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How much will it cost to ship this package?

Type in a weight and two ZIP codes. ShipCompare runs the numbers against its own USPS, UPS and FedEx ground-rate tiers right in your browser, no account or live carrier lookup required.

01 - Details

Package details

Package weight (lbs)

Length (in, optional)

Width (in, optional)

Height (in, optional)

Origin ZIP

Destination ZIP

02 - Readout

Modeled results

Cheapest -

USPS Ground Advantage -

UPS Ground -

FedEx Ground -

Billable weight / zone -

Modeled from ShipCompare's own comparison tiers, calculated on your device. Cross-check against USPS or FedEx before you commit to a label; UPS publishes its own daily rate lookup as well.

By Marcus Vance, Contributing Writer, Numbers & Tools
Updated July 9, 2026

What the numbers mean

The estimator takes your weight and box dimensions, works out billable weight (whichever of the two is larger), estimates a zone from the ZIP-to-ZIP distance, then runs that pair through three separate rate formulas, one per carrier. None of the three include residential surcharges, fuel adjustments, or account-level discounts. Those extras typically add several dollars to a real invoice, which is why this tool is built for comparing carriers against each other rather than quoting an exact price.

Not a live quote. Treat the cheapest result as a starting point, then confirm the number on the winning carrier's own site before you print a label.

ShipCompare's rate tiers, spot-checked

Billable weight	Zone	USPS (modeled)	UPS (modeled)	FedEx (modeled)
1 lb	2	$7.85	$9.95	$10.42
3 lb	4	$11.35	$14.45	$14.76
10 lb	6	$19.10	$23.70	$23.70
20 lb	8	$29.40	$35.80	$35.40

These four rows are a slice of the full eight-row reference table. See the complete breakdown and a CSV export at the 2026 rate comparison page.

Things to note

Zone here is estimated from ZIP digit distance, not the carrier's actual zone chart, so treat it as a close approximation.
Billable weight always rounds up to the next whole pound before a rate applies.
Fill in length, width and height to let dimensional weight take over when it beats actual weight.

More tools on ShipCompare

Check dimensional weight separately, or read the full methodology behind these tiers.

Open the DIM weight tool

Good to know

FAQs

Are these real shipping rates?

No. They are modeled estimates built from ShipCompare's own comparison tiers, useful for comparing carriers before you commit to a label. Always verify the exact price with USPS, UPS, or FedEx.

What is billable weight?

The greater of your package's actual weight and its dimensional (DIM) weight. Carriers bill whichever is higher, which is not always the one you expected.

How is the zone estimated?

From the distance implied by your origin and destination ZIP codes. Carriers use exact zone charts, so the estimate here may differ slightly from the real zone.

Which carrier is cheapest?

It depends on weight, box size, and distance. In this model USPS tends to win for lighter packages; UPS and FedEx narrow the gap on heavier packages crossing many zones. Real business and negotiated rates can flip that outcome.

Can I share a result with someone?

Yes. As soon as you change a field, the page rewrites its own URL to include your weight, size and ZIP codes. Copy that link with the button above, or print the page, and whoever opens it sees the same comparison.