FedEx’s weekend delivery, available via FedEx Ground service, covers most of the U.S., offering a versatile solution for e-commerce businesses without in-house delivery. Tools like ShipperHQ can help customize shipping strategies. Pricing varies, with some services charging a $16 flat fee for Saturday deliveries and others applying per-pound rates.
Delivery times range from same-day to within 7 business days, depending on the service. However, businesses must consider potential challenges such as higher operational costs from outsourcing, possible customer confusion due to multiple options, restrictions on certain delivery types, and the requirement for packages to be picked up within 5 business days when using FedEx Hold at Location.
Although FedEx can deliver packages on Saturdays and Sundays, schedules, fees and timings vary depending on what service you use.
Weekend delivery. Two-day delivery. Free shipping. Store pickup. As an e-commerce business owner, you probably receive a lot of demands from your customers. Particularly around the type of shipping and delivery experience they want from you.
To them, the ‘dream’ is shipping that’s convenient, speedy, affordable, and dependable. Oh, and available 7 days a week on top of everything else.
You can thank the likes of Amazon and Walmart for influencing this expectation with their next-day and one-day shipping options. However, unlike these companies, most online sellers don’t have in-house delivery services available at their fingertips and don’t have the cash on hand to build out their own networks.
Yes, it’s true you could still do it with your own delivery truck, staff and processes, at least locally. But for many, offering Saturday and Sunday delivery efficiently means outsourcing this service via a courier company.
FedEx is one of the most commonly used services available for weekend delivery.
As of January 2020, online sellers can now offer delivery to residential customers every day of the week via FedEx Ground service. And yes, this includes Sundays, which were previously reserved only for the peak holiday shopping season.
So how do you know if FedEx is the right Saturday or Sunday delivery provider for your business? And what FedEx service to use, since schedules, fees and timings vary? That’s where this blog post will help.
We’ll break down all the different FedEx services that offer weekend delivery so you have an easier time comparing everything that’s available to you and answer questions like:
- Does FedEx 2Day Delivery deliver on Saturday?
- Does FedEx Overnight Deliver on Sunday?
- What Are FedEx Next Day Delivery cut-off times?
- Does FedEx Standard Overnight Saturday delivery exist?
Why Should I Use FedEx for Weekend Delivery?
FedEx is one of the biggest couriers in the world, with its FedEx weekend delivery service covering a majority of the continental U.S. Their Sunday service (via FedEx Home Delivery) specifically reaches over 7,700 cities and towns across the country and has no additional fees attached to it. With FedEx weekend delivery, your customers also no longer have to wait until Monday to receive their package, which also means you can maximize inventory turnover.
Does FedEx Deliver on Saturday or Sunday in 2023? A Breakdown of What Services to Use Over the Weekend.
FedEx offers weekend delivery, but the schedule and costs differ depending on what courier service you use. Here’s an overview of each FedEx service that offers Saturday and/or Sunday delivery.
FedEx Home Delivery®
Does FedEx Home Delivery® deliver on Saturday & Sunday? Yes.
FedEx Home Delivery® now includes FedEx Ground weekend delivery, delivering packages every day of the week, including Saturday and Sunday, for most residential customers in the U.S. This service now comes standard for merchants who use FedEx Home Delivery® for residential shipments. It is also frequently faster than other services, with some shipments delivering 1-2 days sooner. FedEx is also available to pick up packages on Saturday and Sunday if you qualify as an eligible shipper.
For more information, visit: https://www.fedex.com/en-us/shipping/7-day-delivery.html
| Delivery Time | 1-5 business days within the contiguous U.S.; 3-7 business days to and from Alaska and Hawaii |
| Service Days | Monday-Sunday between 9 a.m and 8 p.m. at no additional cost |
| Delivery Area | Available in all 50 U.S. states |
| Package size & weight | Up to 150 lbs., 108” in length, 165” in length plus girth (L+2W+2H) |
| Restrictions | Cannot deliver to P.O. boxes. No hazardous materials delivery, except ORM-D and Limited Quantity |
Additional FedEx Home Delivery services include:
- Date Certain Home Delivery® – Delivers packages to residential addresses Monday-Saturday, excluding holidays. The selected date cannot be before the standard delivery date and must be within 14 days from the pickup date.
- Evening Home Delivery® – This is a great option if a recipient is not available during the day and wants a package between 5 and 9 p.m. on the scheduled day.
- Appointment Home Delivery® – The service is ideal for anyone who wants to arrange delivery on a specific date and by a scheduled time.
FedEx Overnight Weekend Delivery
Does FedEx Overnight Weekend Delivery offer Saturday Delivery? Yes. But, Sunday delivery is not available overnight via FedEx.
