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Carrier Guides
UPS 2nd Day Air®: What You Need To Know
Compare second day shipping options from UPS, FedEx, and USPS to find the best fit for your eCommerce business. Find more carrier tips at Easyship.
There are many service levels offered by UPS®, and when comparing couriers, it’s worth understanding what your options are when your business is in need of 2-day shipping service.
What is UPS 2nd Day Air®?
UPS 2nd Day Air is guaranteed delivery service to every address within the U.S. and Puerto Rico in 2 days, with the earliest delivery happening at 10:30 AM on the 2nd day of shipping. However, UPS 2nd Day Air® guarantees delivery by the end of the second business day, typically by 7 PM. For earlier morning delivery by 10:30 AM or noon, you’ll need UPS 2nd Day Air® A.M.”
UPS 2nd Day Air is marketed as an “economical option for shipments that don’t need overnight service.”
UPS 2nd Day Air®: What You Need to Know
Let's take a look at UPS 2nd Day Air® features here.
Does UPS 2nd Day Air® Deliver on Saturday?
Packages shipped by UPS 2nd Day Air® can qualify for Saturday delivery if they're picked up by UPS on Thursday. However, the shipment destination may need to be considered, as Saturday delivery is usually only possible for major metropolitan areas. Â
What Other Second Day Services Does UPS Offer?
UPS offers the following additional second-day shipping options:
- UPS 2nd Day Air® A.M. guarantees delivery on the second day by 10:30 AM or 12:00 PM, but only for commercial destinations within the mainland United States.
- UPS 2nd Day Air® Freight is for shipments over 150 pounds that need a guaranteed time-definite 2-day delivery to Puerto Rico, Canada, and the mainland United States.
- UPS 2nd Day Air® Freight NGS offers a similar service for oversized packages without a time-definite guarantee.
- If you’re looking for a 2-day delivery service to other destinations outside the U.S., you should consider UPS Worldwide Express® or UPS Export Express® Saver.
How Does UPS 2nd Day Air® Compare with Other Services?
Let's take a look at how UPS 2nd Day Air® compares with other services.
UPS 2nd Day Air® vs. USPS Priority Mail
The USPS Priority Mail service is marketed as having a delivery time frame of 2-3 business days to any address in the US. While this may be faster than UPS 2nd Day Air®, the 2-day timeframe is strongly dependent on where your package starts and where it’s being sent.
In order to find out whether UPS 2nd Day Air® is faster than USPS Priority Mail, you may want to look at USPS’ Priority Mail Delivery Map, where you can enter the zip code you’re mailing from to see what the 2-day destinations are.
Also, the USPS Priority Mail service level does not appear to offer time-sensitive delivery options for 2-day shipping. This only appears to be offered with Priority Mail Express, which is their overnight option.
UPS 2nd Day Air® vs. FedEx 2Day
FedEx also offers second-day shipping services that rival UPS. For time-sensitive deliveries, FedEx 2Day A.M. tries to one-up UPS by delivering by 10:30 AM to most US addresses, with noon deliveries reserved for rural areas. But just like UPS, FedEx 2Day A.M. doesn’t apply to Saturday deliveries - although they do offer a special Saturday pickup option for an additional charge.
The FedEx 2Day service varies slightly from UPS 2nd Day Air® by offering time-definite deliveries on the second day: 4:30 PM for most addresses and up to 8:00 PM for residential addresses. Similar to UPS, FedEx 2Day can also provide Saturday delivery, but at an additional charge.
Related source: UPS 2nd Day Air® vs. FedEx 2 Day
How Easyship Can Help with USPS and FedEx
Now that you fully understand what the UPS 2nd Day Air® service entails, we hope it helps your business decide whether it is the best alternative for shipments that don’t require overnight services!
Don’t forget that you can always do price and service level comparisons between couriers when getting a quote on Easyship and that we also have additional resources around courier services on our blog.
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FAQs
How long does UPS 2nd Day Air take?
UPS 2nd Day Air delivers in two business days, typically by end of day. Weekends and holidays aren’t included unless Saturday delivery is selected.
How reliable is UPS Second Day Air?
It's very reliable, with a guaranteed 2-business-day delivery. If late, you're often eligible for a refund under the UPS Service Guarantee.
Is Saturday a business day for UPS 2nd Day Air?
No, but Saturday delivery is available for certain areas at an extra cost, if selected during checkout.
Does 2-day shipping actually take 2 days?
Yes—two business days, not counting weekends or holidays unless you pay for Saturday delivery.
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