standard shipping, your item will reach the client in one to eight days, and with the expedited option, it will reach its destination a lot quicker. In most cases, carriers will deliver your shipment in 1-3 business days – as incredible as it sounds. But no, your parcel is not flying at light speed.

It’s much simpler than that. The reason they can provide superfast delivery speeds is that they are giving your shipment a high-priority status and a little extra attention while it is in transit. So, if your goal is to exceed your client’s expectations and retain their loyalty, opt for the expedited option and “put your pedal to the metal.”

So, if your shipment is urgent, go with expedited shipping. It’s more costly than standard, however, if the client expects quick delivery, it is convenient and cost-effective in the final analysis.

Shipping companies like USPS, FedEx, and UPS offer this type of shipping to their clients. Some of them add extra cool features such as insurance and tracking.

So, what is expedited shipping, is it worth the extra money? It may seem like luxury, but take into account all its benefits before making the final decision.

With expedited shipping, your items will reach the destination much quicker compared to standard shipping. It means that your packages will be given priority at various stages of delivery.

Each postal carrier sets its own prices and delivery times for each destination. But overall, expedited shipping is quicker than standard but not as quick as priority.

If you go with expedited shipping, you will get faster processing and handling times and faster transportation. Shipping centers will prioritize your package over others and will use dedicated planes and trucks for delivering your expedited shipments.

As a rule, postal carriers don’t specify the exact speed of delivery for expedited shipping. They just say that it’s quicker than the standard delivery option. The speed of delivery with expedited shipping varies for each company and destination. Other variables include, for example, the weight and size of the parcel and weather conditions. Yet, most carriers guarantee delivery of your items within 1-3 business days.

You can get even faster speeds with some carriers, such as overnight or same-day delivery, but you will need to pay a little extra.

To summarize, expedited shipping is a quicker option if you need to deliver your item fast, however it’s a good idea to request an accurate estimate of delivery times from the shipping company.

USPS provides you with three different expedited shipping services – Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail, and First-Class Mail.

Priority Mail Express offers the following-day to 2-day delivery – your package will arrive by 6 PM, and you will get a money-back guarantee. Another clear benefit is that they deliver every day, no matter what, to most US addresses and PO Boxes. Rest assured – your important delivery won’t be left in the lurch.

Priority Mail takes a bit longer – 1-3 business days, and First-Class Mail will deliver your shipment within 1-3 business days for items weighing less than 16 ounces.

UPS Worldwide Expedited is a best-in-class international postal service that delivers to more than 220 countries and territories around the globe within 2-5 days.

This option has its undeniable benefits, including:

1. Customs clearance and package tracking.
2. If you have a flexible deadline and a tight budget, UPS will help you hit a balance between your speed and cost so you can save money.

FedEx Priority Overnight, FedEx Standard Overnight, and FedEx 2Day are the three expedited shipping options from FedEx.

With Priority Overnight, your shipment will be delivered by 10:30 am the next business day, and with Standard Overnight, by 3 pm the next business day. FedEx 2Day delivers within 2 business days.

FedEx 2Day guarantees delivery in 2 business days to any destination in the United States. There are two delivery options based on how urgent your shipment is. Choose FedEx 2Day® A.M. for morning delivery on the second business day, or FedEx 2Day® for delivery by the evening of the second business day.

Expedited shipping is certainly worth it if you need to deliver your packages quickly and if you have some margin in your budget to pay for speed and convenience. However, if you can wait, you will save a lot of money by going with standard shipping.

So, if you're in a rush to get your packages delivered promptly, expedited shipping is definitely your option. But if you are short on money, and the client gave you some wiggle room with the delivery date, go with standard shipping – it might not be as quick, but it will put some cash in your pocket.

Under certain conditions, expedited shipping is a must – for instance, if you are sending time-sensitive papers, perishable goods, etc. In these cases, it makes sense to bear an extra cost for your peace of mind.

Another factor to keep in mind when deciding which shipping option to use is how reliable the carrier is. If you have an urgent delivery, you don’t want it to be delayed, damaged, or lost. Consider the company’s reputation and read customer reviews before making the final decision.

Consider the advantages and disadvantages of using expedited shipping to see if they are worth the extra money:

Normally, expedited shipping is quicker than standard but not as quick as priority. Each shipping company offers its own delivery times for each destination, but overall, expedited shipping takes 1-3 days while standard 5-10 days.

Calcurates is the shipping solution that can help set up expedited shipping methods and rates for your Magento, Adobe Commerce, Shopify or WooCommerce store. Expedited shipping methods can be set as custom Table Rates or as real-time rates from any of major carriers.

With Calcurates app for Shopify you can set up and display expedited shipping methods at your Shopify store checkout.

Manage and display expedited shipping methods at your Magento store checkout using Calcurates extension for Magento and Adobe Commerce.

Use Calcurates plugin for WooCommerce to manage and display expedited shipping methods at your WooCommerce store checkout.

Apply Shipping Rules and Dimensional algorithms to your expedited shipping methods in order to achieve high-accurate rates.

If you need to get your package to your customer ASAP, expedited shipping is the way to go! Sure, the price is somewhat higher, but making a customer happy makes it totally worth it. The risk of damage to your item is much lower because it won't be handled as much. Also, your package is treated as a high priority, so there's less chance of delays. And last but not least – many companies include customs clearance and tracking as part of the deal!