By using FedEx Overnight Weekend Delivery, packages are delivered Monday through Friday with Saturday delivery available in many areas at an additional charge. This overnight service is used primarily for customers that need something to arrive to them by the next business day.
| Delivery Time | Next-day delivery with times varying depending on what service you use (see below for details) |
| Service Days | Monday-Friday, with Saturday pickup available at an additional cost |
| Delivery Area | Available in all 50 U.S. states |
| Package size & weight | Up to 150 lbs., 119” in length, 165” in length plus girth (L+2W+2H) |
| Restrictions | Deliveries to and from select zip codes in Alaska and Hawaii may differ from stated delivery times in the contiguous U.S. |
FedEx Overnight shipping delivery times:
- FedEx First Overnight®: Next business day delivery by 8:00 a.m., 8:30 a.m., 9:00 a.m., or 9:30 a.m. in most areas. Extended areas, depending on their destination zip code, will receive delivery by 10:00 a.m., 11 a.m., or 2:00 p.m.
- FedEx Priority Overnight®: Next business day delivery by 10:30 a.m. to most U.S. addresses. Rural or remote areas get delivery by noon, 4:30 p.m., or 5 p.m. Saturday delivery occurs by noon, 1:30 p.m., or 4:30 p.m.
- FedEx Standard Overnight®: Next business day delivery by 3 p.m. to most U.S. addresses. Rural areas by 4:30 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. to residences.
What are FedEx Next Day Delivery Cut-Off Times?
Cut-off times for FedEx overnight services largely depend on your local station’s proximity to the airport. Check the FedEx website for the latest pickup times by zip code, FedEx office pickup times, and information about when the nearest station to you closes each day of the week. The website will also indicate whether your station is located in a FedEx Sunday eligible zip code.
FedEx 2Day® Delivery
Does FedEx 2Day® Delivery offer Saturday Delivery? Yes. But Sunday delivery is not available.
With FedEx 2Day® Delivery, packages are delivered Monday through Friday, with Saturday pickup available in many areas at an additional charge. This service provides nationwide delivery in 2 or 3 days with a money-back guarantee to customers.
| Delivery Time | Second-business-day delivery with times varying depending on what service you use (see below for details) |
| Service Days | Monday-Friday, with Saturday pickup available at an additional cost |
| Delivery Area | Available in all 50 U.S. states; FedEx 2Day A.M. is not available in Hawaii; FedEx Express Saver is not available in Alaska and Hawaii |
| Package size & weight | Up to 150 lbs., 119” in length, 165” in length plus girth (L+2W+2H) |
| Restrictions | Deliveries to and from select zip codes in Alaska and Hawaii may differ from stated delivery times in the contiguous U.S. |
FedEx 2Day® shipping delivery times:
- 2Day® A.M.: Second business day delivery by 10:30 a.m. in most U.S. addresses. Rural areas receive delivery by noon.
- 2Day®: Two-day delivery in most areas by 4:30 p.m. and by 8:00 p.m. to residences.
- Express Saver®: Delivery to businesses by 4:30 p.m. and to residences by 8:00 p.m. in 3 business days.
FedEx SameDay® City
Does FedEx SameDay® City offer Weekend Delivery? Yes.
With FedEx SameDay® City services, packages are delivered across town or across the country within hours of pickup, including Saturday and Sunday.
| Delivery Time | Same-day delivery within hours of pickup, depending on distance |
| Service Days | Monday to Sunday. 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year; FedEx SameDay City Standard and FedEx SameDay City Economy has reduced service days (see below for more information) |
| Delivery Area | Available within select U.S. metro areas and zip codes in each market |
FedEx SameDay® shipping delivery times:
- FedEx SameDay City Direct: Direct delivery is available with no additional service-related stops. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- FedEx SameDay City Priority: Packages arrive within hours of pickup, depending on the distance. This service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
- FedEx SameDay City Standard: Service is available Monday through Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Packages arrive within 4 hours of pickup for deliveries within 45 miles.
- FedEx SameDay City Economy: Service is available Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for businesses and until 8:00 p.m. for residences.
FedEx SmartPost®
Does FedEx SmartPost® offer Saturday Delivery? Yes. But Sunday delivery is not available.
Through FedEx SmartPost® services, packages are delivered to customers Monday through Saturday, with weekend delivery having no surcharge attached to it. This is a cost-efficient delivery option for low-weight residential shipments. Costs are lower because USPS provides the last leg of delivery directly to a customer’s door.
| Delivery Time | 2-7 business days, depending on distance; longer if outside the contiguous 48 states |
| Service Days | Monday to Saturday |
| Delivery Area | 100% U.S. coverage, including Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, and all US territories. Delivery to P.O. Boxes, military APO, FPO, and DPO destinations are also covered. |
| Package size & weight | Up to 70 lbs., 130” in length, 165” in length plus girth |
| Restrictions | Packages originating outside the contiguous US are not picked up; Collect on delivery, money-back guarantee, declared value, signature proof of delivery, evening or appointment delivery, and hazardous materials service is not available via FedEx SmartPost |
| Forms | CN 22 clearance declaration form is required by USPS for shipments to Puerto Rico, Guam, U.S. Virgin Islands, US territories, and military APO, FPO, and DPO destinations |
FedEx Hold at Location
Does FedEx Hold at Location offer Saturday Delivery? Yes, via express services. No Sunday delivery is available.
