Updated July 9, 2026
Short answer
In ShipCompare's own modeled tiers, a 1-lb package in a nearby zone runs about $7.85 on USPS, $9.95 on UPS and $10.42 on FedEx ground, while a 20-lb package crossing the country runs $26.70 to $31.90 across the three. These numbers come from the site's own rate-tier formula, not a live carrier feed. USPS, UPS and FedEx each publish binding rates that shift with weight breaks, fuel surcharges and account type, so treat this table as a comparison starting point and check the primary source links below before you commit.
Rate tiers by weight and zone
| Billable weight | Zone | USPS (modeled) | UPS (modeled) | FedEx (modeled) | Cheapest (modeled) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 lb | 2 | $7.85 | $9.95 | $10.42 | USPS |
| 1 lb | 8 | $13.25 | $17.75 | $17.92 | USPS |
| 3 lb | 4 | $11.35 | $14.45 | $14.76 | USPS |
| 5 lb | 6 | $14.85 | $18.95 | $19.10 | USPS |
| 10 lb | 3 | $16.40 | $19.80 | $19.95 | USPS |
| 10 lb | 8 | $20.90 | $26.30 | $26.20 | USPS |
| 20 lb | 5 | $26.70 | $31.90 | $31.65 | USPS |
| 50 lb | 8 | $54.90 | $64.30 | $63.00 | USPS |
Full table as a CSV: 2026-parcel-shipping-cost-tiers.csv.
What the model leaves out
ShipCompare's Shipping Rate Estimator prices each carrier as a flat per-shipment base plus a per-pound rate and a per-zone step, tuned to sit near published retail ground pricing when the tool was built: USPS at $7.00 base plus $0.85 per pound plus $0.90 per zone step above zone 2, UPS at $9.00 base plus $0.95 per pound plus $1.30 per zone step, FedEx at $9.50 base plus $0.92 per pound plus $1.25 per zone step. Because it is a simple linear formula, USPS's lower base and per-pound rate keep it modeled cheapest across every weight and zone tested here, including the heavy 50-lb row, and FedEx narrows the gap the most as the zone number climbs. Left out entirely: flat-rate boxes, residential and fuel surcharges, negotiated commercial pricing, and USPS's own dimensional-weight rules, any of which can flip the real winner for an actual shipment. The USPS vs UPS vs FedEx breakdown walks through how those factors play out case by case.
Methodology
The table above is the direct output of ShipCompare's own rate estimator, evaluated at eight representative billable-weight and zone pairs. It is a comparison tool built in-house, not a live rate feed, and gets re-run whenever the underlying formula or a carrier's published rates change materially. Last reviewed July 9, 2026.
- USPS: a Newsroom release dated May 11, 2026, matched by a Federal Register filing, moves the dimensional-weight divisor for Ground Advantage, Priority Mail, Priority Mail Express and Parcel Select from 166 to 139 effective July 12, 2026, described as bringing USPS "in line with industry standard" (the divisor UPS and FedEx already use). Source: USPS Newsroom, May 11, 2026.
- UPS: published daily rates and zone charts sit at ups.com's shipping-support section.
- FedEx: current rate changes and the service guide are published at fedex.com/en-us/shipping/rate-changes.html.
None of the specific dollar figures on this page are copied from a carrier rate card; every one is ShipCompare's own model output, labeled as such throughout.
Cite this page
ShipCompare, "2026 Parcel Shipping Cost Comparison Reference," ship-compare.com/2026-parcel-shipping-cost-comparison, accessed 2026. The table is available as a CSV download above for reuse with attribution.
Run your own shipment through it
Plug your package's actual weight, size and ZIP codes into the live tool for a result specific to your box.