FedEx Options For eCommerce

Deciphering shipping options can feel a lot like navigating a maze. You’re faced with decisions at every turn, and each path seems to split into more and more potential routes. This is difficult enough for a brick-and-mortar retailer, but as an eCommerce seller, you need to make these decisions frequently and in very little time.

Here at Merchant Maverick our goal is to support growing merchants, so while we can’t make these decisions for you, we can at least help you understand the available options.

In this article, we’ll be addressing one of the industry’s most popular shipping carrier: FedEx. We’ll go over FedEx’s four categories of shipping solutions as well as the more specific options included within each of those categories. Keep reading to learn more about the best ways to ship with FedEx.

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FedEx Express (Domestic)

The first option we’ll cover is one of the more popular shipping solutions among online sellers: FedEx Express. This service costs a bit more than some alternatives, however in return they provide time-specific delivery commitments with a money-back guarantee (even if your shipment only arrives 60 seconds late). FedEx Express is great for shipments on a deadline, especially those you have to ship overnight, and can be a godsend during the holiday season.

What’s more, FedEx Express provides merchants with a large selection of free shipping supplies, which you can order online and have delivered directly to your door. Read more about these shipping supplies and other available services in our blog post, How To Print, Pack, And Ship With FedEx Office.

FedEx Express includes a range of shipping services. These services are differentiated by their prices and their delivery times, and they are broken into Next Day Delivery and 2-3 Day Delivery. Take a look at those options below or head over to FedEx’s website for more detailed information:

Next Day

• FedEx First Overnight
  • Next business day delivery by 8 a.m., 8:30 a.m, 9 a.m. or 9:30 a.m.
  • Delivery by 10 a.m., 11 a.m., or 2 p.m. to extended areas
• FedEx Priority Overnight
  • Next business day delivery by 10:20 a.m.
  • Delivery by 12 noon, 4:30 or 5 p.m. to some rural areas
• FedEx Standard Overnight
  • Next business day delivery by 3 p.m.
  • Delivery by 4:30 p.m. to some rural areas (8 p.m. to residences)

2-3 Days

• FedEx 2Day A.M.
  • Second business day delivery by 10:30 a.m
  • Delivery by 12 p.m. to rural areas
• FedEx 2Day
  • Second business day delivery by 4:30 p.m.
  • Delivery by 8 p.m. to residences
• FedEx Express Saver
  • Third business day delivery by 4:30 p.m.
  • Delivery by 8 p.m. to residences

For more information on delivery times for extended and rural areas, look into FedEx’s Service Guide.

FedEx Ground

While FedEx Express is great for time-sensitive deliveries, if you’re looking for a cheaper alternative (and you don’t mind slightly slower shipping), FedEx Ground may be the way to go.

FedEx Ground offers merchants expedient delivery times at a lower rate. While they do not offer a time-specific delivery, they will guarantee your shipments arrive by the end of day on your scheduled delivery date.

One of the downsides of FedEx Ground is that you will not be able to order priority mail boxes for free. You will have to find and provide all your own packaging materials.

FedEx Ground is best for shipments that do not need to be delivered at a specific time of day. Ground is also good for shipments that are bigger or heavier, as you will likely pay lower shipping rates than you would with Express. In addition, Ground is the only way to go if you are shipping items that are regulated as dangerous goods via air shipment (Read about those items and related regulations).

Unlike FedEx Express, FedEx Ground does not offer a variety of shipping times. Rather, your delivery time will depend on your shipment and delivery locations. Typically, your package will arrive in between 1-5 business days, or 3-7 business days if you’re shipping to or from Hawaii and Alaska. You will be notified of an estimated delivery date for your shipments when you drop your packages off at a FedEx Office location nearby.

View FedEx Ground’s service map and test out the shipping rates calculator for better insight into how much your shipments will cost and how long they’ll take to ship. For FedEx’s explanation on the differences between their Express and Ground services, check out this webpage.

FedEx International Shipping (FedEx Express)

FedEx Express also offers FedEx International Shipping through their FedEx Express program. We have separated this service into its own category as shipping rates are different from the domestic Express rates.

FedEx International ships to customers in over 220 countries and territories, typically within 1-5 business days (not including time spent in customs). Like FedEx Express’s domestic service, FedEx International offers a money-back guarantee (view details) if your shipment is late by even 60 seconds.

If you choose to ship with FedEx International, you’ll be able to choose from three options:

• FedEx International Priority: Delivery within 1, 2, or 3 business days
• FedEx International Economy: Delivery within 5 business days
• FedEx International Ground: Day-definite delivery throughout Canada

You can also choose to ship internationally via FedEx’s Freight services. Keep reading for more information on shipping freight.

FedEx Freight

Looking to transport product between warehouses? Or just hoping to ship a very large and heavy item? FedEx Freight could be the service for you. FedEx Freight provides merchants with options for LTL shipping. These shipments come with a no-fee money-back guarantee (for merchants on the standard rate tariff).

FedEx Freight International

As I mentioned above, FedEx Freight International allows you to ship large items or large quantities of items to over 130 countries and territories. Shipments above 150 pounds qualify for this service. This service includes the following options:

• Urgent Delivery
• Time-Definite Delivery
• Day-Definite Delivery
• Direct Distribution

Read FedEx’s details for more information about shipping freight internationally.

In addition, FedEx Freight offers two options for shipping within the US:

FedEx Freight Priority

Priority freight shipments offer fast delivery of time-sensitive LTL freight. The service delivers to the contiguous US and offers extensive service to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Canada, and Mexico. The FedEx Freight Box is available for this service (more information on the Freight Box to come). Delivery times for Freight Priority are as follows:

• A.M. Delivery: Delivery by 10:30 a.m.
• Close of Business Delivery: Delivery by 5 p.m. on standard delivery date throughout contiguous states

FedEx Freight Economy

As you might imagine, FedEx Freight Economy offers more cost-effective delivery of LTL freight. You can use Economy to ship to customers throughout the contiguous US and to Alaska, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Canada. The FedEx Freight Box is also available for this service (again, find more information on the Freight Box below). Here are FedEx Freight Economy’s delivery times:

• A.M. Delivery: Delivery by 10:30 a.m.
• Close of Business Delivery: Delivery by 5 p.m. on standard delivery date throughout contiguous states

About The Freight Box

FedEx’s Freight Box is their way of incorporating flat rate shipping into their freight services. If you choose to ship with a Freight Box, you will pay a predictable flat rate to ship your box, based on shipping zones and if you’re using Priority or Economy services. Those rates range between $126-$312.

View the chart below:

Only shipments below 1,200 pounds can qualify for the Freight Box, and shipping rates do not qualify for negotiated pricing, which may disappoint some high-volume sellers. The good news is if you choose to ship this way, there is no freight classification required!

FedEx’s Freight Box comes in two different sizes:

• Standard (pallet not included)
  • 48” x 40” x 38”
• Small (integrated pallet included)
  • 48” x 40” x 28”

You can order both of these boxes online, and after a bit of assembly, you can get to packing.

Final Thoughts

Shipping options can certainly be disorienting! We hope our breakdown above has helped you to untangle the number of options available through FedEx. If one or more of these shipping solutions catches your eye, be sure to look into the resources we’ve included to get a better idea of the details.

Or, if you’re still looking for general information about shipping with FedEx, check out our comparison article, USPS vs UPS vs FedEx: Which Shipping Carrier Is Best?

You’ll be a shipping expert in no time!

Need shipping or packing supplies?

Get Started With FedEx Office