The USPS delivers all Priority Mail® on Saturdays at no extra cost, as well as Priority Mail Express® packages on Sunday for an additional fee.
No matter what you sell online, you know that the pressure is on to provide the best shipping experience possible to your customers. To crush competitors in your field, you need to offer delivery options at checkout that are affordable, convenient and fast. Including an option for weekend delivery whenever you can.
Major players such as Amazon and Walmart make this sound so easy, offering free or inexpensive next-day and two-day delivery like it’s just how things are supposed to be. Even Saturdays or Sundays. And customers have bought into it. Of course, this makes things even more difficult if you’re one of the little guys.
The reality is: most retailers aren’t set-up to have this type of in-house delivery process or team. Nor the resources on hand to set it up. So what’s an ecommerce business to do if they want to over weekend delivery?
Luckily, the United States Postal Service (USPS) has recognized this growing need and offers options for the small business owner who needs to get their product to customers in a hurry without breaking the bank.
When it comes to the USPS small package delivery, you do have options for weekend delivery, even if it means paying more for it on Sundays.
If you’re looking for an economical shipping option that can reach every home and business regardless of whether they’re in a densely populated market, USPS may be a viable solution for your ecommerce business.
Why Should I Use USPS for Weekend Mail Delivery?
On the weekends, the USPS offers Saturday delivery on all Priority Mail® and priority Mail Express® packages at no additional cost. If you require Sunday delivery, this is available through Priority Mail Express for an additional fee.
Additionally, the USPS can reach every single mailing address in the U.S, an important distinction. Carriers like UPS have actually partnered with USPS in order to make the last leg of their deliveries more reliable and economical. USPS also delivers to P.O. boxes, APOs and FPOs, something else that sets them apart from their competitors.
Breakdown of USPS Carrier Services that Offer Weekend Mail Delivery
These are the shipping services that USPS offers for weekend delivery, as well as their respective price points, shipping speed, and more.
Priority Mail®
Is USPS Priority Mail weekend delivery possible? Yes, on Saturdays.
Does Priority Mail deliver on Sundays? No, this is currently not available.
USPS Priority Mail®, the carrier’s most popular service, delivers packages in 1-3 business days. Convenience and affordability are key features of this service, with flat-rate boxes, insurance and tracking available for free. While Priority Mail® packages are delivered on Saturdays, the USPS does not provide a guarantee on these shipments. Commercial and residential services are both available.
For more information, visit: https://www.usps.com/ship/priority-mail.htm
| Delivery Time | 1-3 days |
| Service Days | Monday-Saturday, typically from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (but can run later depending on volume of deliveries) |
| Delivery Area | Continental U.S. and U.S. Territories |
| Package size and weight | Up to 70 lbs; maximum combined length and girth is 108″. |
| Exceptions & Restrictions | Limited shipping of hazardous materials; will not ship ammunition, airbags, explosives, gasoline, and marijuana. More info |
Additional services include:
- Priority Mail International® – With delivery speeds of 6-10 business days, this service typically ships to more than 190 countries, although as of June 2020 there have been some restrictions due to COVID-19.
Priority Mail Express®
Does Priority Mail Express deliver on the weekend? Yes, on Saturdays.
Is Sunday delivery available for Priority Mail Express? Yes, at an additional cost and in select markets.
USPS Priority Mail Express® is the fastest service you can get with the carrier, and it’s available 365 days a year with limited exceptions. For most U.S. addresses and P.O. boxes, overnight delivery is available with a money-back guarantee. Commercial and residential services are both available.
For more information, visit: https://www.usps.com/ship/priority-mail-express.htm
| Delivery Time | 1-2 days |
| Service Days | Monday-Saturday, typically from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (but can run later depending on volume of deliveries). Sunday/holiday service available at an additional cost in select major markets. |
| Delivery Area | Continental U.S. and U.S. Territories |
| Package size and weight | Up to 70 lbs; maximum combined length and girth is 108″ |
| Exceptions & Restrictions | Limited shipping of hazardous materials; will not ship ammunition, airbags, explosives, gasoline, and marijuana. More info |
Additional services include:
- Priority Mail Express International® – With delivery speeds of 3-5 business days, this service typically ships to more than 190 countries. Like we mentioned previously there are some restrictions in place due to COVID-19. Read more about this here.
First-Class Mail®
Does USPS First-Class Mail deliver over the weekend? Yes, on Saturdays only.