While not a residential delivery service, FedEx Hold at Location allows your customers to pick up packages at a time, date, and place that works for them. Through alternate pickup options like this, your customers can collect their packages on the weekends if it fits their schedule best.
On top of this convenience, this service doesn’t cost you a penny, which means you can save money on shipping. Since FedEx Hold at Location counts as a commercial delivery, it’s cheaper than residential delivery because you don’t have to pay expensive last-mile fees (which can add up quickly).
| Delivery Time | 1-5 business days, depending on distance (if using a Hold at FedEx Location with FedEx Ground shipping); longer if outside the contiguous 48 states |
| Service Days | Monday through Friday using ground shipping; Saturday delivery available via express services |
| Delivery Area | Pickup available via 14,000+ retail locations, including local grocery stores and pharmacies |
| Restrictions | Packages must be picked up within 5 business days from delivery |
FedEx Hold at Location is also available with weekend delivery using the following express shipping services:
- Priority Overnight® – Pickup by 9 or 9:30 a.m. the next business day (Monday-Friday), with Saturday delivery also available.
- Standard Overnight® – Pickup by noon the next business day (Monday-Friday) with Saturday delivery available.
- 2Day® A.M. – Pickup by 0 or 9:30 a.m. on the scheduled day of delivery (Monday-Friday), with Saturday delivery available.
- 2Day® – Pickup by noon on the scheduled day of delivery (Monday-Friday), with Saturday delivery available.
How much does FedEx Saturday Delivery Cost?
The services that charge for Saturday delivery are FedEx First Overnight, FedEx Priority Overnight®, and FedEx 2Day®. All of these services charge a flat fee of $16 per package.
Additional delivery methods such as FedEx SameDay City, FedEx SmartPost®, and FedEx Home Delivery charge on a per-pound rate basis. The amount you get invoiced also depends on which service level you use (priority, standard, etc).
For up-to-date information on shipping rates, check out this guide to FedEx Standard list rates for 2023.
How do I offer 7-day delivery with FedEx?
We’ve gone over six key FedEx services that offer weekend delivery for small package shipments. Now what?
Well, it’s up to you to decide which FedEx options fit your business requirements and the type of customer experience you want to deliver. It’s okay if more specialized services like same-day delivery or alternate pick-up don’t make sense for you operationally or because of what you sell. Even offering just one service that provides weekend delivery can improve your conversions.
Once you’ve narrowed down which services you want to provide, you will also need to decide when you actually want to offer these options at checkout.
From a user experience perspective, showing too many delivery options (especially ones using the same courier name) can be confusing. At the end of the day, your customer probably doesn’t know the difference and just wants to see personalized options. Then they can decide what works based on how much you charge for shipping and the day or time delivery happens.
This checkout customization piece is what shipping software like ShipperHQ is built for.
How ShipperHQ and FedEx work together
ShipperHQ is the only checkout-focused solution in the world that can help you offer 7-day delivery via all the services listed above.
And on top of this, ShipperHQ takes into account your unique business operations, such as cut-off times, blackout production and dispatch dates, and lead times, when offering up delivery date information at checkout.
In ShipperHQ, you can also configure shipping rules for various checkout scenarios you receive. You can take into account where your customer is located, what they are buying, where your products are being shipped out of, plus the quantity, price, or weight of a product. Through greater customization, you can craft a shipping strategy that actually aligns with real-world requirements and your individual business goals.
Once you have a FedEx account and have chosen which services you want to provide, all you have to do is input these FedEx credentials into ShipperHQ to get connected. That’s how easy it can be to offer weekend delivery at checkout.
Whether or not you choose to work with software like ShipperHQ, the most important thing to remember here is that your customer’s expectations are only becoming more demanding. They want a checkout experience tailored to their needs and one that mirrors what your competitors and other big brands are doing, including Saturday and Sunday delivery.
FAQs
Yes, FedEx’s Money-Back Guarantee covers FedEx 2Day® Delivery service, including Saturday deliveries.
Consider factors like delivery speed, costs, your shipment reach, the nature of your products, customer expectations, and your business logistics to choose the right FedEx services.
FedEx Weekend delivery allows for everyday deliveries, providing clients with more flexibility and convenience and allowing businesses to maximize inventory turnover.
FedEx allows pickups on Saturdays but not Sundays. However, you should check with FedEx for the most current information.
It largely depends on the specific international service and destination country. Always verify with FedEx for the most accurate information.
The costs for FedEx Weekend Delivery can vary depending on factors such as package size, weight, and destination. For exact rates, it is recommended to contact FedEx directly.
Want to offer 7-day delivery via FedEx? Reach out to our team and we can discuss all your options.
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