USPS First-Class Mail® is a non-guaranteed economy option that delivers in 1-3 days. While it’s possible that these packages may be delivered on Saturdays, it’s not a given. Priority Mail® Priority Mail Express® packages will be delivered first on Saturdays, before First-Class Mail®. Commercial and residential services are both available.
For more information, visit: https://www.usps.com/ship/first-class-mail.htm
| Delivery Time | 1-3 days |
| Service Days | Monday-Friday, typically from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (but can run later depending on volume of deliveries); Saturday deliveries are possible but not a certainty. |
| Delivery Area | Continental U.S. and U.S. Territories |
| Package size and weight | Maximum weight of 13 oz. for parcels. |
| Exceptions & Restrictions | Limited shipping of hazardous materials; will not ship ammunition, airbags, explosives, gasoline, and marijuana. More info |
- First-Class International® – This is the most affordable international option for lightweight packages. Recommended for non-time-sensitive items, this service typically ships to more than 190 countries, although some restrictions are in place due to COVID-19.
USPS Ground Advantage®
Does USPS Ground Advantage deliver over the weekend? Yes, on Saturdays only.
USPS Ground Advantage® is the most economical way to send packages that are not required to be First-Class Mail®. This non-guaranteed option is available throughout the U.S. except for Hawaii, Alaska and the U.S. territories.
For more information, visit: https://www.usps.com/ship/ground-advantage.htm
| Delivery Time | 2-5 days |
| Service Days | Monday-Saturday, typically from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (but can run later depending on volume of deliveries). |
| Delivery Area | U.S. except the U.S. territories. |
| Package size and weight | Up to 70 lbs and up to 130 inches in combined length and girth |
| Exceptions & Restrictions | Limited shipping of hazardous materials; will not ship ammunition, airbags, explosives, gasoline, and marijuana. More info |
How Much Does USPS Weekend Delivery Cost?
Saturday services are at no additional charge, while Sunday service is an additional $12.50 and is only available for Priority Mail Express®. For a complete list of all rates, check out this price list on USPS.com.
How Do I Offer USPS Weekend Mail Delivery?
In order to guarantee your product is delivered daily to customers, you’ll need to offer Priority Mail Express® to your checkout. This is the only service available that includes both Saturday and Sunday delivery.
You may decide to also offer Priority Mail® as an additional option, although delivery is not available on Sundays. However, there is no additional cost for Saturday service.
The most important thing is to provide your customer with options without overwhelming them. You want them to be able to quickly be able to decide whether it’s worth it to them to pay more for faster services, then purchase the item before they can be pulled away from something else. Additionally, if your customer becomes overwhelmed at too many options, they may become frustrated and try to seek your product elsewhere.
You can always test out USPS weekend mail delivery to a select group of customers, such as those located near your fulfillment locations. If more and more consumers start choosing this option, then it could be worth it to roll out to everyone. There’s no shame in testing things and iterating your shipping strategy, especially as the ecommerce landscape continues to evolve.
For more assistance on custom shipping options during checkout, software like ShipperHQ can help. By providing transparent and simplified shipping options, ecommerce businesses can both drive more sales and be spared the hassle of figuring out the best shipping set-up at checkout.
How ShipperHQ and USPS Work Together
ShipperHQ makes it easy to manage all the USPS services you want to offer in one place. And create rules around these different services, so that your customers get the most optimized checkout experience available once they’re ready to make a purchase.
With ShipperHQ, you can set up: USPS First-Class Mail, Global Express Guaranteed, Library Mail, Media Mail, Parcel Select Ground, Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail International, USPS Ground Advantage and more.
Our software takes into account your unique business operations and fulfillment processes, allowing you to set up blackout dates, lead times, cutoff times, and dispatch dates for shipping. This information automatically affects your rates and delivery dates at checkout.
The tool also allows for custom rules that can account for what your customer is buying, where they are located, how much they are spending and much more.
To get started, simply register as a USPS customer then enter your credentials into ShipperHQ. Learn more about using USPS and Shipper HQ together.
If you haven’t already, be sure to check out the Business Services offered by USPS. By enrolling in their program, you receive a dedicated associate as well as access to the best services available for bulk shipping and options for pickup service.
Even if you decide not to use ShipperHQ, it’s critical for ecommerce businesses to continue to ramp up their shipping game if they are to stay relevant in 2021 and beyond. Just as carriers continue to come up with better options to meet customer demand, small businesses that rely on shipping must do the same.
